Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head men's basketball coach Mike Young has announced the signing of grad transfer Cartier Diarra on Wednesday.
Diarra, a guard from Kansas State, will be able to play immediately for the 2020-21 academic year and has one season of eligibility remaining. One of the more versatile players in the Big 12, Diarra was a three-year letterwinner for the Wildcats and racked up 40 games of scoring in double figures.
"We couldn't be more excited that Cartier decided to finish his career a Hokie," Young said. "He brings immediate experience and depth to our backcourt and boasts tremendous playmaking ability. We have a great amount of familiarity of Cartier as a player and person, with Chester Frazier coaching him at Kansas State. We are looking forward to getting back on the floor when the time allows and are thrilled Cartier will be a part of that."
Cartier Diarra (pronounced Car-tee-YAY JOTT-ah)
6'4", 185 lbs. – Guard
Florence, S.C.
West Florence HS | Kansas State
Kansas State: Played in 95 games, drawing 58 starts … 2020 first-team Academic All-Big 12 … Averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 2019-20 and was one of only seven players nationally to average that stat line or better … One of only two Big 12 players to rank in the league's top five in assists and steals and top 15 for scoring this past season … Led the Wildcats in 20-point games, boasting five in 2019-20 … Earned Big 12 Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 25 points against Tulsa thanks to a career-best six 3-pointers … Had 15 games of owning two or more steals this past year … Posted the first 10-assist outing by a Kansas State player since 2014 and led the Wildcats in assists in 21 games last year.
Personal: Cartier Ducati Diarra … Born in Manhattan, New York on Feb. 6 … Son of Sirima Diarra and Danyelle Lee … Brother of Abraham, Cyncere and LadiRoyale … Majored at Kansas State in human development and family sciences.