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July 18, 2000
DENVER- The Denver Nuggets have signed draft pick and former Auburn Tiger Mamadou N'diaye, team President and Head Coach Dan Issel announced Monday. Per club policy, terms of the deals were not released.
N'diaye was selected by the Nuggets in the first round (26th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft on June 28. The 7-0, 245-pound center averaged 8.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 1.9 bpg as a senior at Auburn last year.
Center Mamadou N'diaye averaged 8.9 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per game in his senior season at Auburn. N'diaye also helped lead the Tigers to the 1999 SEC Championship as a junior.
N'diaye is Auburn's all-time career blocked shots leader with 241 and is second on the school's all-time list of games played (128). During the summer prior to his senior year, played for Senegal in the World University Games and participated in the Pete Newell Big Man Camp in Hawaii.
N'diaye turned in his finest performances as a senior on the plains. His 1.9 blocks per game was second in the SEC. His 66 blocks as a senior were the third-highest season total in Auburn history (the first two are N'diaye's 77 as a junior and 73 as a sophomore). He started 33 of 34 games and led the team in rebounding with 7.9 rpg, while averaging 8.9 ppg. He posted 10 double-doubles during the season and was honored as SEC Player of the Week for Nov. 15-21 after averaging 16 points (on 62 percent shooting) and 16 rebounds in two games. He also recorded career highs in points (21) and rebounds (18) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. N'diaye was named MVP of the San Juan Shootout after helping the Tigers sweep through the tournament. The big man tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Pepperdine, 15 points at Vanderbilt and 10 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and two steals vs. Ole Miss. He was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.7 ppg and 8.7 rpg. He recorded 14 points, 10 boards and four blocks vs. South Carolina in the SEC Tournament semifinal. As a senior N'diaye was named the team's Most Outstanding Rebounder and Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
As a junior, N'diaye was an AP All-SEC Third Team selection with averages of 7.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg and an SEC-leading 2.3 bpg in 23.8 mpg while starting all 33 games. He led the team in rebounding 11 times and reached double-figures in rebounding eight times. The junior swatted six shots each vs. UAB, Navy and Ole Miss and scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in only 22 minutes at Bethune-Cookman. He hauled in 14 rebounds vs. UAB and had nine points, 13 boards and three assists at Georgia and eight points, 12 rebounds and five blocks vs. Arkansas.
As a sophomore N'diaye started all 30 games, averaging 8.0 ppg and a team-leading 6.9 rpg and 2.4 bpg (second in the SEC). He scored a career-high 19 points and added five rebounds and two blocks in NIT first-round game vs. Southern Miss. N'diaye reached double figures in scoring nine times, led team in rebounding 14 times and recorded double-doubles vs. Nicholls State (18 points, 10 boards) and Alabama (15 points, 11 boards). He also posted 15 points, nine rebounds and five blocks vs. Ole Miss. Named team's Most Outstanding Rebounder.
As a freshman, N'diaye was the co-winner of the Greg Pratt Award, which goes to the school's top freshman student-athlete. He played 11.3 minutes per game, averaging 3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 0.8 bpg. He also scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds vs. LSU, notched eight points, five rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes vs. Arkansas-Little Rock.
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