NZ Breakers 'Next Star' Ousmane Dieng has confirmed his entry into the 2022 NBA draft in June.
Dieng, 18, has been ranked No.12 on ESPN's rankings of draft prospects and has told the US outlet he's ready to make the jump from the Australian NBL, despite his team's struggles this season.
The Breakers have one game left on their schedule, but with only five wins from 27 games, they have already clinched their worst-ever record in the competition, after a season marooned across the Tasman by COVID-19.
Dieng came to the Breakers from the French third-tier competition, after helping his country to a European U16 silver medal in 2019, and like American guard RJ Hampton before him, initially struggled against grown men in the Aussie league, but has become a starter on the last-placed roster.
After his only season as the Breakers' first 'Next Star' signing, Hampton was drafted 24th by Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020 draft, was later traded to Denver Nuggets and now plays with Orlando Magic.
"Playing in a tough league with really good players was really good for me," Dieng told ESPN. "I learned a lot.
"The transition was significant, going up against much better players than I saw in France. The game is faster, everyone is more physical.
"I had to work on my body, and I was lucky to have a great strength and conditioning coach. I improved my defence a lot this past year.
"The coaches had a big role in my improvement. I trusted them when I was struggling, I kept working and improved my game."
Dieng has averaged 8.8 points this season, shooting a putrid 27 percent from beyond the arc, but improved to 14.33 points in his last six outings.
He would become the first European 'Next Star' player to make the jump from the Aussie NBL to the NBA, following in the footsteps of Hampton, LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets) and Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder).
