DeSagana Diop didn't like basketball growing up in Senegal. Soccer was his favorite sport "but I was so much bigger than everyone my age." Now, Diop is the model for a lot of Senegalese youngsters. In 2005, he found out just much when after going to the NBA Finals, Diop and Avery Johnson went home and "like 400 kids showed up." The country is now becoming a hoops hotbed. Meanwhile, the Cherry Hill resident is getting a lot of attention in New Jersey, too, following his performance Thursday.
- In Senegal, an academy develops the minds (and game) of promising players - Joshua Hammann - ESPN
- Diop making quite an impression - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Just call him D-iop - Mike Puma - New York Post