By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a quick turnaround from sending two players, French Noa Essengue and Israeli Ben Saraf, to the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, ratiopharm Ulm continues investing in promising upstarts. Echoing the recent addition of Italian Diego Garavaglia, French Mohamed Diakite emerged as the latest example on Tuesday.
“After getting to know the organization, management, and coaching staff, I immediately felt this was the right place for me to develop as a player and as a person,” said Diakite, “I can’t wait to be part of the team, work with the other players, and experience the atmosphere in the Ratiopharm Arena.”
The 19-year-old forward inked a three-year contract to join the German club. After registering five appearances in the 2024-25 edition of the Basketball Champions League with Saint-Quentin, alongside recent draft pick Nolan Traore, he is moving his talents to the BKT EuroCup and will also compete in domestic competitions in France.
His international experience with France is highlighted by capturing bronze in the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022, besides also suiting up in the FIBA U16 European Challengers, FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, and, most recently, in the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025. Additional career highlights extend from the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in 2024 to participation in multiple installments of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament, now labeled as Adidas NextGen EuroLeague.
Will McDowell-White joins Bourg
On Monday afternoon, 27-year-old Will McDowell-White was picked up by JL Bourg. The Australian combo guard will expand his continental leagues experience in Europe to the BKT Europe, following 24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague appearances with ALBA Berlin and Brose Bamberg, and three Basketball Champions League games with Bamberg.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced a deal on Tuesday morning, extending the contract of 25-year-old Gabriel Chachashvili until the end of the 2027-28 season. In rehab following a knee injury, the Israeli forward/center is expected to sit out the entire 2025-26 campaign.
Photo Credit: FIBA