Mark Pope still has work to do at power forward for Kentucky’s 2026-27 roster, and Ousmane Ndiaye is one name in that mix. The 6-foot-11 Senegalese forward currently plays for Vanoli Cremona in Italy, and Kentucky has been in contact with him as it looks to address the spot.
Ndiaye, born in 2004, is averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season in Serie A while logging 26.8 minutes a night. He is also averaging 1.7 stocks per game, production that has helped put him on the radar as a possible fit for the Wildcats.
The appeal goes beyond the numbers. Ndiaye can create his own shot from deep with an elite handle, and he has been described as a three-level scorer. That kind of skill set is rare for a player at his size, and it gives Kentucky a different kind of option at the four.
The timing matters because Kentucky still needs help at power forward for that 2026-27 roster, even as fans wait on a Justin McBride commitment that has not yet come. If McBride does choose the Wildcats, Ndiaye could still remain an additional option at the position.
For Pope, the task is no longer just finding bodies for the frontcourt. It is finding a power forward who can change the shape of the roster, and Ndiaye’s combination of size, production and shot-making gives Kentucky a reason to stay engaged.
