Makhtar N'Diaye (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Makhtar Vincent N'Diaye (born December 12, 1973) is a Senegal
ese former basketball
player who played as a power forward
and center
. He played for the Vancouver Grizzlies
in 1999 to became the first player from Senegal to join and play in the National Basketball Association
.
Born in Diourbel
, N'Diaye came to the United States
to play high school basketball at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
. He was recruited to play at Wake Forest
by Coach Dave Odom
, but was ruled ineligible to play by the National Collegiate Athletic Association
because of recruiting violation and transferred to Michigan
. After two seasons there, he transferred again to North Carolina
. After sitting out one season, N'Diaye played under coaches Dean Smith
and Bill Guthridge
, making the NCAA Tournament
Final Four in 1997
and 1998
. After he went unselected in the 1998 NBA Draft
, he signed as a free agent with the Grizzlies.
He played 4 games for Vancouver in the 1998-99 NBA season
before he was traded to the Orlando Magic
, who released him before the 1999-2000 season
. He continued his career in Europe, mostly in the French league
, save for a season-long stint with the North Charleston Lowgators of the NBA Development League
in 2001–02.
He represented Senegal
at the FIBA World Championship
in 1998
and 2006
, and played on the team that won the FIBA Africa Championship
in 1997
.
He is currently a sports agent
for the Wasserman Media Group
.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese former basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played as a power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
and center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
. He played for the Vancouver Grizzlies
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a professional basketball team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's...
in 1999 to became the first player from Senegal to join and play in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
Born in Diourbel
Diourbel
Diourbel is a town in Senegal lying east of Thiès. It is known for its mosque and local groundnut industry. It is the capital of the Diourbel Region. Estimated population 2007: 100,445- Transport :...
, N'Diaye came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play high school basketball at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Mouth of Wilson is an unincorporated community, in Grayson County in the U.S. state of Virginia, just north of the North Carolina state line. The community lies in the Appalachian Mountains on the western banks of the New River, where the Big Wilson Creek empties its waters. The main road through...
. He was recruited to play at Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and their homecourt is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Their only Final Four appearance was in 1962 and through the years they have produced several NBA players. The Demon Deacons have...
by Coach Dave Odom
Dave Odom
Dave Odom is a retired American men's college basketball coach, who most recently coached at the University of South Carolina...
, but was ruled ineligible to play by the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
because of recruiting violation and transferred to Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
. After two seasons there, he transferred again to North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
. After sitting out one season, N'Diaye played under coaches Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
and Bill Guthridge
Bill Guthridge
Bill Guthridge is a retired American college basketball coach.Guthridge initially gained recognition after serving for 30 years as Dean Smith's assistant at the University of North Carolina. Following Dean Smith's retirement in 1997, Guthridge served as head coach of the Tar Heels for three seasons...
, making the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
Final Four in 1997
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
and 1998
1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
. After he went unselected in the 1998 NBA Draft
1998 NBA Draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors....
, he signed as a free agent with the Grizzlies.
He played 4 games for Vancouver in the 1998-99 NBA season
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...
before he was traded to the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, who released him before the 1999-2000 season
1999-2000 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers*Co-Rookies of the Year: Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls; Steve Francis, Houston Rockets*Defensive Player of the Year: Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat...
. He continued his career in Europe, mostly in the French league
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
, save for a season-long stint with the North Charleston Lowgators of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
in 2001–02.
He represented Senegal
Senegal national basketball team
The Senegal national basketball team are the men's basketball side that represent Senegal in international competition. The squad has comprised several players to have competed in the National Basketball Association, including Charlotte Bobcats center DeSagana Diop, and is considered, with those...
at the FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
in 1998
1998 FIBA World Championship
The 1998 FIBA World Championship was the 13th FIBA World Championship, an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation and hosted in Athens, Greece from July 29 to August 9, 1998...
and 2006
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, and played on the team that won the FIBA Africa Championship
FIBA Africa Championship
The FIBA Africa Championship is the men's basketball continental championship of Africa, played biennially under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof...
in 1997
FIBA Africa Championship 1997
The FIBA Africa Championship 1997 was hosted by Senegal from July 25 to August 3, 1997. The games were played in Dakar. This FIBA Africa Championship was to earn the two berths allocated to Africa for the 1998 FIBA World Championship in Greece. Senegal won the tournament, the country's 5th...
.
He is currently a sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
for the Wasserman Media Group
Wasserman Media Group
Founded in 2002 by Casey Wasserman, Wasserman Media Group is a global sport and entertainment agency headquartered in Los Angeles. Wasserman primarily operates within the disciplines of athlete representation, property sales, action sports, and corporate and property consulting...
.
External links
- Makhtar N'Diaye at LNB.fr