Top-ranked 2026 center Arafan Diane has one team way out in front in his recruitment, multiple analysts say. He is part of the next generation of African bigs to make their way to the college landscape.

Top-Ranked Center Arafan Diane Has Clear Leader in Recruitment

Currently, Houston is the favorite for the 7-foot Diane, who is from the West African country of Guinea and plays both high school and AAU ball in Iowa. When Rivals recently refreshed its national rankings for the 2026 class, the high-four-star Diane arrived at No. 9 overall and the No. 1 center. Numerous recruiting services place him as the top-ranked center in 2026.

National analysts Joe Tipton and Jamie Shaw of On3/Rivals, along with Travis Branham of 247Sports, have all recently projected the Cougars to land Diane. In the coming months, Diane has scheduled official visits to Houston, Kentucky and Arkansas. Other visits are also likely to come, analysts say.

Other suitors to monitor in Diane’s recruitment, per experts, include Oregon, SMU, Virginia and Purdue. Earlier this month, he dropped a top 12 featuring Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Oregon, Purdue, UConn, Virginia and Washington.

While Houston, the national runner-up in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, is the current leader for Diane, teams such as Kentucky and Arkansas should be monitored, too. Several analysts have said that they think Diane will make a college decision in the coming months and likely sign during the early period for 2026 prospects in December. In the 2025-26 season, Diane will enter his senior year of prep ball suiting up for the Des Moines-based Iowa United Prep.

Summer Stock-riser in AAU

In the most recent grassroots hoops season, Diane turned heads while playing for the 17U team of Iowa United in the Adidas 3SSB league. During the 3SSB’s season-ending playoffs last month in Rock Hill, S.C., Shaw and other analysts named Diane one of their top performers. Shaw says that Diane has an impressive offensive repertoire, runs the floor well for a big man, has quality footwork and uses his size to create space in the paint.

During the 3SSB playoffs, per Christopher Stock of 247Sports, Diane averaged 21.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He also connected on 63.0 percent from the field and 73.8 percent from the charity stripe. According to Synergy Basketball, Diane was the most efficient scorer on the Adidas circuit in the 17U division. Across all age groups in the latest 3SSB campaign, he was the second most prolific dunker, according to Synergy Basketball.

In recent months, there aren’t many 2026 prospects around the country who have jumped as much as Diane in the national rankings. Beyond his top-10 placement via Rivals, he also recently skyrocketed over at 247Sports. When 247Sports had its latest 2026 update, Diane went from No. 95 overall and into the top 20.

Currently, 247Sports has him at No. 16 nationally, No. 1 at center and No. 1 in Iowa within the 2026 cycle. ESPN rates Diane at No. 34 overall and No. 3 at center. The industry-generated Rivals Industry Ranking, a composite system, ranks Diane at No. 22 nationwide, No. 1 at his position and No. 1 in Iowa within his cycle.

According to recruiting services, Diane’s full offer sheet includes schools in his top 12 along with others such as Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Creighton, Florida, Iowa, Miami, UCF, VCU and West Virginia, among others.

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