Moussa Diabaté
Moussa Diabaté is a French professional basketball player, born on January 21, 2002, in Paris, France. He is the son of Korotoumou Diabaté. Diabaté moved to the United States at age 14, where he joined the middle school program at Montverde Academy. He began his basketball journey at age 12 with the Sporting Club Maccabi de Paris. During his high school career, he attended Florida Prep Academy, DME Academy, and IMG Academy. He was a highly touted prospect, a consensus five-star recruit, and ranked among the top centers and power forwards in the 2021 class by ESPN, 247 Sports, and Rivals. He was also selected to the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters.
Diabaté committed to playing college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines, choosing them over offers from other prominent programs like Arizona, Kentucky, and Memphis. His freshman season at Michigan (2021-2022) was impactful. He played in 32 games, starting in 26 of them, and averaged 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He shot 54.2% from the field, which was second-highest on the team, and led the Wolverines with 76 offensive rebounds. He also contributed 28 blocks, which was second-highest on the team. Highlights of his college career include a career-high 28 points against Iowa, where he shot 12-of-16 from the field. He was recognized for his performance by being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. During his time at Michigan, he was enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with an undeclared major. He possesses a large 7-3 wingspan and has shown consistent growth as a defender while also developing his ball-handling and long-range shooting.
Following his freshman season, Diabaté declared for the 2022 NBA Draft in April 2022, initially maintaining his college eligibility before fully committing in June. He was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round with the 43rd overall pick. Since then, he has embarked on his professional career. Currently, he is a power forward for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association (NBA), wearing jersey number 14. He has also played for the Ontario Clippers, the G-League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Greensboro Swarm, the G-League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets. He was part of the French National Team, averaging 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship. His professional career began in 2022 and he is currently active. His listed height is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) and his listed weight is 210 pounds (95 kg). He is known for his athleticism and potential as a developing big man in the league.
