Mark Pope describes Mo Dioubate as a 'perfect fit for the way we play' upon signing with Kentucky

First, it was Jaland Lowe, who Mark Pope described as “an incredibly explosive, playmaking, veteran point guard” set to join the Kentucky program. Up next? Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate (pronounced dee-ah-BOT-TAY), who put pen to paper with the Wildcats on Friday.

After two seasons in Tuscaloosa, the standout forward will be taking his talents to Lexington with two years of eligibility remaining.

“Mouhamed is a special young man who is a perfect fit for the way we play,” Pope said. “He is a ballhandling, decision-making, physical, competitor. Mo can play and guard all five positions and has a presence as a point forward which makes him uniquely suited to play for us.”

Lowe and Dioubate are two of Kentucky’s four portal additions in this cycle with Kam Williams and Jayden Quaintance left to be announced.

The Alabama transfer averaged 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for the Crimson Tide in 2024-25 while scoring in double figures in 13 outings with five double-doubles. The 6-7 forward poured in a career-best 22 points with 10 boards in a win against Vanderbilt in late January. He also had 10 points and a career-best 16 boards in an overtime win over Houston in November. Other noteworthy performances from his sophomore campaign include a 13-point, 10-rebound, four-assist outing vs. Missouri and 12 points, 12 rebounds and a pair of steals vs. Florida in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Dioubate charted 18 points and 10 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament opener vs. Robert Morris.

In three meetings vs. Kentucky last season, Dioubate put up eight points and eight rebounds in the first, four points and five rebounds in the second while holding Otega Oweh to just 1-9 shooting and his first single-digit scoring output of the season, then produced 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks vs. the Cats in the SEC Tournament.

He was third on the team in rebounds per game and second in total offensive boards (70) while also coming in second in total steals (35) and third in blocked shots (25). Dioubate shot 61.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three in his sophomore season. For his career, he’s knocked down 57.1 percent of his total attempts and 35.1 percent from deep. He has appeared in 70 career games in two seasons where his squad advanced to the Elite Eight each year.

The Queens, New York, native captured a national prep championship with Putnam Science Academy as a senior while averaging 13.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game for the PSA Cardinals playing on the EYBL circuit. The four-star prospect was ranked among the top 100 players in his class.

Now, he’s going to be trading out the red for blue as a Wildcat.