Massamba making his mark
Freshman center Massamba Diop has established himself as one of the top newcomers in college basketball. He leads all freshman nationally, shooting 65.7% from the field (88-of-135). That figure is good for 9th in the country regardless of class and leads the Big 12.
Diop is third on the team in points (14.6) and second in rebounds (5.6), producing at that level in only 28.1 minutes per game. He also has a team-high 31 blocks and is fourth on the team with 13 steals, doing all this while committing only 31 personal fouls in 16 games. He has 11 games with at least one steal and 13 games with at least one block. After starting the season 18-of-29 (62.1%) from the free throw line, Diop has made 37 of his last 45 (82.2%) from the stripe.
He was impactful yet again against Kansas State, scoring 20+ points for the third straight game and 15+ points for the seventh consecutive contest. He was extremely efficient finishing with 21 points, going 8-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Stop, Diop, and Roll
Diop is also establishing himself as one of the premier defenders in the entire conference. He proved it yet again during a 5-block effort in the win over Kansas State. Through three conference games, he already has two 5+ block performances. His 12 blocks in Big 12 play are the most of any player in the league.
Earlier in the year, he finished with seven blocks against Colorado, the most by a Sun Devil since Jordan Bachynski had eight vs. Arizona on Feb. 14, 2014. He is one of only two Big 12 players to record seven blocks in a game this season, joining BYU's Keba Keita. Diop is one of four freshman nationally to accomplish the feat and one of only two at the Power 5 conference level (Johann Grünloh, Virginia).
Diop now has 31 blocks on the season, which puts him 42nd nationally and 3rd in the Big 12 in the category. He ranks 5th among freshman nationally in blocks, meaning he is top-10 in both field goal shooting and blocks for freshman. He is one of only three freshman that can make that claim (Caleb Wilson, North Carolina; Brandon Benjamin, Fairfield).
Milestone Watch
Diop is in the Top-10 among freshman in program history with three 20-point performance.
Sun Devil Freshman 20-point games (1972-73 to present)
18, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
16, James Harden, 2007-08
12, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
9, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
7, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
5, Steve Beck, 1983-84
4, Christian Polk, 2006-07
3, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
3, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
3, Eddie House, 1996-97
3, Ron Riley, 1992-93
3, Byron Scott, 1979-80
3, Gary Jackson, 1972-73
Diop is already tied for fourth among freshman in program history with 31 blocks this season.
Single-season Blocks by a Sun Devil Freshman
63, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
55, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
33, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
31, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
31, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
29, Jalen Graham, 2019-20
24, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000
23, Romello White, 2017-18
23, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
Diop is currently having the best shooting season by a freshman in program history, making 65.7% of his field goals.
Single-season FG% by a Sun Devil Freshman (min. 100 attempts)
.657, Massamba Diop, 2025-26 (88-of-134)
.652, Romello White, 2017-18 (120-of-184)
.608, Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (209-of-344)
.574, Mario Bennett, 1991-92 (159-of-277)
.570, Dwayne Fontana, 1990-91 (102-of-179)
.568, Eric Holloway, 1983-84 (79-of-139)
.545, Kyle Cain, 2010-11 (78-of-143)
.527, James Harden, 2007-08 (196-of-372)
.525, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25 (93-of-177)
Diop is currently averaging 14.6 points per game, the sixth-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season Points per game by a Sun Devil Freshman
19.0, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
18.5, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
17.8, James Harden, 2007-08
16.1, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
15.4, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
14.6, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
14.3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
13.6, Byron Scott, 1979-80
13.0, Ron Riley, 1992-93
12.6, Eddie House, 1996-97
12.5, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
12.0, Christian Polk, 2006-07
11.9, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
Diop is currently averaging 5.6 points per game, the ninth-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season Rebounds per game by a Sun Devil Freshman
7.9, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
7.8, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
7.1, Romello White, 2017-18
6.8, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
6.2, Marcus Bagley, 2020-21
6.2, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
6.1, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
5.8, Johnny Nash, 1976-77
5.6, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
5.4, Kyle Cain, 2010-11
5.3, James Harden, 2007-08
5.2, Chris Sandle, 1984-85
Diop currently has the tenth-best free throw shooting percentage by a freshman in program history, converting 74.3% from the stripe.
Single-season FT% by a Sun Devil Freshman (min. 35 attempts)
.851, Steve Beck, 1983-84 (63-of-74)
.831, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000 (59-of-71)
.825, Jeremy Veal, 1994-95 (33-of-40)
.821, Johnny Nash, 1976-77 (55-of-67)
.800, Josh Christoper, 2020-21 (44-of-55)
.795, Kevin Kruger, 2003-04 (35-of-44)
.791, Christian Polk, 2006-07 (34-of-43)
.778, Derek Glasser, 2006-07 (34-of-45)
.754, James Harden, 2007-08 (169-of-224)
.743, Massamba Diop, 2025-26 (55-of-74)
.737, Fat Lever, 1978-79 (28-of-38)
.735, Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (180-of-245)
Sun Devils on social
For exclusive content, the latest updates, and more information on the Sun Devil Men’s Basketball program, follow our X and Instagram accounts, like our Facebook page, and visit sundevils.com.
Head coach Bobby Hurley (X: @BobbyHurley11)
Massamba Diop (IG: @mormassabadiop)
