[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni. The initial report is from the 2022-2023 season, but the player withdrew from the 2023 draft class. Updates based on the 2023-24 season are at the bottom.]

Ousmane Ndiaye
Frame: 6’11’’, 210 lbs
Position: Center
Team: Palencia (Spain)
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via RealGM

Offense

Ndiaye is one of the most intriguing European prospects in terms of upside. He’s still very raw overall, but many scouts view him as an uncut gem due to his rare combination of size, athleticism and shooting touch.

Standing nearly seven feet tall, Ndiaye is a mobile big who can stretch the floor, protect the rim and possesses impressive ball-handling skills for a player of his size.

Despite playing at the center position, Ndiaye usually operates outside the paint and spaces the floor. He has smooth shot mechanics and high arching quick release, which makes him almost impossible to block due to his height. Ndiaye has showcased his shooting prowess by hitting a healthy 33 percent beyond the arc on nearly four attempts per game this season and converting 71 percent from the line. Still, his upside is more than just a floor spacer.

His fluidity gives hope he can become the next big thing. Ndiaye displays a quick first step and huge strides to attack closeouts and drive in open court. He runs fast in transition and is well-accustomed to motion offense and playing at a fast tempo.

Ndiaye is also active off the ball as a screener, cutter and rebounder. He crashes the glass consistently and grabs 2.5 offensive rebounds per game in 23 minutes of action, providing his team with numerous putbacks, tip-ins and second-chance opportunities with his hustle.

He has also shown some promise creating off the bounce and in post-up situations using his footwork, so he has the tools to become a versatile big-man scorer.

However, he’s a poor finisher at the rim. He lacks aggressiveness to finish with force and struggles severely to finish through contact, currently converting at a rate of 40 percent under the basket. Some of his shots at the rim are so off it looks like he loses sight of the basket in traffic. This prevents him from being successful as a pick-and-roll roll man, but it is worth noting that he is still growing into his body and has yet to exploit his physical tools fully.

Defense

Ndiaye boasts a high upside on the defensive end due to his lateral quickness and massive wingspan. He offers excellent versatility, as he can effectively protect the rim and switch onto perimeter players.

He’s naturally athletic and has a rare motor for his size. Ndiaye is fluid in space and quickly covers ground on the closeout, utilizing his length and verticality to challenge three-point shots and discourage attempts at the basket. He’s bouncy and jumps like a pogo stick, whether fighting for rebounds or contesting consecutive shots at the rim, letting his athleticism shine through.

His length allows him to close passing lanes effectively, and although his season average of 0.6 steals may not stand out, he often disrupts plays inside the perimeter, preventing potential assists.

Ndiaye’s quickness enables him to defend the pick-and-roll effectively in drop coverage. He holds his ground well, defending drives and exhibiting discipline at the rim while aggressively swatting shots. He has immense length and sharp timing, helping him avoid foul trouble despite his assertiveness.

Ndiaye commits only 2.2 fouls per game while recording 1.1 blocks and didn’t foul out of a single game this season.

Looking ahead

Ndiaye is a potential sleeper and an exciting player to consider late in the second round as a low-floor/high-ceiling prospect who can potentially stay stashed in Europe to develop with Baskonia (one of Europe’s premiere organizations in player development). They can continue nurturing his skills until he is ready, and even if he never reaches his full potential, he’s still a safe bet.

Ndiaye’s value on the floor in a professional setting is still a bit of a mystery, as he wasn’t consistent enough to receive a call-up to Baskonia’s primary team this season. Still, he has shown some intriguing flashes of talent on both ends while playing for Baskonia’s reserve team in the Spanish third division.

He isn’t ready for the NBA yet, but his physical profile is hard to pass on. He must mature his game and body to prove his talents translate to the next level. His athletic profile and defensive potential alone provide plenty of reasons for optimism. Moreover, the fact that he is a seven-footer capable of ball handling and shooting from the outside offers a glimpse of hope that he could eventually become a draft jackpot.

Update

Ndiaye started this season in the Spanish top division (considered the strongest in Europe), but he hasn’t played since having knee surgery in January.

Through 13 games before the injury, he averaged five points, four rebounds, and 0.5 blocks in 18 minutes. He came up big versus Spanish powerhouses (season-highs of 11 points against Real Madrid and 13 rebounds against Barcelona), but his praised spot-up shooting was up and down, and he’s currently at 27 percent from deep. 

Ndiaye is reportedly back to practice activities, but his return timetable has yet to be announced. His team is currently dead last in the standings, and even though they have a tiny chance to avoid relegation, Ndiaye will likely play again once ready. However, it was a shaky year for Ndiaye, so it doesn’t look like he has raised his draft stock, especially since it’s still unclear what he will look like after the injury.