MORGANTOWN — The West Virginia basketball program kicked off their 2026 recruiting efforts in a major way by landing four-star Bella Vista Prep (Co.) big Aliou Dioum.
Dioum, 6-foot-10, 200-pounds, is considered one of the highest upside bigs in the 2026 recruiting cycle given his motor, length and timing. Dioum was ranked 80th overall according to Rivals and became a priority for the Mountaineers as soon as the program offered a scholarship in July.
The talented big put together a strong resume with Team Melo on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game at Peach Jam. That cemented West Virginia jumping into his recruitment after the coaching staff had been watching him for two weeks prior.
Dioum would take an official visit to West Virginia Aug. 30 and as well as to Mississippi State and Wake Forest but ultimately the Mountaineers would win the battle.
Dioum gives West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge a key building block as he looks to piece together what the 2026 recruiting class is going to eventually look like. The program now has a talented big man that excels on the defensive end of the floor and is equipped with a developing offensive game.
“I am a defensive minded big. I love to protect the rim, play hard, and win. I’m a versatile big that loves to compete,” Dioum said.
It’s another major win for Hodge and company on the recruiting trail in their short time in Morgantown after previously landing top 100 2026 point guard Amir Jenkins. The four-star point guard ended up reclassifying to join the team immediately but it’s a good sign that the coaching staff has been able to win some of these major recruiting battles without a resume in Morgantown yet.
And for Dioum that came down to trust.
“I chose West Virginia because they showed me a plan to be successful from Day 1. I believe in Coach Hodge and the entire staff to develop me and help me become the best person and player I can be,” Dioum said.
— Story by Keenan Cummings
