Malick Diallo: Full Circle

<p>Malick was born in Mali in 2005, where he grew up and faced many trials and tribulations. His uncle would eventually introduce him to basketball and with it, a path to come to America. "When I first tried basketball, I didn’t like it, and I quit," said Malik, "But six months later, I came back and started to fall in love with it."</p> <p>As Malick continued to grow and mature, so did his game. He competed on a selection team where he got noticed by members of the Mountain Stars and was given the opportunity to come to the US. Although Malik was excited about this new adventure, leaving his homeland was difficult.</p> <p>"Leaving my family was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do," said Malick, "My Dad passed away the same week I was scheduled to fly to America. I didn’t want to leave my family during that tough time, but they encouraged me to go and pursue my dreams."</p> <p>When Malick got to America, he struggled to find joy in his new surroundings as he was concerned for his family. "Once I talked with my mom a few weeks after I arrived and found out everyone was doing alright, I felt like I could start having fun," said Malick.</p> <p>On the court, it didn’t take long for him to start standing out, with his rare combination of length and athleticism making him tough to handle. At 6’9, Malick was already one of the biggest players in the state and soon added the skills of a forward to make him a true mismatch nightmare. He can push the pace in transition when he gets a rebound, attack defenders off the dribble, and shoot from the outside. The top-ranked player in the class of 2024 has dominated in high school, the shoe circuit, and soon the prep school scene has he’ll spend the next two seasons at Wasatch Academy.</p> <p>Malik has been able to go back and see his family since coming to the US and being away from them has made the time they get to spend together even more special.</p> <p>Before Malick continues his high school career, he got the opportunity to represent Mali in the 2022 FIBA 17U World Cup. "Playing for my country is incredible," said Malick. "I’m excited to help Mali grow into where we want it to be in the future. Basketball is everything to me, so representing my country is an honor.</p> <p>Malick left quite the impression in four games leading his team in scoring per game with 16, rebounds per game with 12.5, and assists per game with 3.3. He has shown out against several countries, including the US, Slovenia, and Lebanon. Poland eliminated Mali from the tournament but Malick continued to stand out as he led his team in scoring again with 17.</p> <p>The 2022 FIBA 17U World Cup was held in Spain, but before the competition began, Malick was once again able to go back to Mali to see his family and friends again. "It’s always great to see them; my goal is to take care of them one day."</p>