Aliou Dioum
"6’11 from 🇸🇳class of 2026 4⭐️#God is Great"
West Virginia
Rankings sourced from 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals. Learn how we aggregate data →
Scout Report
Walk into any Bella Vista Prep practice and your eyes immediately drift to the 6-10 frame anchoring the paint. When that kid starts moving with unexpected fluidity for his size, you know you're watching something special.
Background
Aliou Dioum grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, before making the move to Bella Vista Prep, one of the premier basketball factories in the country. The program has become a magnet for elite talent, and Dioum found himself in an incredibly loaded roster situation. Playing alongside the #4 center in the 2027 class and other top-tier recruits has accelerated his development in ways that would be impossible at a traditional high school. The competition level in practice alone has been invaluable for his growth.
Playing Style
Dioum plays with a controlled aggression that belies his ranking outside the top 100. He's not a rim-runner in the traditional sense, but rather a cerebral big man who understands spacing and timing. His decision-making in the post is advanced for his age - he rarely forces bad shots and consistently makes the right read when double teams arrive. Defensively, he uses his length intelligently, altering shots without always going for the spectacular block. The kid has real court awareness and doesn't get caught out of position often. His motor runs consistently hot, whether it's battling for offensive rebounds or sprinting back in transition. You can see the basketball IQ developing rapidly in real time.
Strengths
His basketball feel is genuinely impressive for a player at his ranking level. Dioum has soft hands around the rim and shows touch on his hook shots from both sides. The footwork in the post is already college-ready, with quick drop steps and solid pivoting fundamentals. Most importantly, he doesn't try to do too much - he understands his role and executes it at a high level consistently.
Areas to Watch
The physicality needs to continue developing, particularly his ability to initiate and absorb contact in the paint. Adding 15-20 pounds of functional strength would unlock another gear in his post game. His perimeter shot selection remains inconsistent - sometimes he's confident from 15 feet, other times he second-guesses himself.
Player Comparison
He reminds me of a young Kelly Olynyk in terms of basketball IQ and touch around the basket. Both players have that sneaky athleticism and court awareness that makes them more effective than their physical tools might suggest. The comparison works because neither relies on pure athleticism but rather on positioning, timing, and smart basketball decisions.
Recruitment
West Virginia locked him up early in the process, and it's easy to see why Bob Huggins' staff moved quickly. Having his teammate Miles Sadler also committed to the Mountaineers creates an instant chemistry advantage. The fact that he drew offers from programs like Wake Forest, Georgia, and Illinois shows the respect he's earned from quality coaching staffs. His commitment to West Virginia feels solid, especially with the Bella Vista connection already in place.
Projection
At the college level, Dioum projects as a solid rotation big man who could develop into a starter by his junior year. His ceiling depends largely on physical development, but his floor is pretty high due to his basketball IQ. Professional basketball isn't out of the question if he continues adding strength and extends his range, but his immediate value is as a reliable, fundamentally sound center who won't hurt you.
Updated Apr 13, 2026 · Analysis by PrepRadar Scouting Team
Career Highlights
Offers
11
West Virginia
Signed
Chose West Virginia over 10 other offers
Wake Forest
UNLV
Arizona State
GeorgiaOffers sourced from 247Sports and social media monitoring.
Social Activity
West Virginia commit Aliou Dioum of CIA Bella Vista made a good impact against Faith Family with his activity on both ends of the floor. He finished plays around the rim, ran the floor and was active on the glass. Defensively, Dioum contested shots in the paint and played with
Hoophall West: GAME 11 OFFICIAL BOX SCORE CIA Bella Vista (AZ): 66 Faith Family (TX): 52 @CIABellaVista @milesadler_ (WVU Signee): 16 PTS, 6 ASTS, 2 STLS Paul Osaruyi (‘27): 10 PTS, 6 REBS @AliouDioum05 (WVU Signee): 9 PTS, 6 REBS @FaithFamilyHoops @Gallagher_P7 (Wake Forest https://t.co/TWBH6Pjvoi
West Virginia 2026 commits Miles Sadler & Aliou Dioum WENT OFF last weekend for CIA Bella Vista at the City Palms Classic vs. Gillion Academy: 5⭐️ Sadler: 25 PTS, 7 REB, & 4 AST 4⭐️ Dioum: 12 PTS, 4/5 3PT, +25 (Team High) Mountaineers fans should be beyond excited for their two https://t.co/66mkUapWNW
𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓭 ✍️ Welcome to Almost Heaven, @AliouDioum05! 🔗 http://bit.ly/4a4lh6h https://x.com/WVUhoops/status/1991522847559414191/video/1
NEWS: 4⭐️ Aliou Dioum has committed to West Virginia, he told @Rivals. The 6-10 center is the No. 80 overall recruit in the 2026 class. https://t.co/30TZ5kqghZ https://t.co/hsHnT0CuPv