April 11, 2024
The Montreal Alliance draft three local players at 2024 CEBL draft, take Ismaël Diouf 1st overall
The Montreal Alliance have selected Ismaël Diouf of Laval University as the first overall pick in the 2024 CEBL draft. Montréal natives Bahaïde Haïdara (UQAM) and Renoldo Robinson (University of Victoria) were also selected by the Alliance 20th and 21st overall.
A native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Diouf was recently named the Final 8 Tournament MVP after leading the Rouge et Or to a national championship victory, averaging 14.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 33.8 minutes per game. The six-foot-nine power forward averaged 10.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 23.5 minutes per game in 13 regular season games in 2023-24. Having now completed his second year of university, the newest member of the Alliance was named to the RSEQ Rookie All-Star Team in 2022-23.
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“Diouf always had the potential and the work ethic to match,” said Nathan Grant, head coach of the Rouge et Or. “He was simply missing confidence. Time, experience, and his teammates helped him gain that confidence. We are now seeing the combination of all those things coming together. This CEBL experience is the next step in helping him become the ultimate version of himself.”
Drafted 20th overall, Bahaïde Haïdara will be playing in his second season with the Alliance as the CEBL allows teams to draft non-graduating U Sports players who must return to their university after the season (U Sports Developmental Players).
This season, in 16 regular season games, Haïdara averaged 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in addition to being named to the RSEQ First All-Star Team for a second consecutive season. Having also played in the Final 8 Tournament with the Citadins, Haïdara averaged 13.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 33.7 minutes played in three games.
With the Alliance during the 2023 CEBL season, Haïdara played in five games and started one, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 13.4 minutes of play.
A six-foot-three guard from Montréal, Robinson was selected in the third round and 21st overall. Robinson averaged 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 21.9 minutes per game with the University of Victoria Vikes last season, and 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 25.0 minutes per game at the Final 8 Tournament.
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In his first collegiate season after graduating from Dawson College, Robinson was named to the Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) All-Rookie Teams.
The three players will participate in the team’s training camp and join Maxime Boursiquot, Alain Louis and Elijah Ifejeh in preparation for the 2024 season.
