UConn Huskies senior guard Hassan Diarra got into it with the Creighton Bluejays’ senior guard Jamiya Neal in Friday night’s Big East Tournament semifinal. While already up 69-62 on the Huskies with under three seconds to go, Neal went up for a dunk and was met with a furious shove from Diarra when he dropped back to court.
Diarra told the press he felt Neal was being “disrespectful,” and the two received double technicals for their actions. But the heat of the moment isn’t new for Diarra, who grew up one of five siblings, including two with basketball backgrounds.
A Look Into Hassan Diarra’s Siblings’ Hoops Careers
Born March 17, 2001, Diarra is the second of Kadija Kone and Fousseny Diarra’s five children. He has an older brother, Mamadou, a younger brother, Cherif, and two younger sisters, Fanta and Ouleymatou.
The oldest of the five, Diarra is also an integral part of the Huskies’ basketball program. Mamadou, the team’s Director of Player Development, has been a part of the UConn program with Hassan, and they’ve enjoyed the fruits of their labor together.
“It’s truly amazing, and it’s truly a blessing,” Hassan said before an Elite Eight victory over Gonzaga in 2023. “It’s something that you don’t even dream of. It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s kind of crazy.”
The pair of brothers are enjoying the time together with Mamadou, whose UConn basketball career was cut short due to knee injuries, and is in his sixth year on head coach Dan Hurley’s staff, telling reporters the pair talked about being together in Storrs even while Hassan was playing at Texas A&M.
“We’ve always talked about this time of the year, even last year while he was at A&M and we were in the tournament,” Mamadou said in 2023. “That was just something that he always wanted to be a part of. To have him here and be able to share the experience, it’s been amazing.”
KEEP READING: ‘At UConn, You’re Supposed to Win’ — Dan Hurley’s Take on March Madness Mindset
Younger brother Cherif is also making an impact on the court at Division II Southern Connecticut State University. The junior forward averaged 11.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for the Owls, who finished the season 17-11, with a 12-9 record in the Northeast-10 Conference.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
