20-07-2025
Iowa basketball among programs on hand for dominant performance from top 2026 center
There wasn't much of an answer inside for 2026 C Arafan Diane tonight. 30 points in Iowa United's win at Augusta Live.@DianeArafan1 @TeamIowaUnited @iowaunitedprep
As the college basketball recruiting grind continues throughout the summer months, Iowa basketball was among a lengthy list of high-profile programs in attendance to see 2026 four-star center Arafan Diane play for Iowa United Prep on Friday during his two games played in the MADE Hoops Augusta Live showcase in Georgia.
The 7-foot-1, 260-pound native of Guinea in West Africa, has played the past year with Iowa United Prep in West Des Moines where he is listed as the No. 1 prospect in the state, the No. 1 center, and No. 15 overall recruit in the 2026 class, per 247Sports.
Along with Iowa, the talented center currently holds offers from 19 other premier programs, including Purdue, Indiana, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Houston, Oregon, and Florida.
In one of the Friday contests, Diane was downright unstoppable, scoring 30 points and grabbing 12 boards.
Diane, who doesn't turn 18 until Nov. 19, previously played for the Dynastie Sports Institute in Montreal before joining Iowa United before the 2024-25 season.
Diane also played for the West African country of Guinea's national team in the U17 2024 World Cup, where he averaged 19.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocked shots and 1.4 assists through seven games, per FIBA basketball. During the tournament, Diane shot 33% from 3-point range, 55% from the field overall, and 74% from the free throw line.
While Diane's skillset has attracted significant attention from some of the top programs nationwide, a potential commitment to the Hawkeyes from the big man would almost immediately catapult the program's expectations to heights long dreamed of by fans.
The heavily-recruited in-state prospect has yet to schedule any official visits, but Diane will be a name that Hawkeye fans will want to keep an eye on.
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