Kentucky first reached out to Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate immediately after he hit the portal on Friday, joining a long list of schools interested in the gritty forward out of Queens, NY. Today, the rising junior is a Wildcat, announcing his commitment to Mark Pope in the intraconference swap.

Dioubate chose the blue and white after receiving interest from the likes of Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina, NC State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Providence, Vanderbilt and Villanova, among others.

Standing 6-7, 215 pounds with two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Dioubate averaged 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 61.7 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from three and 60.9 percent at the line. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions, including four times combined in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.

Dioubate went for eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in the first head-to-head matchup vs. Kentucky inside Rupp Arena this season. He followed it up with four points, five rebounds and a block in the rematch in Tuscaloosa, then went for 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal in the SEC Tournament blowout — all three wins for the Crimson Tide.

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Other standout performances include 10 points and 16 rebounds in an overtime win over No. 6 Houston, 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Vanderbilt, eight points and seven rebounds against No. 1 Auburn, 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists at No. 15 Missouri, 10 points and 11 rebounds against No. 24 Mississippi State and 12 points and 12 rebounds against No. 4 Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals.

“I would like to thank Coach Oats and the rest of the coaching staff, all the supporting staff and the University of Alabama as a whole for extending me the opportunity to be a part of a great run and experience during my time here,” Dioubate announced last week. “Thanks to everyone that showed me love and support during my time at Alabama.”

Dioubate joins a portal class at Kentucky that includes Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe and Tulane transfer Kam Williams, teaming up with high school signees Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno and Acaden Lewis. The Wildcats can also retain Omega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Travis Perry, penciling in 11 players for 2025-26 at this stage.

Welcome home, Mouhamed Dioubate!