Lamine Diane listed as potential NBA Combine participant

The+Big+West+has+increased+the+scheduled+games+from+16+to+20++due+to+the+addition+of+UC+San+Diego+and+Cal+State+Bakersfield.+Games+will+not+be+rescheduled+if+a+team+needs+to+quarantine.

The Sundial file photo

The Big West has increased the scheduled games from 16 to 20 due to the addition of UC San Diego and Cal State Bakersfield. Games will not be rescheduled if a team needs to quarantine.

Andres Soto, Assistant Sports Editor

Former CSUN forward Lamine Diane could be the first men’s basketball player in CSUN history to be invited to the NBA Combine. The 6-foot-7 wing was recently mentioned on a list of 105 potential participants sent to NBA teams on July 27.

The list may be cut down to 60-70 players, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. It is currently unclear if Diane has officially received an invite.

The Combine was originally scheduled to take place from May 21-24 in Chicago; however it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to be rescheduled. The NBA Draft Lottery is currently scheduled to take place on Aug. 25 to determine the NBA Draft order, which is scheduled for Oct. 16. If there is a Combine this year, it will happen between those dates.

Diane is ranked No. 60 and No. 66 on the big boards of The Athletic and ESPN respectively. NBA.com projected him to develop into a solid role player in the NBA and noted his strengths are his athleticism, scoring and rebounding ability.

Diane dominated the Big West Conference during his two years at CSUN. He won back-to-back conference Player of the Year awards and averaged the most points per game (25.4) in CSUN history. Diane’s career points (1,304) ranks ninth in program history and he has the second-most blocks (110) as well.

While the level of competition in the Big West is incomparable to what he will face at the professional level, Diane’s athleticism and drive could entice a team to take a chance on him. He is far from a lock to be selected and is not included in any mock drafts, but Diane could carve out a lane for himself if given the opportunity.