MIAMI (June 2, 2017) – FIU men's basketball Head Coach Anthony Evans announced today the signing of 6-foot-11 center Elhadji Dieng from Mbour, Senegal (Sheridan College [Wyo.]/Canarias Basketball Academy [Spain]) to a National Letter of Intent (NLI) during the recent spring signing period.

Dieng joins 6-foot-5 guard Trejon Jacob from Raleigh, North Carolina (Seminole State College [Okla.]/Millbrook High School), 6-foot-4, point guard Cordell Viera from Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada (Toronto Basketball Academy), 6-foot-5, guard Isaiah Banks from Conyers, Georgia (Heritage High School) and 6-foot-6, guard Willy Nunez from Orlando, Florida (Indian River State College/Oak Ridge High School), who also signed during the spring period, and 6-foot-5, guard Josh Stamps from Chicago, Illinois (Trinity Valley C.C./Curie Metropolitan High School), who signed his NLI during the early signing period in November. The group is expected to contribute immediately during the 2017-18 season.

"Elhadji is a great addition to our team in that he brings size, toughness, skill and a tireless work ethic," said Evans. "He is extremely competitive and driven to improve each day, which will help him make an immediate impact."

Dieng comes to FIU with two years of eligibility after playing last season at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming, where he averaged 8.8 points-, and 6.0 rebounds-per-game in 32 games played for the Generals. He finished the season 75^th in the nation in offensive rebounds (86) and 87^th in field goal percentage (57.7 percent). Of his 32 games with Sheridan, Dieng scored in double figures 13 times, including a 20-or-more points twice, and posted two double doubles.

Dieng started his collegiate career in the United States at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico, during the 2015-16 season, and helped to guide the Thunderbirds to a 21-10 record and an 11-5 conference ledger. In 29 games played Dieng averaged 4.5 points-per game and 5.2 rebounds-per-contest.

Dieng played his high school basketball at Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in eight different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.