Mizzou’s Mohamed Diarra enters transfer portal; two Tigers invited to All-Star events
The Mizzou men’s basketball program will be down at least one player due to transfer, as Mohamed Diarra announced via social media he has placed his name in the transfer portal. Diarra has two years of eligibility remaining wherever he lands.
A 6-10 forward, Diarra originally chose Missouri as 247Sports’ No. 1-ranked JUCO prospect ahead of the 2022-23 season. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game with the Tigers, topping out with 11 points in a win at Ole Miss on Jan. 24 and posting a Mizzou-career-best 12 rebounds in a loss to Alabama three days earlier.
“First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to coach (Dennis) Gates and the entire coaching staff at (Missouri),” Diarra said via social media,” for helping me grow both as a player and as a man.
“I would like to thank each of my teammates for pushing me to be my best every day and believing in me. I have nothing but respect for you guys. Also, I want to extend my greatest appreciation to (the) Mizzou Tigers fan base. I have enjoyed my time spent here.”
Missouri coach Dennis Gates also put out a statement on Diarra’s departure.
“I just want to say Thank You to MOHAMED DIARRA for his contributions to our program & institution under my leadership!” Gates wrote on social media. “Once a MIZZOU Tiger, always a MIZZOU Tiger! We love you & I am here if you need me! May the portal be w/you!”
D’Moi Hodge selected for All-Star game, 3-point challenge
With his college eligibility exhausted, Missouri guard D’Moi Hodge, a graduate-student last year, was invited to the 2023 NABC Division I All-Star Game, Mizzou announced in a release.
The game will tip at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at NRG Stadium in Houston. It will be shown on CBS Sports Network. Hodge will be part of the East team.
Last year, Hodge averaged 14.7 points per game and set a school record with 91 steals (2.6 per game, fourth nationally). He shot 40% from three-point range.
On the topic of three-point shooting, Hodge was invited to compete at the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, which will also take place in Houston (Bayou Music Center) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 (ESPN2).
Former Mizzou standout Marcus Denmon was invited to the same event in 2012. Hodge will be competing in the TaxAct Men’s 3-Point Championship, Mizzou said in a release.
DeAndre Gholston selected for 3X3U Championship
Finally, Missouri guard DeAndre Gholston, perhaps most regarded for his two deep three-point game winners from the 2022-23 season — one against Tennessee, and the other against incoming Big 12 school UCF — is slated for a busy week.
Gholston, who averaged 10.9 points per game and posted 19 points in Mizzou’s season-ending loss to Princeton, was invited to the 2023 State Farm College Team Skills and 3X3U Championship, set to take place on Wednesday, March 29 — though it won’t actually be televised until Sunday, April 2, at 9 p.m. Central (ESPN2).
The men’s D-I Final Four is set to take place in Houston with games on Saturday (national semifinal round) and Monday (championship game).
