Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Stetson University Athletics

Scoreboard

Tickets, donate, shop

Sport schedule
University logo on load main University logo on scroll
Mahamadou Diawara

Men's Basketball Athletic Communications

Positional Preview: The Front Court

This is the first in a series of three previews highlighting 2020-21 position players for Stetson men's basketball. Today's focus is on the front court.
 
For the second straight year, sophomore Mahamadou Diawara will be the featured front court player for Stetson men's basketball, but he'll have more support this year than last as a pair of newcomers are set to make an impact.
 
At 6-foot-10 and 249 pounds, Diawara cuts an imposing figure both on and off the court. One of the most productive freshman big men in the country last season, Diawara will be looking to improve upon a freshman season which saw him earned national Freshman All-America honors and ASUN All-Freshman team accolades after averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
 
Diawara was one of the top performers in the ASUN last season, ranking among league-leaders in field-goal percentage (3rd), rebounds per game (8th) and points per game (10th). He reached double figures in scoring 22 different times and had five double-digit rebounding efforts. Diawara's best game was a dominating 28-point, 12-rebound performance in a home loss to North Florida.
 
Rejoining Diawara up front is multi-skilled forward Joel Kabimba. The 6-8, 210-pound sophomore started 25 games last season, averaging 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Kabimba came on late in the season, recording each of his five double-digit scoring efforts over the season's last 14 games.
 
While Diawara seemingly had to do it all in the middle last season, he'll have some help this season in the form of 7-foot-1 freshman Gabriel Wuor. Armed with strong all-round skills and a knack for blocking shots, Wuor should give the Hatters solid minutes in the post.
 
Wuor comes to Stetson from Duk Padiet, South Sudan. He prepped last year at Kentucky's Wesley Christian Academy, averaging 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots per game. In the summer of 2019 he was invited to the prestigious Nike DENG Camp, earning Most Improved Player.
 
Athletic and skilled newcomer Josh Smith will have an impact for the Hatters in his freshman season. At 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds, Smith has inside-outside potential and could cause matchup problems for many of Stetson's opponents.
 
As a senior at Monrovia (Ind.) High School, Smith averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game. A former guard who grew six inches over his last two years of high school, Smith made 31 3-pointers last season for the Bulldogs on his way to third-team All-State honors from the Indianapolis Star.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Mahamadou Diawara

#15 Mahamadou Diawara

F/C
6' 10"
Sophomore
Joel Kabimba

#35 Joel Kabimba

F
6' 8"
Sophomore
Josh Smith

#12 Josh Smith

F
6' 8"
Freshman
Gabriel Wuor

#32 Gabriel Wuor

F/C
7' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mahamadou Diawara

#15 Mahamadou Diawara

6' 10"
Sophomore
F/C
Joel Kabimba

#35 Joel Kabimba

6' 8"
Sophomore
F
Josh Smith

#12 Josh Smith

6' 8"
Freshman
F
Gabriel Wuor

#32 Gabriel Wuor

7' 1"
Freshman
F/C