Forward Mohamed Diawara will leave Cholet Basket of the LNB Pro A and play with the New York Knicks next season, the French team announced on Friday.
Diawara was the 51st pick after averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 43.9% shooting from the field in 49 games across all league competitions last season. He scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds on May 28.
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The 20-year-old previously played with Paris Basketball and Poitiers Basket 86 in the second division of the French League before joining Cholet Basket. He won the EuroCup championship with Paris Basketball during the 2023-24 season.
Diawara debuted with the Knicks in the NBA Summer League, averaging seven points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 40% shooting from the field in four appearances. He finished with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on July 19.
The 6-foot-8 Frenchman impressed in the annual summer showcase as a player who can handle the ball, finish in transition and space the floor a bit. He also projects to be a versatile defender on the other end of the court, boasting a reported 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan.
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Diawara will now make the transition to the United States for next season, rather than staying in Europe as a draft-and-stash prospect. He projects to be in the mix to sign a two-way contract or a standard contract via the second-round pick exception.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Knicks news: 51st pick Mohamed Diawara to leave France to join team