Indiana men’s basketball missed out on the top center in the 2026 recruiting class, as Arafan Diane committed to the University of Houston on Wednesday. Diane became the first recruit in Sampson’s 2026 class, as On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton broke the news with his X post.
Diane is rated the 13th-best player nationally, per 247 Sports Composite, and the top center in the 2026 class. He chose the Cougars — led by former Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson — over Indiana, the University of Arkansas, the University of Kentucky and the University of Virginia.
Indiana first offered the 7-foot-1, 290-pound Diane in mid-June before hosting him on an official visit in mid-October. He was in attendance for the Hoosiers’ exhibition victory over Marian University on Oct. 17.
Diane originally hails from Guinea in West Africa. He also played in Canada before attending Iowa United Prep in Des Moines, Iowa. With Iowa United on the Adidas circuit last spring and summer, Diane averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 74.4% from the field and led the circuit in total rebounds.
“Diane is arguably the most physically dominant big man in the national class,” 247 Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote in mid-June. “He’s immovable in the post, very hard for opposing defenders to get around and also has good hands. Not only is he looking to hammer emphatic dunks whenever possible, but he also has some natural touch and skill.”
With Indiana losing out on Diane, three-star combo guard Prince-Alexander Moody and four-star small forward Vaughn Karvala remain the lone recruits in the Hoosiers’ 2026 class.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
