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Jersey Number 22
Pape N'Diaye
- Position:
- Forward
- Ht./Wt.:
- 7-0 / 230
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- High School:
- Trinity International
- Prev School:
- UNLV/Xavier
POP En-jie
HONORS
CAREER OVERVIEW
Career-High Points: 11 vs. Fresno State (12/28/24) while at UNLV
Career-High Rebounds: 10 vs. Pacific (12/14/24) while at UNLV
Career-High Assists: 2, twice
Career-High Blocks: 4 vs. Missouri State (12/12/25) while at Xavier
AS A SOPHOMORE AT XAVIER (2025-26) | 2.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)
AS A FRESHMAN AT UNLV (2024-25) | 2.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)
HIGH SCHOOL
PERSONAL
GETTING TO KNOW PAPE
What age did you start playing basketball?
12-13 by my grandpa
Why did you come to K-State?
The way the coaches care about their players and their philosophy
Three words to describe your game
Never give up, play hard and passion
A player you pattern your game after
Kevin Durant
What do you want to develop the most in your game?
I want to be a two-way player
What’s something personal that would surprise people about you?
I’m a really good soccer player
Aside from playing professional basketball, what is something that you want to accomplish in your post-basketball life?
Help young people from Africa that I have a dream to play basketball
Who is the best basketball player ever?
Michael Jordan
Name your top musical artist
LeoKarlo
Ideal vacation spot
Norway or Hawai’i
What do you do to relax?
Play video games or soccer
Last concert that you went to?
Chris Brown
Most used app on your phone
Walking
Most used emoji
Laughing emoji
HONORS
- Member of the Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) National Team
CAREER OVERVIEW
- Transferred to K-State after one season at UNLV (2024-25) and one season at Xavier (2025-26)… Has been a part of 33 wins in his college career.
- Has played in 61 career games with one start.
- 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.
- Saw action in 29 of 33 games for Xavier this past season, where he recorded the second-most blocks (28) despite playing less than 10 minutes per game… 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.
- Ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in blocks at 1.0 per game in 2025-26… Posted 2 or more points in eight games, including a career-high 4 vs. Missouri State (12/12/25).
- Scored a season-best 10 points while at Xavier, both in BIG EAST play, going 4-of-5 from the field vs. Creighton (12/17/25) before hitting on 4-of-6 field goals vs. Seton Hall (3/3/26).
- 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, the son of K-State legendary player and head coach Lon Kruger… Averaged 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.1 minutes per game.
- Was second among all Runnin’ Rebels in blocks (34), recording at least one 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.
- Scored in 24 games for UNLV with a career-high 11 points vs. Fresno State (12/27/24).
- Rated among the top 100 players in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, including the No. 15 overall center, while playing at Red Rock Academy and Trinity International High School.
- Played under current assistant coach John Cooper at UNLV while he played alongside current director of player development Isaiah Walker at Xavier.
- Came to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast in September 2022, settling in Las Vegas… He is the second player to originate from the country following Serge Afeli, who played for the Wildcats in 2005-07.
Career-High Points: 11 vs. Fresno State (12/28/24) while at UNLV
Career-High Rebounds: 10 vs. Pacific (12/14/24) while at UNLV
Career-High Assists: 2, twice
- vs. Creighton (12/17/25) while at Xavier
- vs. Providence (1/10/26) while at Xavier
Career-High Blocks: 4 vs. Missouri State (12/12/25) while at Xavier
AS A SOPHOMORE AT XAVIER (2025-26) | 2.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)
- Helped guide the Musketeers to a 15-18 overall record, including a 6-14 mark in BIG EAST play… Defeated No. 7 seed Marquette in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament before losing to No. 2 seed UConn to conclude the season.
- Saw action in 29 of 33 games, all off the bench.
- Played 273 total minutes, averaging 9.4 minutes per game… Played a season-high 20 minutes vs. Providence (1/10/26).
- Averaged 2.0 points on 46.8 percent (22-of-47) shooting, including 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from 3-point range, with 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game… Connected on 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the free throw line.
- Scored in 11 games, including a pair of 10-point performances, both in BIG EAST play… Went 4-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, in the opener vs. Creighton (12/17/25)… Connected on 4-of-6 field goals vs. Seton Hall (3/3/26).
- Notched his best all-around game vs. Seton Hall (3/3/26) with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks to go with season-tying 10 points.
