From Senegal to the Mount
Four Players Bring International Talent to the Court
By Alisha Yocum
Many people may not know much about Senegal, a country along the Atlantic coast of West Africa with a population of approximately 18 million people. French is its official language, and basketball has become an important part of its sports culture for its youth.
Now, four players from Senegal are bringing their talent and international experience to the basketball court at Mount St. Mary’s University. As they join the Mountaineers, the coach and players are helping strengthen the university’s basketball program.
Sidy Sall joined the Mount’s coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2024. That same season, Abdou Khadre Kébé joined the men’s basketball team. Yakha Diop followed a year later and is now entering his sophomore season at the Mount.
This year, the women’s basketball team welcomed Yacine N’Diaye, a transfer from Rutgers University, who hopes to help the Mountaineers find success on the court.
One might ask: How did basketball become popular in Senegal? Well, the answer is the SEED Academy. The academy started in 2002 in Thies, Senegal, and, in 2017, partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to launch the NBA Africa Academy. Their mission is simple: use education and basketball to develop the next generation of African leaders.
Over half of Senegal’s population is under the age of 18, but only about one-third receive a secondary-level education. Part of the SEED program is that athletes receive tuition to attend a local private or public middle school or high school, as well as English classes and college placement support.
All four started their journeys at the SEED Academy. Both Kébé and Diop attended the NBA Academy as well.
For Sall, basketball has taken him around the world. He played professionally in Bahrain, Bolivia, and Morocco before an injury led him to transition from playing to coaching.
He started his coaching career as a youth coach for the NBA Academy and served as the assistant coach for the Senegal Women’s Basketball National Team before finding his way to The Mount.
Both Sall and Kébé helped the Mount win the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, and Kébé was named a Preseason All-Metro First Team selection, truly showing the talent coming out of the SEED Academy.
Kébé said, “It’s an honor for me to be named preseason First Team on Metro. But also, in a sense, it means nothing because the most important part is yet to be done, which is to go out there and prove it.”
N’Diay can attest to the difference the SEED Academy made in her life.
“When I started [playing basketball], I was really shy, but basketball helped me open up, make friends, meet new people, and become more independent. Over time, it became more than just a sport for me; it became a part of who I am and something that continues to help me grow both on and off the court.”
“Playing basketball at the college level in the United States has had a positive impact on young girls in Senegal because it shows them that their dreams are possible. Every year when I go home and organize camps, I share my experiences, the challenges, and the opportunities basketball can bring, including education. I want them to see that basketball can open doors, not only for themselves but also for their families and communities. “
In fact, N’Diay has aspirations to start a school in her community back home, giving more children opportunities to play basketball and handball.
Diop has similar goals. While he hopes to play basketball professionally after college, “I also want to help my family and give young people in Senegal more opportunities. After my basketball career, I hope to open my own basketball academy to help young players achieve their dreams.”
The Mount St. Mary’s basketball season is underway for both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Check out the website for the full schedule at https://msmary.edu/athletics, and come and watch the great talent coming out of Senegal as you cheer on the Mountaineers.
