Five-Star Moussa Diabate Commits to Michigan Basketball
Hot damn, the number one class in the country just got more number one-ish.
Breaking: 2021 five-star Moussa Diabate has committed to Michigan, he tells me. @M0ussaDiabate pic.twitter.com/ENuLqusfeQ
— Tipton Edits (@TiptonEdits) November 9, 2020
IMG Academy's Moussa Diabate, a 6'10" forward/center with a 7'1" wingspan and quickly refining skill, chose the Wolverines from an offer sheet that includes Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Memphis, and Texas Tech. He's the #20 overall player on the 247 Composite.
Our very own Matt D. saw Diabate in Phoenix last month—the highlights are embedded above—and came away convinced he's underrated even as a five-star after adding aspects to his game this summer and fall that should make him a top-ten prospect.
While his natural physical gifts are unquestionably great, the improved perimeter skill from Moussa had everyone buzzing. Diabate looked really good shooting the ball from the perimeter, knocking down multiple triples with good elevation and nice form. The biggest development was undoubtedly his ability to create shots off the bounce from the wing. The play starting at roughly the :12 second mark is absolutely insane for a 6’10 HS prospect. Moussa blows-by 2022 AJ Storr (Offers from Virginia Tech, Ole Miss and a multiple mid-majors), attacks the paint and delivers a precision shovel pass to a teammate in a tight window while being surrounded by 4 defenders. His passing/playmaking was approaching guard level off the bounce and in stationary positions all weekend long.
Diabate joins five-star Caleb Houstan as headliners of the top class in the country, which is up to six commits, four of whom rank in the top 65 overall. Not bad, Juwan Howard.
There's no content after the jump. We'll have much more on Diabate from Matt later this week.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:27 PM ^
Shazam!
November 9th, 2020 at 5:33 PM ^
That's an underappreciated move
November 9th, 2020 at 1:28 PM ^
Wait...I thought our academic standards and our lack of using the bag were too great of obstacles to overcome to get a 5 star.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:48 PM ^
Well, maybe those are not a factor anymore...
November 9th, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
I think that only applies to the football team.
November 9th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
Academics don't matter as much when you're only there for one year
November 9th, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
Recruiting like this has a snowball effect. This could be the beginning of our own Coach K/John Calipari run.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
But without the sliminess.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
This. All it takes is a couple of 5 stars and success on the court. With a coach like Juwan Howard with proven knowledge on how to GET PAID in the NBA, we could be racking in top 5 classes consistently for years to come.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
Hot Damn! 2 5 stars? Is this real life?
November 9th, 2020 at 1:42 PM ^
It's deja vu. Weren't Todd and Christopher both 5-stars last year?
Speaking of which, how likely is it that this guy will pass on a G League opportunity?
November 9th, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Christopher was no doubt. But Todd in no way was, if you know what i mean.
November 9th, 2020 at 4:11 PM ^
Josh Christopher was never committed so not deja vu
November 9th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
Simply an incredible get!!! Mr. Diabate may be the highest ceiling prospect in this class. Juwan will turn him into a monster. Wow, what a class!!!
Bring in Reid as well and and make this a stunning Fab Five like class-it, pretty much, already is.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:21 PM ^
I’m on the Reid train also.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^
Fab 7?
November 9th, 2020 at 4:15 PM ^
The Magnificent Seven
November 9th, 2020 at 4:12 PM ^
Reid is completely unnecessary at this point. He's a back to basket C that we no longer need. Put all our chips on Hardy and any other late deciding Guard. If we have any spots open up look for a G on the portal
November 9th, 2020 at 1:35 PM ^
This is the guy I really wanted at the 5 position!
Welcome aboard Diabate, hope to truly see you in an M uniform, stay away G League!!!
November 9th, 2020 at 1:35 PM ^
So we are a basketball school again from the looks of things. Damn, I never saw this coming.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:36 PM ^
I want to get pumped for this. I really, really do. But this is also in Matt's write up "Although I have no inside information, my gut tells me the G League will pursue Moussa."
I'm so glad the G-League finally discovered their purpose (insert The Jerk gif here) just in time to take all our 5 stars.
Five star big with huge wing span and quickly developing skills seems like just the type that they'll want to sign/develop.
/DebbieDowner
November 9th, 2020 at 4:43 PM ^
Honest question: does the G League get every player they pursue? Even if they pursue him, it doesn't necessarily mean he won't choose coming to Michigan to be coached by Juwan.
November 9th, 2020 at 4:54 PM ^
Genuine question, what would you do, play without school for a year and earn $300K+, or go to Michigan for several months and play?
November 9th, 2020 at 6:47 PM ^
I googled to see that early signing period starts Wednesday (11/11). Does anyone know IF he can still jump to the G-league after signing the papers? (please sign the papers!!)
November 10th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^
Pretty sure a person can leave school any time they want, including before they even enroll
November 9th, 2020 at 1:46 PM ^
How I read this: we're a basketball school now. Commence focusing more on basketball than football.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
This has been true since the 1980's. We have had far more success in basketball than football. And it's not even close.
So happy for Coach Howard.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Fair point, M-Dog. I hadn't thought about that really. 1 national title each. 5 total title appearances for bball (counting the Fab 5). Recruiting for basketball was decimated by sanctions but got incredible results from Beilein anyway. Football continued to get top classes save a few years but has not seen the results. I know football success is much more difficult to produce on a sustained basis but dang. Time to buy a basketball jersey. Especially since I live in Ohio. Gotta turn those tides.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
O. M. G.
November 9th, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
ERMAHGERD BERSKERTBERL SCHOOL
November 9th, 2020 at 2:29 PM ^
I'm looking forward to watching the Diabate Team.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:35 PM ^
”M football is dead”
”long live M basketball”
November 9th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
What's the scholarship situation right now? Is the class full or is there one more spot? Also, I wonder if Tschetter could possibly get knocked out of the class if Reid wanted in
November 9th, 2020 at 4:14 PM ^
Tschetter is signing his NLI wednesday. Reid is no longer needed or an option
November 9th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
Hope all 6 sign this week. If you're gonna play here, no need not to sign.
November 9th, 2020 at 3:47 PM ^
I needed this. I think we all needed this. Shazam! is right!
November 9th, 2020 at 3:51 PM ^
So is he a 4 or a 5?
November 9th, 2020 at 4:18 PM ^
Per Tipton (the same guy that announced the commitment), he's signing his NLI on wednesday. Obviously that doesn't prevent him from going to the GLeague but that's a step Todd never took
November 9th, 2020 at 5:00 PM ^
Hot damn, this commitment is so sweet I got Diabates
November 9th, 2020 at 5:01 PM ^
I'm super excited for this commitment but I hope we keep pursuing Efton Reid.
November 9th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
I agree. This kid is so versatile that I think Reid would still be useful as well. You could go real big with Dickinson, Reid and Diabate or do a two big lineup with Reid and Dickinson at times. I also don't trust the G League around this guy either.
November 9th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Does Juwan know anything about football?
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