A Rising Star Takes the Court
Pape N'Diaye, a 7‑foot, 230‑pound forward born in Abidjan, is set to don the Ivory Coast jersey as the nation’s representatives in the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
The Ivorians, nicknamed the Elephants, have been placed in Group B alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Senegal, with matches scheduled in Dakar, Douala, and Luanda from July 2 to 5.
For N'Diaye, the tournament marks a milestone in his first season at Kansas State, where he has already shown flashes of defensive prowess, recording 28 blocks in limited minutes last year.
His basketball journey began at Red Rock Academy and Trinity International High School in Las Vegas before stints at UNLV and Xavier, where he earned a reputation as a top‑100 prospect in the Class of 2024.
Off the court, N'Diaye’s participation is also being streamed through DAZN, which holds the broadcast rights for the qualifiers, giving fans across the United States and beyond a chance to follow the action live.