2022 NBA Draft: Los Angeles Clippers select Moussa Diabate, Michigan forward

Michigan forward Moussa Diabate, who tested the NBA waters before choosing the remain in the field and give up his remaining college eligibility, was selected No. 43 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2022 NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit spent one season with the Wolverines before turning professional.

Over his one season at Michigan before declaring for the draft, Moussa Diabate appeared in 32 games with 26 starts alongside center Hunter Dickinson. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in 25 minutes while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from the 3-point line.

The 6-foot-10 forward joined Juwan Howard’s team as a five-star recruit who ranked No. 17 in the country and No. 5 among power forwards according to the 2021 On3 Consensus. He also ranked No. 3 in the state of Florida after attending IMG Academy.

Scouting report on Moussa Diabate

Moussa Diabate comes to the NBA from French decent, starting his basketball career at 12-years old with Sporting Club Maccabi de Paris. In addition to his size, he brings a 7-foot-3 wingspan which makes him a force on defense and one of the best rebounders in the class.

According the NBA.com’s Wheat Hotchkiss, Diabate is “known for his high energy and aggressiveness on the court,” and “takes pride in rebounding.”

He arrived in the United States in eighth grade and attended Montverde Academy in middle school. He has already represented his country on the international stage as part of the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship and other youth events through the years to this point.

CBS Sports analyst Kyle Boone compared Moussa Diabate to former NBA center Skal Labissiere, who also came from the international ranks to play in the United States before making the leap to the professional ranks. Labissiere was picked No. 28 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2016.