Film Room Mouhamed Dioubate

Big Blue Nation is not the most patient group of people. Kam Williams committed to Kentucky on March 28th ahead of the Sweet 16 matchup with Tennessee. Then, the Wildcats had to wait until April 5th before landing Jaland Lowe. That week in between caused quite a bit of unrest in the fanbase. However, there wasn’t much of a wait before adding the third transfer portal piece to the puzzle. Mouhamed Dioubate announced his commitment to Kentucky on Monday, April 7th. The 6’7″ 215 pound forward averaged 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Alabama. A physical, left-handed player, Dioubate will offer some two-way versatility in the front court. Once again, Coach Pope addressed the needs of improving Kentucky’s athleticism, defensive toughness, and rebounding.

Per Evan Miya, Dioubate rated as Alabama’s second best defensive player. His “Hakeem Percentage” (steal rate + block rate) of 6.9%, per KenPom, would have ranked second on Kentucky’s team last season behind only Amari Williams. Dioubate will help protect the rim from a hybrid wing/forward spot while consistently locking up the opposing team’s best player almost regardless of their position. His length and athleticism often gave Otega Oweh fits when the two were matched up with each other this past season. What Dioubate brings to the table defensively and on the glass, his 13.0% offensive rebounding rate was among the best in the Southeastern Conference, makes him a very exciting addition. However, don’t underrate his offensive versatility.

As always, we’ve been hard at work in the KSR Film Room breaking down the Wildcats’ latest addition. Dioubate became an integral rotation piece at Alabama this season. He is an elite cutter, and elite rebounder, and an elite defender. Additionally, he shot 46.2% from three-point range though it was on low volume (12-26). His fluidity with the ball in his hands and explosiveness in transition will make him a plug-and-play type of piece in Coach Pope’s offensive system. Whether it is as a screener, as a cutter, or as an offensive rebounder, he will fit in perfectly while surrounded by skill. He really is the perfect addition to address some of the holes that Coach Pope’s first roster had. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at what Kentucky is getting in Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate.

Screening, Cutting, and Finishing

In order to excel in Kentucky’s offensive system you have to be able to screen and cut. Mouhamed Dioubate checks both of those boxes at a high level. He is a physical screener and an athletic, high IQ cutter. Then, when it comes to finishing, his 64.7% two-point percentage would have been the highest on Kentucky’s team this past season. It is easy to get wrapped up in three-point shooting numbers when evaluating a “fit” for what the Wildcats do offensively. However, you also need pieces that will help get the shooters open. Dioubate is that piece. He was that piece for an Alabama team that finished fourth in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency and he will be that piece for a Kentucky team that will look to finish inside the Top 10 once again next year.

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Watching this full possession offers a glimpse into how Mouhamed Dioubate can fit into the offense. He will fit seamlessly into what Kentucky wants to do. You also see what makes him such a special cutter. Dioubate is reading Amari Williams’ eyes and starts to flash towards the high post when his head is turned. Then, as Williams, drops, Dioubate essentially fills the space by cutting to the rim. That activity level led to an athletic layup.

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The previous clip showcased Dioubate as a cutter from the perimeter. Now, we will see how he operates on the interior. As Grant Nelson drives it, Dioubate slides in from the corner to the dunker’s spot. Then, he does an excellent job of circling under the rim to give Nelson a better passing angle. The little reads that he makes away from the ball are pretty high level. That cutting ability will make him an extremely useful weapon in Kentucky’s offense.

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Not only is Dioubate an effective slasher and cutter, but he also is good on the roll. After quickly handing the ball back to Aden Holloway, Dioubate set a little screen and rolled to the basket. His athleticism and finishing ability are on display here as he made a tough catch on the roll and elevated to finish without using a dribble.

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Dioubate’s ability to go from a slashing wing to a ball screening forward on a possession to possession basis is very impressive. That versatility makes him highly valuable in a relatively positionally-interchangeable Kentucky offense. In this clip you see him twist the ballscreen, slip out of it to the short roll, and then finish a Euro-step, off-handed layup. He is so fluid and athletic with the ball in his hands when he is headed downhill to the rim.

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We’ve shown what Mouhamed Dioubate’s cutting can get him as an interior scorer. However, his cutting leads to opening up his interior passing ability as well. Kentucky’s other big men will benefit from playing with a guy like Dioubate. In this clip you see him slide along the baseline and then find an open Clifford Omoruyi at the rim for a dunk. Consistently being able to find the soft spot in a defense attracts a lot of attention. Plays like this are a perfect example of how you can space the floor and fit within a high-octane offense without being an elite three-point shooter.

Scoring in Transition and Off the Dribble

Mouhamed Dioubate’s biggest offensive strength likely is what he does in transition. This is where his size, strength, and athleticism really flourish. He has the mobility and ball-handling skills to start the break, the strength to play through contact, and the athleticism to elevate and play above the rim. That creates a pretty deadly package in transition. Coach Pope is always going to want to play fast and Dioubate will fit right into a system that looks to utilize transition opportunities. That certainly was always the case at Alabama and will be true in Lexington as well.

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Dioubate is excellent when playing off of the throw ahead in transition. Here you seem turn his drive into a post move and get to the midline to finish with his left hand over his right shoulder. Being able to attack in transition and catch opponents in some bad matchups really brings out the best in the Alabama transfer.

