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Still In
Mouhamed Dioubate, left, and Hassan Diarra. Photo by Tom Espinosa
And then there were two.
While there are four teams headed to Phoenix for next weekend’s men’s basketball Final Four, Putnam Science Academy has two former players still alive in the NCAA Tournament. But after Saturday, there will be only one.
Mouhamed Dioubate and his Alabama Crimson Tide have the unenviable task of trying to slow down the UConn Huskies and Hassan Diarra. Dioubate won two national championships at PSA, including when he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023, and he graduated as the school’s all-time leading rebounder and third all-time leading scorer. He is a key reserve for Alabama, which is in the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Diarra also won two national titles at PSA (2018 and 2020), where he ranks first in school history in points, assists, and games played, second in steals and 3-pointers made, and fourth in rebounds. The Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year is looking to help UConn become the first back-to-back NCAA champs since Florida in 2006 and 2007.
“It’s crazy to see them both in the Final Four,” PSA coach Tom Espinosa said. “They both came to us from Queens (N.Y.) and the same mentor (Rob Diaz), they both did three years here, they’re both going to be PSA Hall of Famers.
“I’m so excited for them, so happy for them. They’re great young men and they play such an important role on their teams. It’s been fun to watch, and I can’t wait to watch again Saturday night.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.