Cartier Diarra

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against West Virginia at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on January 18, 2020.

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against TCU at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on January 7, 2020.

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against Marquette at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on December 7, 2019.

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against Kansas at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on February 29, 2020.

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against Baylor at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas on February 3, 2020.

Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics

K-State's Cartier Diarra drives to the basket against North Dakota State at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

K-State's Cartier Diarra passes the ball against Washburn at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas.

Photo by: Big 12 Conference

K-State's Carter Diarra competes during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 9, 2018 (Scott D. Weaver/Big 12 Conference)

Photo by: Big 12 Conference

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against Kentucky in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 22, 2018.

K-State's Cartier Diarra competes against Loyola during the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Elite Eight at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 24, 2018.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-South Regional-Kansas State vs Kentucky

Photo by: Scott D. Weaver / K-State Athletics

Position:
Guard
Height:
6-4
Weight:
185
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Florence, S.C.
High School:
West Florence

Note

Opted to graduate transfer to Virginia Tech in March 2020 for his final year of eligibility.

Honors

2020 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (12/30/2019)
Spring 2019 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Fall 2019 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
2019 Dean Harris Sixth Man Award
2018 Ed Nealy Most Improved Award

Career

Played in 95 career games with 58 starts, while totaling 2,538 minutes (26.7 mpg.).
Finished his career with 864 points (9.1 ppg.), which ranks in the school’s Top 50, on 42.6 percent shooting (293-of-687), including 34.5 percent (112-of-325) from 3-point range.
Posted 40 double-digit scoring games, including 5 games of 20 or more points.
One of 26 Wildcats to eclipse 200 career assists (251), while was one of 39 to top 100 in a single season (134) in 2019-20… His 251 career assists rank 20^th on the all-time list.
Finished with 300 rebounds, 110 steals and 21 blocks in his career.

As A Junior (2019-20)

One of 6 players to play in all 32 games to go with 27 starts… Ranked third on the team in starts behind Xavier Sneed and Makol Mawien… Had a streak of 20 consecutive starts end at Alabama (1/25/20)… Started 9 of the last 10 games after coming off the bench in the previous 4 games.
Logged nearly 1,000 minutes (997:16) during the season, averaging 31.2 minutes per game… Ranked second on the team to Xavier Sneed in minutes per game… Played 30 or more minutes in 21 games, including a season-best 39 at Oklahoma (3/4/20).
Averaged 13.3 points on 41.2 percent shooting (148-of-359), including 30.5 percent (51-of-167) from 3-point range, with 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game… Did hit on 50.5 percent (97-of-192) of his field goals inside the 3-point arc… Connected on 66.9 percent (79-of-118) from the free throw line.
One of 2 Big 12 players (along with Kansas’ Devon Dotson) to rank in Big 12’s Top 15 in scoring (12^th) and Top 5 in assists (fourth) and steals (third)… Also ranked 12^th in the Big 12 in scoring (13.3 ppg.), 11^th in 3-point field goals made (1.59) and 10^th in assist/turnover ratio (1.30).
Named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week after his career-best 25 points against Tulsa (12/29/20), which included a career-high 6 3-pointers, 7 assists and 5 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Led the team in 20-point games (5), field goals made (148), assists (134) and steals (58), while he was second in most other offensive categories, including scoring (13.3 ppg.), field goals attempted (359), 3-point field goals made (51) and attempted (167), free throws made (79) and attempted (118) and double-digit scoring games (23).
Scored in all 32 games, including 23 double-digit scoring games and a team-best 5 games of 20 or more points… Led the team in scoring in 14 games… Tied his career high of 25 points twice, first vs. Tulsa (12/29/19) on 8-of-16 field goals, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and lastly vs. No. 12/13 West Virginia (1/18/20) on 8-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.
Also posted 20-point games against North Dakota State (23; 11/5/19), vs. Mississippi State (20; 12/14/19) and at Iowa State (24; 2/8/20)… The 23-point effort against NDSU in the season opener was his first career 20-point game and came on 8-of-21 field goals.
Knocked down at least two 3-pointers in 17 games, including a career-best 6 vs. Tulsa (12/29/19)… The 6 treys were the most by a Wildcat since 2018… Also hit on 5 3-pointers at Iowa State (2/8/20) and 4 in the win over No. 12/13 West Virginia (1/18/20).
Dished out a team-best 134 assists on the season… Became the 39^th Wildcat with 100 assists in a single season with 4 vs. No. 12/13 West Virginia (1/18/20)… Posted the first 10-assist game since 2014 with a career-best 10 vs. Alabama State (12/11/19)… Led the team in assists in 21 games… Had 14 games of at least 5 assists, including each of the first 9 games.
Tied Xavier Sneed with the team lead in steals (58) and was one of seven players with 20 or more steals… Had at least 2 steals in 15 games, including a career-high 5 against Bradley (11/27/19) and Florida A&M (12/2/19)… Led the team in steals in 11 games.
Was second on the team with 10 blocks, including a career-best 3 at Iowa State (2/8/20).
Saw action in all 18 Big 12 games with 14 starts… Averaged 13.5 points on 42.9 percent shooting (85-of-198), including 30.5 percent (29-of-95) from 3-point range, to go with 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.8 minutes per game… Connected on 67.7 percent (44-of-65) from the free throw line… Posted 15 double-digit scoring games in Big 12 play, including two 20-point games.

