Roos Announce First Signings of Menzies Era
5/20/2022 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Kansas City will bring in five student-athletes with international backgrounds to the 2022-23 squad
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Basketball has officially announced the first signings of the Marvin Menzies era, bringing five incoming student-athletes for the 2022-23 season. Among the group are two transfers and three incoming freshmen, all of whom will bring size to the Kansas City lineup.
Babacar Diallo | 6'6 | G | Dakar, Senegal | The Patrick School | St. Peter's | Navarro
2021-22 (Navarro): Saw action in 29 games, making 10 starts … Averaged 2.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game … Scored eight points in season-opening win over Loyalty College Prep … Pulled down season-high eight rebounds in win against Dallas Christian … Went for 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in win over Tyler Junior College
2020-21 (St. Peter's): Saw action in 12 contests after joining the Peacock's roster mid-season … Played a season-high 21 minutes at Siena on Jan. 22, going for two points and two rebounds … Played seven minutes against Fairfield on Feb. 13, scoring two points
High School: Played at The Patrick School for Coach Todd Decker … Averaged 15 points, six assists and five rebounds … Ranked the No. 1 player in Senegal in 2016 … Won Tournament of Champions in 2016 with The Patrick School … Played on Senegal National Team and participated in 2019 FIBA World Cup
Personal: Born Dec. 30, 2000 in Dakar, Senegal … Parents Ben and Krystle Simmon … Has three siblings, Cherif, Djibril and Ngone … Earned High Honors in high school … Nicknamed Baba … Favorite movies are the Harry Potter series … Wants to be friends with Jrue Holiday … Speaks French and Wolof
Why Kansas City?: "I trust Coach Menzies and the rest of the KC coaching staff with my future. Kansas City has a great program and UMKC is a great academic institution."
Coach Menzies on B. Diallo: "Babacar a tremendous defender! Playing on the Senegalese National Team also gives him an advantage when it comes to experience and competing against elite oppositions. He scores in multiple ways and his three-point shooting will be a big plus in our system."
Sidy Diallo | 7'2 | C | Dakar, Senegal | St. Paul HS
High School: Played at St. Paul HS for Coach Patrick Roy … Averaged 14.5 points per game … Named First Team All-Area … Named First Team All-League … Holds school record for most blocked shots … Played club ball for teams Elev8 and Flying Star Academy
Personal: Born Jan. 10, 2003 in the US … Parents Ibrahima Ndiaye and Ramada Sow … Has four siblings … Enjoys scary movies … Favorite food is Chipotle … Can speak four languages
Why Kansas City?: "I have a good relationship with Coach Menzies and I trust his work."
Coach Menzies on S. Diallo: "At 7'2, Sidy brings size that you cannot teach, but he is much more than that. He is active on both sides of the ball, has great potential and is a very eager learner. Combined with his energy and passion, he will be a fan favorite."
Emmanouil Dimou | 6'4 | G | Athens, Greece | Third General Lyceum of Chaidari
High School: Played for Panathinaikos BC and Coach Giorgos Kalaitzis … Averaged 19 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game … 2022 Third Place at Greek U-18 National Championship with PAO BC Academy … 2020 Champions at Greek U-16 National Championship with PAO BC Academy … Five-time (U-13, 14, 15, 16, 18) Regional Champion with PAO BC Academy … Greek National Team Member (U14, 15, 16, 18) … Won Jr. NBA World Championship with U-14 Team Europe in Orlando, Fla. in 2018 … Played with U-15 National Team at FIBA Friendship Tournament in Seregno, Italy in 2019 … Played with U-18 National Team at FIBA European Challengers in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2021 … Set to participate with U-18 National Team at FIBA European Championship in Konya, Turkey this summer … Has been a captain of every team he's played on … Joined the Men's Euroleague Roster in 2022 … Also played for Dafni Dafniou BC and Coach Vaggelis Glukos
Personal: Born Feb. 13, 2004 in Athens, Greece … Parents Spiros Dimou and Maria Korre … Has one sibling, Nikos … Top-three GPA in his graduating class … Nicknamed Manos … Favorite musician is Skepta … Wants to live in Mikonos … Looking to major in Business
Why Kansas City?: "Coach Menzies was the biggest influence, and the development module of the whole program feels like the best for me."
Coach Menzies on Dimou: "Emmanouil has succeeded while playing at the highest levels in Europe. I've watched him play with his Greek National Team and his club team, Panathinaikos. He is a dynamic with the ball in his hands and has a proven ability to hit big shots. His passion comes across immediately when talking to him. He does an excellent job challenging himself, on and off the court. That was an important component for us. We want to bring in student-athletes that care about their academics, as well as basketball."
Allen David Mukeba Jr. | 6'7 | F | Charleroi, Belgium | Napa Christian HS | Colby CC
2021-22 (Colby CC): Honorable Mention All-Region 6 … All-Defensive Team … Played and started in 31 games … Averaged 12.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game … Ranked third on team with 60.2% field goal shooting … Scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in debut against Air Force Prep … Dropped 19 points in back-to-back games against McCook and North Platte, averaging 9.5 rebounds in those two contests … Scored 20 in win over Butler CC … Went for season-high 25 in win over Dodge City, adding 11 rebounds … Scored in double-figures in six of final eight games … Pulled down season-high 13 boards in win over Pratt
High School: Played with Golden State Prep … Also suited up for Spirou Basket, best U-18 team in Belgium, and BC Oostende
Personal: Born Sep. 17, 2001 in Charleroi, Belgium … Parents Yvonne Ekofo Lokoku and David Mukeba-Kasanda … Has five siblings, Lisa, Logan, Deborah, Larissa and Alicia … Brother Logan is also on the Roos' roster … Favorite show is My Wife and Kids … Would like to live in Africa
Why Kansas City?: "I chose Kansas City because Coach Menzies is and awesome coach and for other personal reasons."
Coach Menzies on A. Mukeba: "Bringing Allen into the Roo family was a huge get for us, especially this late in the recruiting period. Allen will bring a lot to Kansas City Men's Basketball immediately, and his skill set will improve in time. Allen and his brother Logan bring us two blue-chippers that the fans will embrace."
Logan Mukeba Jr. | 6'5 | G/F | Charleroi, Belgium | Lee Academy
High School: Played at Lee Academy for Coach Dan Haynes … Played club ball for Ostend and Coach Marten Caron … Also played for Spirou Charleroi and Coach Frederic Wilmot … Was named best shooter in Belgium U-18 … At Ostend, went undefeated and won Belgian Championship … For Charleroi, won U-18 Christmas Tournament
Personal: Born Sep. 8, 2003 in Charleroi, Belgium … Parents Yvonne Ekofo Lokoku and David Mukeba-Kasanda … Has five siblings, Lisa, Allen, Deborah, Larissa and Alicia … Brother Allen is also on the Roos' roster … Nicknamed G-Lo … Favorite movie is Gifted Hands … Would like to be friends with Ja Morant … Speaks French, Dutch and Lingala
Why Kansas City?: "Kansas City feels like family to me."
Coach Menzies on L. Mukeba: "Logan is a big-time talent that has a very promising future with the Roos. Logan has great athleticism, a high motor and a quick release on his shot. Better yet, he has a tremendous desire to develop and learn. Everybody I talked to during the recruiting process raved about his character and sponge-like mentality when it comes to improving his game."
