Syracuse basketball didn't prevail for a 2026 four-star big man who is originally from Senegal and plays for a prep-school powerhouse in Arizona.
According to reports from Joe Tipton of On3/Rivals and others, Aliou Dioum has verbally committed to West Virginia out of the Big 12 Conference. Last month, the 6-foot-11 center disclosed a final six of the 'Cuse, Illinois, Mississippi State, UNLV, Wake Forest and West Virginia.
Candidly, it's not a surprise that the Orange didn't win out for Dioum, who is rated the No. 80 overall prospect and the No. 11 center, per Rivals. He didn't visit the Hill, and that's usually an indication that a high school prospect is headed elsewhere. Tipton wrote that, ultimately, Dioum chose the Mountaineers over Mississippi State and Wake Forest.
Per 247Sports, he had visited suitors such as Wake Forest, UNLV and West Virginia. The Syracuse basketball coaching staff had offered a scholarship to Dioum in late October of 2024. Several of his teammates have also received 'Cuse offers.
Syracuse basketball remains on the hunt for a first 2026 verbal pledge.
Dioum is a senior at CIA Bella Vista in Phoenix, which competes in the loaded Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic"). He has said that he liked the Orange program because one of his all-time favorite players is Syracuse basketball legend Carmelo Anthony.
Other CIA Bella Vista players who hold an Orange scholarship offer include 2027 five-star big man Paul Osaruyi and 2026 four-star wing/small forward Vaughn Karvala, who is planning to take an official visit to the 'Cuse this coming weekend.
Last week, Syracuse basketball was eliminated from contention for another 2026 target, four-star small forward Ralph Scott from Bermuda, who is a senior at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Scott was to officially visit the Orange during the weekend that begins on October 17, but he canceled that trip to Central New York.
The top targets for the 'Cuse in the 2026 cycle, as far as I can tell, include Karvala, four-star shooting guard Dakari Spear, five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., five-star shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. and four-star big man Asher Elson. Also keep an eye on five-star guard/small forward Alex Constanza, four-star power forward MJ Madison and five-star forward Christian Collins.