As A Sophomore (2018-19)

Saw action in 26 games with 9 starts… Missed 8 games due to a broken finger from Feb. 12 to March 9… Came back to play the last 3 games, including starts vs. Iowa State (3/15/19) in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship and vs. UC Irvine (3/22/19) in the NCAA Tournament… Was primarily the first option off the bench (17 of 26 games), but moved into the starting lineup (9 starts) during Dean Wade’s two injury stints.
Logged 662 minutes on the season, averaging 25.5 minutes per game… Had eight games of 30 or more minutes, including a season-high 36 at No. 11/11 Texas Tech (1/5/19).
Averaged 6.8 points on 40.4 percent shooting (55-of-136), including 36.5 percent (27-of-74) from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game… Connected on 70.2 percent (40-of-57) from the free throw line.
Scored in 24 games, including 8 double-digit scoring games… Posted a season-high 15 points against Iowa State (3/15/19) on 5-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
Tallied double figures in 5 of the last 7 games played, a span in which he averaged 11 points on 49 percent shooting (25-of-51), including 50 percent (15-of-30) from 3-point range… Scored in 4 straight double-digit scoring games (averaging 11.3 points per game on 51.7 percent shooting during that span) before an injury sidelined him for 8 games from Feb. 12 to March 9.
Ranked fourth in 3-point field goals made (27) with at least 2 treys in 9 games… Connected on 36.5 percent (27-of-74) from long range, including 50 percent (15-of-30) in the last 7 games played… Tied a season-high 4 triples against Iowa State (3/15/19) at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
Connected on 70.2 percent (40-of-57) from the free throw line, including 75 percent (12-of-16) in the last 7 games played… Went perfect from the line in 8 contests.
Grabbed 5 or more rebounds in 7 contests, including a career-tying 7 on 3 occasions (Tulsa, Vanderbilt and Iowa State).
Dished out 44 assists on the year with 18 coming in the last 7 games (2.6 per game)… Had a season-high 4 against Eastern Kentucky (11/16/18) and at Baylor (2/9/19).
Was one of six players with 20 or more steals (24)… Had at least 2 steals in 6 games, including a season-high 3 at Texas A&M (1/26/19).
Saw action in 10 Big 12 games with 3 starts… Averaged 6.4 points on 40.5 percent shooting (17-of-42), including 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from 3-point range, to go with 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.5 minutes per game… Connected on 75 percent (21-of-28) from the free throw line.

As A Redshirt Freshman (2017-18)

One of four players to see action in all 37 games, which tied seven others for the most in a single season in school history… The 37 games played were the most by a freshman in school history… After coming off the bench in the first 15 games was pressed into the starting lineup after Kamau Stokes broke his foot at No. 18/18 Texas Tech (1/6/18) and started the last 22 games of the season, including all four NCAA Tournament games.
Totaled 879 minutes on the season, including logging 30 or more minutes in 11 games, with a season-high 37 minutes in his first career start against Oklahoma State (1/10/18)… The 879 minutes were the fifth-most by a freshman in school history.
Averaged 7.1 points on 46.9 percent shooting (90-of-192), including 40.5 percent (34-of-84) from 3-point range, with 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals per game… Connected on 72.3 percent (47-of-65) from the free throw line.
Ranked among the Top 5 in 12 categories, including fourth in assists (73) and fifth in scoring (7.1 ppg.), double-digit scoring games (10), field goals made (90), 3-point field goals made (34), free throws made (47), steals (28) and minutes played (879).
The injury to Stokes played a huge factor in his development, as he averaged 9.0 points on 47.7 percent shooting (71-of-149), including 41 percent (25-of-61), from 3-point range, in 28.9 minutes per game in the last 23 games… Averaged 8.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting (68-of-144), including 39.7 percent (23-of-58) from long range, in starting the last 22 games… In the first 15 games off the bench, he averaged just 3.9 points on 44.2 percent shooting.
Posted 10 double-digit scoring games with eight coming after being inserted in the lineup due to the injury to Stokes… Scored in double figures for the first time in his career after replacing him against No. 18/18 Texas Tech (1/6/18) with 11 points… In all, he scored in double figures in his first four games after being inserted into the lineup, including a season-high 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13/18)… Also had 17 points in his first career start against Oklahoma State (1/10/18) and 16 against No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16/18).
Connected on 40.5 percent from 3-point range, which was the third-highest mark by a freshman in school history… Knocked down 34 3-pointers on the year, including a season-best 4-of-4 effort in his first career game against American (11/10/17)… Had at least 2 treys in 8 other games.
Hit on 72.3 percent from free throw line, which was the 10^th-highest percentage by a freshman in school history... Went a season-best 7-of-9 from the line vs. No. 7/7 Texas Tech (2/10/18).
Dished out 73 assists on the year, which tied for the eighth-highest total by a freshman in school history… Totaled 4 or more assists in 7 games with a season-high 6 at Baylor (1/22/18).
His 28 steals ranked fifth on the team… Tallied at least 2 steals in 8 games, including a season-high 3 in the NCAA Tournament win vs. UMBC (3/18/18).
Saw action in all 18 Big 12 games with 15 starts… Averaged 9.2 points on 50.5 percent shooting (56-of-111), including 45.7 percent (21-of-46) from 3-point range, to go with 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.2 minutes per game… Connected on 82.1 percent (32-of-39) from the free throw line.
Ranked among the Big 12’s Top 15 in both field goal percentage (11^th) and 3-point field goal percentage (3^rd) in conference-only games.
Was among the team leaders in Big 12-only games, ranking second in free throw percentage, third in free throw made and attempted and assist and fourth in scoring, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, steals and minutes played.