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This clip is similar to the prior one where you see Alabama move the ball ahead to Dioubate in transition. This time he uses a left-handed inside-out dribble to shake his man and finishes the And-1 at the front of the rim. His strength and body control while attacking downhill at full speed are very impressive.

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Often times it is Dioubate’s own defense that creates a fast break situation. In this clip you see him step up and block the lob attempt before going coast-to-coast and using the right-handed inside-out dribble to finish at the rim. Being able to handle the balls so fluidly with both hands at his size is a luxury that really stands out in transition.

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We’ve seen what Mouhamed Dioubate can do in transition, but those skills translate to the half court as well. This is perfectly translatable to the role he would have at Kentucky. You can easily envision him out on the perimeter getting the Wildcats into some Zoom Action. This is just a traditional handoff in the clip, but Dioubate keeping it and turning the corner downhill to the rim is something we will see plenty of at Kentucky.

Don’t Sleep on Dioubate’s Skill Level

Nobody is going to mistake Mouhamed Dioubate for Koby Brea or Jaxson Robinson. However, he did make four of five three-point attempts on Alabama’s way to the Elite Eight this past season. Overall, Dioubate shot 12-26 (46.2%) from three point range. That is obviously very low volume, but he did at least prove that he can make the ones when he is left wide open on the perimeter. Additionally, it is very hard to simply not guard people in Kentucky’s offense. There is far too much movement, screening, and cutting. If you choose to not guard someone like Dioubate because he “can’t shoot” you will end up getting exploited. The 6’7″ forward has flashed some skill as a passer as well. He likely will fit better in the Wildcats’ offense than you originally may think.

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When you step on the floor for Alabama you are given the green light. Coach Pope’s philosophy may be a bit stricter, but if the ‘Cats want to get serious about shooting 30 or more three-point shots per game they will have to give Mouhamed Dioubate the freedom to shoot open shots. When you shoot 46.2% from three-point range it means you aren’t shooting enough of them. He will likely at least go into practice with a bit more of a green light.

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There is something to be said about having the confidence to shoot this shot. It isn’t like Dioubate made all of his three-point shots early in the non-conference season in buy-games. Five of his 12 makes came in the NCAA Tournament including this one in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock in a close game in the Round of 32. Just how much of his game will come from beyond the arc remains to be seen, but it could unlock an intriguing upside for him.

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There is room for growth when it comes to his passing ability, but Dioubate certainly isn’t bad in that department. We showcased his interior passing ability, which is pretty good, earlier, but he can also create from the perimeter some. Here in this clip he is actually the pick-and-roll ball handler and hits Grant Nelson with a perfect pocket pass.

Defense and Rebounding

This is why you bring in Mouhamed Dioubate. Kentucky needed to get more athletic, more physical, better on the glass, and better defensively. He will immediately check all of those boxes. With a 13.0% offensive rebounding rate as a sophomore, Dioubate has already proven to be one of the best offensive rebounders in the Southeastern Conference. His defensive versatility allows him to switch between multiple positions guarding on the perimeter as well as he does in the post. The 6’7″ forward is also a proven rim protector and is disruptive in the passing lanes. Lineups that include both Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance will make it very difficult for opposing teams to score around the basket.

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Quite a few clips in this film breakdown came from when Mouhamed Dioubate played against Kentucky. It will be good to have him in blue and white next season. Here he is being physical with Andrew Carr in the post and blocking his shot. Dioubate’s ability to block shots, while being a bit undersized at 6’7″, is very impressive.

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Kentucky did not have guys who could have made this play last season. Look at where Dioubate comes from to block Braden Smith’s shot. It takes some big time quickness and athleticism to close ground and elevate that quickly. The Wildcats will be much harder to score on at the rim because of the addition of Mouhamed Dioubate.

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Dioubate’s offensive rebounding ability will be a big shot in the arm for Kentucky who finished 229th in offensive rebounding percentage a season ago. Here you see how he doesn’t just crash the glass, but he actually went into the body of the South Dakota State big man in order to carve out space. He is essentially boxing out on the offense end. Also, that isn’t just any mid-major big man. That is 6’11” 260 pound Oscar Cluff who will be playing at Purdue next season.

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This clip encapsulates what Mouhamed Dioubate will bring to Kentucky as well as any that we have shown. First, you see the length and athleticism make an impact on the defensive end of the floor. Then, you see his comfortability handling the ball in the open floor. Finally, you see his ability to finish with either hand at the rim through contact. Dioubate will have some coast-to-coast highlight worthy plays as a Wildcat.

Mouhamed Dioubate Evaluation

Size, strength, athleticism, physicality, rebounding, and defense. Mouhamed Dioubate brings all of that to the table in spades for a team that lacked in those categories in 2024-2025. The 6’7″ 215 pound left-handed forward was a vital role player in face-paced, Top 5 offense at Alabama. He should fit seamlessly into what Coach Pope and the ‘Cats want to do as well. Dioubate is an outstanding screener and cutter which are two skills that will be accentuated in Kentucky’s offense. His skills in transition are another reason why he will fit right in in Lexington. Between the two-way versatility that he provides, the toughness he will bring, and the winning culture he comes from this was a very important addition for the ‘Cats. You win with guys like Mouhamed Dioubate.