By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Saliou Niang is heading to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Virtus Segafredo Bologna, per the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mike Gansey.
The 21-year-old Senegalese-Italian winger was selected by the Cavs with the 58th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm on Thursday. However, the Cavs will stash him in Europe’s premier club continental competition for the next season.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for him to play at the highest level over there, and we’ll be tracking him and keeping tabs on him,” explained Gansey following the draft held in Barclays Center.
The Cavaliers are also hoping Niang will suit up for the franchise in the upcoming Summer League.
The promising youngster played for Dolomiti Energia Trento over the past two years, after launching his professional career with fellow Italian club Fortitudo Kigili Bologna.
With Trento, he logged 23 games played in the BKT EuroCup, including 6.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over 17 appearances in the 2024-25 installment of the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball.
At the domestic level, he was named Most Improved Player of the 2024-25 edition of LBA UnipolSai, after tallying 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest in the Regular Season. He added 8.8 points per game in the Playoffs. In a midseason triumph, he celebrated the Frecciarossa Final Eight 2025 championship in Turin.
At the international level, he was capped by Italy in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net