- Twice knocked down 2 made 3-pointers on the season.
- Grabbed 68 rebounds, including 43 on the defensive end… Had 5 or more boards in 5 games, including a season-high 6 in 3 different BIG EAST games.
- Recorded the second-most blocks (28) on the team… Ranked seventh in the BIG EAST in blocks at 1.0 per game… Posted 2 or more points in eight games, including a season-high 4 vs. Missouri State (12/12/25).
- Saw action in 18 of 20 BIG EAST games… Averaged 2.7 points on 59.4 percent (19-of-32) shooting, including 50 percent (7-of-14) from 3-point range, in league-only games with 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 10.5 minutes per game… Connected on 75 percent (3-of-4) from the free throw line.
- Coached by Richard Pitino.
AS A FRESHMAN AT UNLV (2024-25) | 2.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)
- Helped guide the Runnin’ Rebels to an 18-15 overall record, including an 11-9 mark in Mountain West play.
- Saw action in 32 of 33 games with one start.
- Played in 420 total minutes, averaging 13.1 minutes per game… Played a season-high 25 minutes at Nevada (2/1/25).
- Averaged 2.7 points on 61.7 percent (37-of-60) shooting, including 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from 3-point range, with 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game… Connected on 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line.
- Was second on the team in field goal percentage.
- Scored in 24 games, including a career-high 11 points in a win over Fresno State (12/27/24) on 5-of-6 shooting… Also had 8 points vs. UC Riverside (12/21/24) on 3-of-3 field goals.
- Has 3 made 3-pointers all came in 3 different games.
- Shot 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line… Went a season-best 3-of-4 from the line at Air Force (12/31/24).
- Grabbed 119 rebounds, which were the second-most by a reserve… Ranked third on the team with 39 offensive boards… Had 5 or more rebounds in 13 games, including a career-best 10 vs. Pacific (12/14/24).
- Was second on the team in blocked shots (34), recording at least one in 24 of 32 games played, including nine games of at least 2 blocks.
- Saw action in all 20 Mountain West games with one start… Averaged 2.6 points on 61.1 percent (22-of-36) shooting, including 25 percent (1-of-4) from 3-point range, in league-only games with 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 14.0 minutes per game… Connected on 66.7 percent (6-of-7) from the free throw line.
- His first and only career start came vs. Wyoming (2/8/25).
- Coached by Kevin Kruger.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Ranked among the top 100 players in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, including the No. 15 overall center.
- Attended both Red Rock Academy and Trinity International High School in Las Vegas.
- Played AAU with the Las Vegas Knicks… Blocked over 4 shots per game in the summer of 2023.
- Was invited to the NBPA Top 100 and Pangos All-American Camps.
- Coached by Derek Thomas at Red Rock and Greg Lockridge at Trinity International.
PERSONAL
- Pape N’Diaye was born on Dec. 7, 2004, in Grand-Alepe, Ivory Coast … Parents are Assane N’Diaye and Kouassi N’Dri Eugenie… Legal guardian is Harvin Adams… Has a brother, Steve, and a sister, Marie.
- Came to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast in September 2022.
- N’Diaye is the second player to originate from the Ivory Coast following Serge Afeli, who played for the Wildcats from 2005-07.
- Chose to attend UNLV over Kansas, Miami, New Mexico and Colorado State.
- Majoring in integrative human sciences.
GETTING TO KNOW PAPE
What age did you start playing basketball?
12-13 by my grandpa
Why did you come to K-State?
The way the coaches care about their players and their philosophy
Three words to describe your game
Never give up, play hard and passion
A player you pattern your game after
Kevin Durant
What do you want to develop the most in your game?
I want to be a two-way player
What’s something personal that would surprise people about you?
I’m a really good soccer player
Aside from playing professional basketball, what is something that you want to accomplish in your post-basketball life?
Help young people from Africa that I have a dream to play basketball
Who is the best basketball player ever?
Michael Jordan
Name your top musical artist
LeoKarlo
Ideal vacation spot
Norway or Hawai’i
What do you do to relax?
Play video games or soccer
Last concert that you went to?
Chris Brown
Most used app on your phone
Walking
Most used emoji
Laughing emoji
Wednesday, July 22
Tuesday, July 21
Tuesday, July 21
Tuesday, July 21
