Meet the new French-speaking big man on the UNI men’s basketball team. Ismaël Diouf looks to bring a mix of size, skill and past experiences to help the Panthers get over the hump in the Missouri Valley Conference.
“Control what you can control” — that’s something Diouf lives by. And with a path like his to UNI, how else could you go about it? From Canada to Raleigh and now to Cedar Falls, he’s seen enough and then some. His optimism perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere building around the 2025–26 UNI squad.
Diouf is a 23-year-old, 6-foot-9 transfer forward from North Carolina State University. His journey to UNI has been one of dedication, hard work and constant adaptation. His father — who was also his youth basketball coach — is a big reason why Diouf fosters this mentality.
“It was kind of hard sometimes because it was really intense. He knew my potential and what I could do,” Diouf said.
Those values show on the court, where he focuses on being a team player who likes to get others involved. His skills and versatility make him a valuable option for the Panthers.
“I can shoot, I can dribble, I can drive, block. That would be my role, to be versatile,” he said. “Crash offensive rebounds, be a good two-way. Be a good communicator off the court and on the court.”
Diouf grew up in Quebec in a town a little smaller than Cedar Rapids called Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. He first picked up a basketball at age six and was coached by his father until he was 12. He began his collegiate career at Laval University in Quebec. In two years there, he earned honors such as being named to the Regional All-Rookie Team and the U Sports Final 8 Tournament MVP — the Canadian equivalent of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Diouf was then drafted with the first overall pick in the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League draft by the Montreal Alliance. There, he connected with an agent who told him about NCAA opportunities in the United States. After speaking with several teams, he chose to join N.C. State.
During his time there, Diouf learned and adjusted to the American style of play.
“It’s a different style of play, different attitude, mindset,” Diouf said. “Canadian basketball is really a mix of American basketball and European basketball.”
He also noted how business-driven the power conferences can be, saying that players are often viewed for their monetary value, creating an environment different from what he was used to.
Diouf left N.C. State at the end of the season, deciding to transfer to UNI. He joins 11 returning players along with five other newcomers. That team continuity has created a culture that fits his team-centered style of play.
“The culture that they have here is more like a family and everybody’s here for each other,” Diouf said. “That’s why they have like eleven returners from last year. It shows a lot about the people that Coach [Ben] Jacobson recruits.”
He’s rooming with redshirt freshman Ben Schweiger, who transferred last year. Schweiger has helped Diouf learn about UNI and how the program operates. Fellow transfer Tristan Smith has also helped, as have veterans like Trey Campbell and Leon Bond III, who’ve shown Diouf the ropes of how Jacobson runs the team.
With so many returners, team chemistry is at an all-time high, even with a handful of new faces.
“On the court we’re really competitive. We push each other, but outside everybody’s hanging out with everybody,” Diouf said. “We have fun and we’re not afraid to talk. It’s all love. The coaches are great. They’re really involved with each player and I really appreciate that.”
Being mentally strong is crucial in basketball, and with all the moving around he’s done, Diouf’s mindset has been tested plenty.
“My first year, of course, I wasn’t close with my team, so I was kind of alone,” he said. “I’d FaceTime with my girlfriend and with my family all the time. It was kind of hard to be in a place where I don’t even know a lot of people. But here, I think I’m with the guys almost every day.”
Almost anyone who’s a six-hour flight away from home is going to miss it. Still, Diouf chooses to stay optimistic and embrace wherever he’s at in the moment.
“Yes, I miss home. It’s far, but I think it’s a good way to get out of my comfort zone and also adapt,” he said. “Like speaking more English, being more fluent and developing as a person.”
Diouf is an easygoing team player who absorbs the knowledge and energy of the people around him. Last year, he spoke with a psychologist who gave him advice that stuck.
“Control what you can control — that’s what I’ve learned to cherish,” he said. “You can only control the work you put into it. You cannot control if you make a shot, but you can control how many times you practiced working on it.”
