Aug. 24, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - With classes set to start Monday, UCF men's basketball head coach Kirk Speraw recently received a late addition to his roster when David Diakite joined the Knights. The 6-foot-4 wing player is from Silver Spring, Md., and attended National Christian Academy.
As a senior in 2007-08, he averaged 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
"David is a tremendous young man who is extremely excited about becoming a UCF Knight," Speraw said. "He is a great addition to our program and we are pleased that he is now on board."
Following his senior campaign, Diakite participated in the Under Armour Capital Classic. He helped the District All-Stars record a victory, scoring 18 points and grabbing a team-high eight boards. In the all-star game, the swingman registered two steals and a pair of blocks. Diakite also claimed the slam dunk competition at the event.
At National Christian, Diakite played for coach Trevor Brown.
In the summer of 2007, Diakite earned MVP honors after leading National Christian's summer-league squad to the 17-under select title at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions in North Carolina.
Diakite will be one of seven true freshmen on the Knights' roster this season.
Speraw's program is entering its fourth campaign in Conference USA. A year ago, the Knights finished fourth in the 12-team league. In the last six seasons, UCF has claimed 122 victories, which ranks 49th nationally during that span.
Last season, the Knights made their debut at the new UCF Arena. The 10,000-seat venue is one of the finest facilities in the nation.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.