A Strategic Addition
University of Southern Indiana head coach Stan Gouard revealed this week that 6‑foot‑9 senior forward Didier Maleng will join the Screaming Eagles for the 2026‑27 season, adding a versatile presence to the roster.
Maleng, a native of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arrives after a collegiate journey that spanned Denver University, South Plains College and Triton College, bringing a blend of international experience and domestic exposure.
During his lone season with the Pioneers, he averaged 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game, highlighted by a season‑high 17‑point outing against the University of Colorado‑Colorado Springs and a Division I career‑high of six points and three rebounds in a win over South Dakota.
His earlier stints were equally notable: at South Plains College he posted 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over 12.6 minutes, while at Triton College he contributed 5.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per contest, culminating in a career‑high 23‑point performance at Richard J. Daley College.
Before college, Maleng helped Lawton Christian High School in Oklahoma capture state championships in 2019 and 2020, underscoring his competitive pedigree.
He will join a group of newcomers that includes Ari Gooch, LA Hayes, Donovan Hunter, Ebrahim Kaba, Johann Pautsch, Fredy‑Salam Sylla, Josh Smith, Afan Trnka and Yesan Warren, bolstering the squad ahead of the upcoming season.