A day after officially committing to UVa’s men’s basketball program, Mamadi Diakite appears set to join the Cavaliers this fall, a year earlier than expected.
According to a release from the Blue Ridge School, Diakite has been working this summer to complete his high school requirements and graduate so that he can enroll at UVa this fall. That effort came in consultation with the NCAA and the UVa compliance department, and through that process Blue Ridge determined that his coursework at BRS and in Guinea left him just a couple of classes short of his graduation requirements. Diakite is enrolled in online classes to complete the requirements according to the release.
The fact that Diakite has the ability to graduate early comes as little surprise. Diakite is an extremely focused student who speaks multiple languages and his academic prowess was one of the first things Blue Ridge staffers noted about the star forward when he arrived midway through the 2013-2014 school year.
“From the day Diakite arrived at Blue Ridge School he has been focused on gaining an outstanding college education and today he is on pace to achieve that goal,” said Blue Ridge headmaster Trip Darrin in the release.
Blue Ridge’s newly minted athletic director Bryan Puckett also pointed out what an incredible and unique opportunity this was for Diakite.
“Obviously, this is just the beginning for Mamadi, but we are all confident that he will continue to work hard and take advantage of this great opportunity,” Puckett said. “We are all wishing Mamadi the best and hope he knows he will always have a home here at Blue Ridge School.”
Diakite, who is a defensive force, is a four-star recruit and took official visits at Southern Cal and Washington in addition to UVa. He averaged 10.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game last year while earning first team All-VISAA D2 and All-Scrimmage Play honors.
