By JAMES MADDEN & SAM LANCE
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA — Georgia Tech may have landed one of the best defensive anchors in the country: Moustapha Diop. At 6-foot-10, 215-pounds, Diop is one of the premier interior defenders in America. He’s a member of the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta and will spend the summer with Game Elite on the 3SSB circuit.
“Everything you want me to do, I can do,” Diop told ZAGSBLOG. “I can go get a bucket. I can score on two levels and defend. And can make a pass for my teammates from the paint.”
At 3SSB Session 2, Diop posted averages of 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds with three total blocks. On Sunday, he held four-star 7-footer Arafan Diane to just nine points and helped Game Elite pull out a double-overtime win. The big man ranks second in the entire circuit at the 17u in rebounding average (8.3).
Originally from Senegal, Diop spent much of his childhood living in Spain before relocating to the United States in 2022. He comes from a family of athleticism and talent, having older brothers that still play basketball across Europe and in Spain.
Diop announced his decision to remain in the Atlanta area and play for Damon Stoudamire and Georgia Tech in November.
“I have a good relationship with [Damon] Stoudamire and he’s been watching me for a while,” Diop said. “I’ve been going around campus since I was a sophomore in high school, so I love the facilities and all that.”
Diop has already begun to build connections with players on the Georgia Tech roster, hoping to gain comfortability right away when he joins the team.
“Baye Ndongo, he’s also from Senegal,” Diop said. “So the connection was there. I know most of them but I’m close with Baye. Also Mo Sylla, we’re kind of like brothers.”
Entering the 2025-26 season, Georgia Tech looks like it will be much improved, and they have one of the best defensive anchors stepping foot on campus for the 2026-27 season. Diop will bring a fierce mentality and a sense of confidence to Atlanta the minute he steps foot on campus.
“They got someone that will work hard and has come a long way,” Diop said. “I really earned this and I worked for it. They got a dog. I’m a leader.”
Diop is ranked as the No. 18 recruit in the class of 2026 according to 247Sports.
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