Portal Profile: Saliou Niang

By Hunt Palmer

Will Wade suggested in early May that the transfer portal wasn’t stocked with players “good enough to play at LSU”.

He looked elsewhere.

Part of that search was Europe where Wade has made some pickups and ruffled some feathers along the way. Saliou Niang has generally been the least objectionable addition from overseas. Let’s take a closer look.

WHAT WE KNOW

Niang is from Senegal but moved to Italy as a child. He’s 6-foot-6 and will play this coming season as a 22-year-old.

His professional career began in 2021 with Fortido Bologna in Italy. He spent two years there and then two more playing for Aquila Trento. Last season he signed with Virtus Bologna which is a powerhouse in Italian hoops.

He was a second-round selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in last summer’s draft but instead played for Virtus Bologna and was named Most Improved Player in the Italian league.

In EuroLeague action, the second-best league in the world, Niang averaged 7.1 points and five rebounds in over 21 minutes per game.

Saliou Niang is going to be a fun college player at LSU.

Going to be one of the better athletes in the SEC.

Will be able to impact the game with his switch ability, length, and his ability to get downhill.

The shot could absolutely come around too. pic.twitter.com/S7CvsuyfJ4

— JPR (@Scouting_Col) May 20, 2026

He’s an explosive leaper who has developed into a better shooter.  Last season, in 65 games, he shot 11 for 31 from deep. That’s a 35 percent clip in a low volume shooting role. He was 105-for-136 from the free throw line for 77 percent. His 57 steals and 20 blocks in those 65 games shows his activity, especially considering he was averaging less than half a game on the floor.

THE FIT

Niang is another long, rangy wing with great athleticism. RJ Luis certainly fits that mold if he’s eligible. Mo Dioubate, too. Abdi Bashir is a wing, as well, but he’s a shooter. With this current set of players, Niang is the best perimeter defender. He’s extremely agile with that 6-foot-6 frame and long arms.

Dioubate is a good defender. Niang is elite. The duo will be a handful for SEC two and threes defensively. They can alternate on a top scorer for different looks and to keep their legs fresh.

Niang’s offensive game is intriguing. He really looks comfortable shooting the ball from three, and his high free throw percentages suggests he’s got good touch. It’s a slow release, but it’s clean and high because of his height. Both will help him get shots off.

What’s not in question is his finishing ability at the rim. He’s a ridiculously explosive above-the-rim finisher. His highlight reel is littered with nasty dunks. One thing that’s evident, though, is that a lot of those are created by cuts and spaced defenses.

Niang is fantastic at finding space and finishing the play. Rarely does he beat a defender off the bounce from a good guarding position. If this roster comes together the way it looks, there should be plenty of space on the floor. Abdi Bashir and Marcio Santos are really good shooters from the three and four positions. RJ Luis is a serious scoring threat at three levels, and Brice Dessert will command some attention on the block. That kind of spacing will allow Niang to find his spots on the floor.

LSU doesn’t have a proven, elite assist man in the boat yet. That’s really what Niang needs, but his skillset absolutely translates to US college game.

At worst, he’s an elite defender who finishes around the rim. At best his offense emerges, and he becomes an All-SEC player on both ends of the floor.

HUNT’S PROJECTION

Niang is a starter.

Right now, I don’t project Yam Madar or RJ Luis on this team. That means I have a starting group of Divine Ugochukwu, Abdi Bashir, Niang, Santos and Dessert. I think he’s a 10 ppg player who grabs a lot of rebounds and plays excellent defense on SEC wings.

🇮🇹 15 puntos, 2/3 T3 y 4/6 TC vs Georgia. Otra buena actuación de un Saliou Niang que gana enteros en Italia.

El pick de los Cavs llegaba como uno de los jóvenes a ver, y está superando las expectativas. Unas condiciones físicas tremendas. pic.twitter.com/zKoaUED0qc

— Javier Molero (@JavierMoleroo) August 30, 2025

If LSU adds a true floor general, that will only help Niang who really does well when the floor gets spaced and defenders start helping.

Cleveland drafted Niang to help this coming season. Or close to it. He can and certainly will help LSU. Niang has a desirable combination of a high floor because of his defense and a really high ceiling because of his exceptional athleticism and improving shooting stroke on offense.

This was a huge get for Wade.