With his 7-foot stature, gleaming smile, the team’s defense on his back, and his eyes on a Mountain West tournament upset, sophomore center Adrame Diongue bodes a strong, supportive presence to the San José State basketball team.
While his towering appearance is something many notice about Diongue, it is not all there is to him.
Diongue was born in Rufisque, in the Dakar region of Senegal, and arrived in the U.S. in 2019, according to an article by ESPN. He enrolled at Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina, moved to Arizona for his last three years of high school, and spent his sophomore year at Bella Vista Prep.
He then spent his final two seasons at Arizona Compass, according to the same site.
Diongue, who is majoring in design studies, said while basketball is his current pursuit of interest, it was not the sport he began with as a child. Up until he started getting taller, he said he played soccer as a midfielder in Senegal.
“One day my dad had bought me basketball shoes and a ball, to see if I would use them,” Diongue said. “One afternoon, it was raining really hard and the field was really soaked, so I decided to give it a chance. I ended up playing for eight hours, and had a lot of fun.”
Diongue said his dad was his biggest influence, who encouraged him to dive into basketball in the first place.
He said his dad did not necessarily think he would ultimately pursue basketball, despite his efforts in introducing the flavor of the sport to him.
“It ended up working out in the end,” Diongue said.
He said transitioning from Senegal to the United States was difficult at first, but he ultimately got used to how things worked.
The distance from Senegal to the United States is 5,307 miles - so Diongue said he wants to make the most of the journey.
Not only did he have to adjust to the different ways of living, but he said he had to get used to the difference in diet.
“The food is really different,” he said. “Back home we have rice and fish, but here it’s just burgers and pizza.”
Diongue was the no. 43 ranked prospect in ESPN's Top-100 and a 4-star recruit while attending Arizona Compass Prep School, according to the SJSU Athletics page.
He also brought the team to the #1 ranked spot in Arizona, as they went 24-5 in 2021-22 to their second-straight trip to the GEICO Nationals in Florida, according to the same site.
From 2022-2023, Diongue attended Washington State, where he played in 23 games and averaged 1.3 points, 0.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.52 blocks per game. He made his season debut against UC Irvine at San José State Univiersity on Nov. 7, 2023.
Diongue was recruited by SJSU coaches last season and is currently playing on a scholarship. As of Feb. 24, Diongue averages 16.4 points per game here at SJSU, according to the NCAA.
Junior guard and communications major Myron Amey Jr. said Diongue’s biggest strength is his god-given height and the quick-witted reflexes he brings to the team.
“The defensive presence that he has helps us quite a bit in the game,” Amey said. “He is able to get rebounds and defensive spots, so he plays a big part in this team.”
Amey also said the brotherhood of basketball makes his experience extremely special for him.
“Basketball is going to have ups and downs, but the consistent thing about it is that you’re seeing your teammates every day, who are people that bring good energy,” Amey said. “You’re not always going to be smiling or feeling good, so having my teammates there really helps.”
Freshman guard Rickey Mitchell Jr. complimented Diongue’s character and said he brings a colorful sense of humor to their group, aside from being a fantastic player.
“He’s just a funny guy, and I love being around him,” he said. “He is always there for us, and holds us together.”
Mitchell said he looks up to many of the older players like Diongue for advice since he was not used to the speed of college basketball when initially joining.
Diongue said it was quite difficult for him to juggle basketball, academics, and his personal life, because of the practices, travel, and overall commitment that he and his teammates are required to have.
“Your body gets sore, and then you have to show up at school every day and go to class,” he said. “It is definitely challenging but you just have to push through.”
Diongue said despite the uphill battle that basketball may bring, he definitely wants to pursue a career in professional basketball. He said his favorite part about playing the sport is blocking people’s shots.
Diongue had four blocks in back-to-back games against Wyoming on Jan. 2 and Boise State on Jan. 5, according to the SJSU Athletics page.
He also collected three blocks and nine rebounds at Fresno State on Jan. 16 and registered four blocks against New Mexico on Jan. 24, according to the same site.
“It is fun to see how disappointed the other player is when I dunk on them or block them,” he said. “It really is a great feeling.”
Basketball has always been his goal, and Diongue said it has become especially important for him to achieve the goals he has set for himself.
He said since he has come quite a distance for the sport, he wants to make the most of his time here.
“I’ve wanted to make it out since I first started playing,” Diongue said. “I just really want to step up and make a difference and an impact.”