As A Freshman (2016-17)

Missed the season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery on July 13.

High School

A highly-regarded prospect by the recruiting services, ranking as the No. 55 point guard in the nation according to 247Sports, including the fourth-best player in the state of South Carolina… Rated No. 11 on the list of the Top 25 players in South Carolina by the Charlotte Observer.
A three-year letterman at West Florence High School in West Florence, S.C. … Helped the Knights to back-to-back 19-win seasons as a junior and senior, including a 19-6 overall record and a trip to the Class 4A State Tournament in 2015-16… Attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx as a freshman.
Selected to the 2016 South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (SCBCA) Class 4A All-State team as a senior… Named to the Region 6-4A and Florence (S.C.) Morning News Player of the Year… Named MVP of the Gatorade Turkey Shootout and Pepsi Carolina Classic.
Invited to play in the Carolinas All-Star Basketball Classic on March 19, 2016, which annually pits the top seniors from both North and South Carolina… Posted a team-high 15 points and 7 rebounds in helping South Carolina defeat North Carolina, 114-91.
Averaged 13.4 points in his 3-year prep career on 55.3 percent shooting (311-of-562), including 35.6 percent (47-of-132) from 3-point range, with 7.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 69 games played… Connected on 69.5 percent (257-of-370) from the line.
Totaled 926 points, 535 rebounds, 330 assists, 175 steals and 92 blocks in his prep career.
Scored in double figures 50 times in his career, including 16 20-point games… Tallied 27 career double-doubles with 8 triple-doubles (points/rebounds/assists)… Posted a 3.14 career assist-to-turnover radio (330 assists to 105 turnovers).
Averaged 18.8 points on 62.7 percent shooting (158-of-252), including 32.7 percent (17-of-52) from 3-point range, to go with 11.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 3.6 steals and 2.1 blocks per game in 25 games as a senior in 2015-16… Shot 70.5 percent (141-of-200) from inside the 3-point line… Connected on 77.4 percent (137-of-177) from the free throw line.
Led the team in rebounding, assists and steals and was second in scoring and blocks as a senior.
Scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games played with 12 20-point games as a senior… Scored a season-high 26 points on 10-of-11 field goals vs. Wilson (1/5/16).
Tallied 22 double-doubles (21 points/rebounds and 1 points/assists) in 25 games as a senior… Collected 7 triple-doubles (points/rebounds/assists), including a stretch of 3 in a row… Had his best all-around game as a senior vs. Hartsville (12/5/15) with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 steals and 4 blocks.
Registered double-digit rebounds 21 times, including a season-high 15 vs. Socastee (1/29/16)… Dished out double-digit assists 8 times, including a season-best 13 vs. Lake City (12/29/15)… Grabbed at least 2 steals in every game, including a season-high 7 done 3 times… Posted at least 1 block in every game, including season-high 4 vs. Hartsville (12/5/15).
Coached by Peter Ellis.

Personal

Cartier Ducati Diarra was February 6, 1998 in Manhattan, N.Y. … Parents are Sirima Diarra and Danyelle Lee... Has three siblings (Abraham, Cyncere and LadiRoyale).
Originally from Manhattan, N.Y., Diarra moved to Florence, S.C., during high school where Sharone Wright served as a mentor… Wright played at Clemson (1991-94) and was the No. 6 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft.
Credits his background as a hip-hop dancer for his flexibility and endurance… Started dance in the third grade and practiced it through eighth grade.
Earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family sciences in May 2020.