Ibou Dianko Badji

Draft Notes

Ibou is one of the most intriguing young talents in the world thanks to his quick-twitch athleticism in a chiseled 7-1 frame. It’s not every day that you see a player with his physical attributes and he really stands out, just moving up and down the court.

After withdrawing his name from the 2021 draft he’ll look to solidify his status as first rounder for 2022.

He alters the game on the defensive end and is an anchor in the lane. He does a decent job of staying vertical and blocking shot without fouling. The Dikembe Mutumbo comparison gets thrown around too often but with Badji it really seems to fit. His impact on the defensive end should translate to the NBA level and he’ll block a lot of shots in his career.

His offensive game is very raw but he shows the makings of jump shooting ability and ball handling skills. He projects as more than just a back to the basket type of center in the future. For now he scores mostly on devastating dunks and face-up power moves to the basket.

He should get a lot more hype and name recognition as the 2021 draft gets closer.

Comparisons

• Dikembe

Draft Projection

mid first to early second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

2022 Centers

1. Chet Holmgren – 7-0 – Gonzaga
2. Jalen Duren – 6-10 – Memphis
3. Mark Williams – 7-0 – Duke
4. Christian Koloko – 7-1 – Arizona (Cameroon)
5. Walker Kessler – 6-11 – Auburn 
6. Kenneth Lofton Jr. – 6-7 – LA Tech
7. Ismael Kamagate – 6-11 – France
8. Jaylin Williams – 6-10 – Arkansas
9. Khalifa Diop – 6-11 – Senegal 
10. Ibou Dianko Badji – 7-1 – Senegal
11. Kofi Cockburn – 7-0 – Illinois (Jamaica)
12. Orlando Robinson – 7-0 – Fresno State
13. Trevion Williams – 6-10 – Purdue
14. Yannick Nzosa – 6-11 – DR Congo
15. Kai Sotto – 7-2 – Philippines
16. David McCormack – 6-10 – Kansas