Orléans Loiret Basket, ProB club, has just announced, this Monday, September 5, that Nianta Diarra, strong winger, pivot, 29, 2.03m, will not be part of the squad for the 2022-2023 season, “for personal reasons”.
The player had been stopped since the start of preparation on Tuesday August 16, in connection with a “stress test” the results of which had not been deemed conclusive. The departure of Diarra will force, de facto, Germain Castano and his staff to review their strategy regarding the current transfer window. The club was, in recent days, still looking for a post 3, in connection with the profile of an American player.
Trained in Le Havre, Nianta Diarra launched his elite career in Antibes in 2016, after stints in Hyères-Toulon (ProB) and Souffelweyersheim (ProB). He had just realized his best season in the elite with Cholet (7.9 points per game and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes).
Dreaded Fighter
Not particularly high for an interior, his aggressiveness and his generosity made him a feared fighter under the circle. Regular in his performances last year, he was no stranger to the excellent Choletaise 2021-22 season (ending in 8th place).
Born in Mali and arrived in France at the age of 6, Nianta Diarra has so far played 16 matches under the colors of the Malian selection. He participated with his national team in the qualifications for the 2017 World Cup and the Afrobasket 2021.
Laurent Coursimault and Jerome Couton-Coudray
