Alexander Adds Rim Protector Pape N’Diaye
Apr 27, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The 7-footer has spent time at both UNLV and Xavier in his college career.
Pronounced POP En-jie
MANHATTAN, Kan. – First-year head coach Casey Alexander added an all-important rim protector to his 2026-27 men's basketball roster with the signing of transfer Pape N'Diaye (Abidjan, Ivory Coast/Trinity International/UNLV/Xavier) on Monday (April 27).
A 7-foot, 230-pound forward originally from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, N'Diaye arrives at K-State with two years of Division I experience, having played in 61 games with one start in his time at UNLV (2024-25) and Xavier (2025-26). He posted 62 blocks in those 61 games played to go with 2.4 points on 55.1 percent (59-of-107) shooting to go with 3.1 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game.
N'Diaye saw action in 29 of 33 games for Xavier this past season, where he recorded the second-most blocks (28) on the team despite playing less than 10 minutes per game. He also ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in blocks at 1.0 per game. He posted 2 or more blocks in eight games, including a season-high 4 vs. Missouri State on Dec. 12.
N'Diaye twice scored a season-best 10 points, both in BIG EAST play, going 4-of-5 from the field in the opener with Creighton on Dec. 17 before hitting on 4-of-6 field goals vs. Seton Hall on March 3. He also had 5 or more rebounds in 5 games, grabbing a season-high 6 in 3 BIG EAST contests. For the season, he averaged 2.0 points on 46.8 percent (22-of-47) shooting, including 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point range, to go with 2.3 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game.
N'Diaye started his college career at UNLV in 2024-25, where he played in 32 of 33 games with one start for head coach Kevin Kruger and current K-State assistant coach John Cooper. He averaged 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.1 minutes per game as a true freshman. He was second on the team in blocked shots (34) as he recorded at least one block in 24 of 32 games played, including nine games with at least two blocks. His 119 total rebounds were the second-most by a reserve, while he finished third with 39 offensive boards.
N'Diaye scored in 24 games for the Runnin' Rebels, as he posted a career-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a win over Fresno State on Dec. 27, 2024. He had 5 or more rebounds in 13 games, including a career-best 10 vs. Pacific on Dec. 14, 2024.
N'Diaye attended both Red Rock Academy and Trinity International High School in Las Vegas, where he was rated among the top 100 players in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, including the No. 15 overall center. He also played AAU with the Las Vegas Knicks.
N'Diaye came to the U.S. in 2022 from the Ivory Coast. He is the second player to originate from the country following Serge Afeli, who played for the Wildcats from 2005-07.
N'Diaye is the ninth player to join the Wildcats this spring, including the seventh from the transfer portal.
2026 Signees (alphabetical order)
Isaiah Abraham (6-7, 205, Forward, Jr., Gainesville, Va. (Paul VI/UConn/Georgetown)
Jaylen Alexander (6-2, 185, Guard, Fr., Oxford, Ala. (Oxford)
Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, Forward, RFr., Elizabethtown, Pa. (William Penn Charter/LSU)
Devin Hutcherson (6-4, 180, Forward, Fr., Atlanta, Ga. (Holy Innocents)
Dezdrick (Dez) Lindsay (6-6, 215, Forward, Sr., Louisville, Ky. (Male/Florida SouthWestern/Oregon)
Pape N'Diaye (7-0, 230, Forward, Jr., Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Trinity International/UNLV/Xavier)
JT Rock (7-1, 255, Center, Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (Lincoln/Iowa State/New Mexico)
Jaden Schutt (6-5, 200, Guard, Sr., Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville Christian/Duke/Virginia Tech)
Brock Vice (6-10, 238, Forward, So., Memphis Tenn. (Houston/North Texas/Murray State)
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – First-year head coach Casey Alexander added an all-important rim protector to his 2026-27 men's basketball roster with the signing of transfer Pape N'Diaye (Abidjan, Ivory Coast/Trinity International/UNLV/Xavier) on Monday (April 27).
A 7-foot, 230-pound forward originally from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, N'Diaye arrives at K-State with two years of Division I experience, having played in 61 games with one start in his time at UNLV (2024-25) and Xavier (2025-26). He posted 62 blocks in those 61 games played to go with 2.4 points on 55.1 percent (59-of-107) shooting to go with 3.1 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game.
N'Diaye saw action in 29 of 33 games for Xavier this past season, where he recorded the second-most blocks (28) on the team despite playing less than 10 minutes per game. He also ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in blocks at 1.0 per game. He posted 2 or more blocks in eight games, including a season-high 4 vs. Missouri State on Dec. 12.
N'Diaye twice scored a season-best 10 points, both in BIG EAST play, going 4-of-5 from the field in the opener with Creighton on Dec. 17 before hitting on 4-of-6 field goals vs. Seton Hall on March 3. He also had 5 or more rebounds in 5 games, grabbing a season-high 6 in 3 BIG EAST contests. For the season, he averaged 2.0 points on 46.8 percent (22-of-47) shooting, including 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point range, to go with 2.3 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game.
N'Diaye started his college career at UNLV in 2024-25, where he played in 32 of 33 games with one start for head coach Kevin Kruger and current K-State assistant coach John Cooper. He averaged 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.1 minutes per game as a true freshman. He was second on the team in blocked shots (34) as he recorded at least one block in 24 of 32 games played, including nine games with at least two blocks. His 119 total rebounds were the second-most by a reserve, while he finished third with 39 offensive boards.
N'Diaye scored in 24 games for the Runnin' Rebels, as he posted a career-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in a win over Fresno State on Dec. 27, 2024. He had 5 or more rebounds in 13 games, including a career-best 10 vs. Pacific on Dec. 14, 2024.
N'Diaye attended both Red Rock Academy and Trinity International High School in Las Vegas, where he was rated among the top 100 players in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, including the No. 15 overall center. He also played AAU with the Las Vegas Knicks.
N'Diaye came to the U.S. in 2022 from the Ivory Coast. He is the second player to originate from the country following Serge Afeli, who played for the Wildcats from 2005-07.
N'Diaye is the ninth player to join the Wildcats this spring, including the seventh from the transfer portal.
2026 Signees (alphabetical order)
Isaiah Abraham (6-7, 205, Forward, Jr., Gainesville, Va. (Paul VI/UConn/Georgetown)
Jaylen Alexander (6-2, 185, Guard, Fr., Oxford, Ala. (Oxford)
Matt Gilhool (6-11, 213, Forward, RFr., Elizabethtown, Pa. (William Penn Charter/LSU)
Devin Hutcherson (6-4, 180, Forward, Fr., Atlanta, Ga. (Holy Innocents)
Dezdrick (Dez) Lindsay (6-6, 215, Forward, Sr., Louisville, Ky. (Male/Florida SouthWestern/Oregon)
Pape N'Diaye (7-0, 230, Forward, Jr., Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Trinity International/UNLV/Xavier)
JT Rock (7-1, 255, Center, Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (Lincoln/Iowa State/New Mexico)
Jaden Schutt (6-5, 200, Guard, Sr., Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville Christian/Duke/Virginia Tech)
Brock Vice (6-10, 238, Forward, So., Memphis Tenn. (Houston/North Texas/Murray State)
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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