Alpha Diallo does it all for the Friars on and off the court.
First there are the things you know (or should know) about Providence’s Alpha Diallo.
The Friars’ 6-7 guard out of New York City leads the team in scoring with a robust 17 points a game. He’s also the top rebounder. Not just for the Friars, but for the entire BIG EAST at 8.3 boards per game, just a shade ahead of DePaul’s Paul Reed.
But wait, there’s more. He also paces Providence in assists (76), offensive rebounds (69), defensive rebounds (131) - his 200 total rebounds are 74 more than the next closest Friar, one Mr. Nate Watson - made three-pointers (34), minutes played (834) and field goals (131).
He is, however, just fourth on the team in blocks, so maybe we have found a weakness.
And now the things you probably don’t know about Diallo - he is a foodie, a budding chef and has also been known to get into his downward facing dog pose a few times a week as a yoga enthusiast. Who knew?
“My roommate (Isaiah Jackson) and I try to cook as much as we can in our little dorm,” Diallo said laughing. “We have these little competitions about who cooks the best foods. It’s just a fun little thing we have, a roommate bonding kind of thing. When we cook it’s just for the two of us. We just look up some recipes online and we just go at it in the kitchen.”
Diallo said he uses yoga as a means of relaxing after trying to out-play his opponents on the court and out-cook Jackson in the kitchen.
“With yoga, it kind of helps your body a lot,” Diallo said. “It loosens you up and basically you get in that calm state of mind where you focus on your breathing and try to relax your body. I think that helps a lot. I do it a couple of times a week, whenever I can find time.”
Limber and well fed, Diallo now has designs on leading the Friars on a late-season run as they jockey for position in a bunched-up BIG EAST this season. In the Friars’ last outing, Diallo went for 10 points and 15 rebounds in Providence’s 70-56 victory over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden last Saturday. It was his seventh double-double of the season and it was a victory he thinks could be a season-changer for the Friars.
“Hopefully it is. We have a tough game (Wednesday at Villanova) that we have to focus on. But hopefully that win turns our season around,” Diallo said. “We’re definitely happy about the win, a big confidence booster or sure.”
Aside from being the team leader in virtually every category - did I mention he is also the team leader in steals with 42? Well he is - Diallo has also taken on the position of being a mentor to the young Friars.
“I definitely have to go out and play my game and do whatever it takes to put us in a position to win,” Diallo said. “But on the court I try to be as vocal as I can with the younger guys and help them get in their spots faster. But we have some pretty good freshmen (A.J. Reeves, David Duke, Jimmy Nichols) and they catch on quick. They’re great learners and they allow me to teach them and allow me to lead them in the best way I can.”
You would think with all Diallo has done so far this season, in every facet of the game, you would hear his name mentioned as being one of the elite in the league. But much of the focus this season has centered on the likes of Marquette’s Markus Howard, Seton Hall’s Myles Powell and St. John’s Shamorie Ponds. And while each of that trio is enjoying a brilliant campaign, does Diallo think his stellar season is getting lost in the shuffle?
“I’m not really worried about that,” Diallo said. “But I feel like I’m an all-around player and I can do multiple things on the court. I can rebound, I can score and I can definitely play defense at a high level. I feel like I bring a lot to the table as far as versatility that maybe some of those guys don’t possess. But those guys are really good scorers.”
The Friars’ victory over St. John’s boosted their conference record to 4-7 and put them smack dab in the middle of the fray in the BIG EAST standings. Providence goes into Wednesday’s game at Villanova just a game and a half behind third-place St. John’s (6-6). Time for a Friars’ run, Alpha?
“We’re definitely not going to stop fighting,” Diallo said. “We’re in that middle part of the (conference) but we’re going to go out in every game with the same mindset that we always do and that’s to get a win and do it by following our game plan. We’re going to go out there and play our hardest and we’ll live with the results. We’re looking forward to going on a good run.”
Five of Providence’s final seven games will come against those teams bunched between third and 10th place. But first there is the tall order of business Wednesday night when the Friars visit the defending national champion Wildcats. A victory over Nova would not only help launch the Friars up the BIG EAST standings but would also serve as a great resume-building win for an NCAA Tournament bid.
“We feel good going in there,” Diallo said. “Our confidence is high and we feel we’re going to come with a lot of energy. Villanova is a great team this year like they always are, but this would be a big-time, resume win on the road for us and we’re looking to do that.”
Diallo was awarded Providence’s Marvin Barnes Defensive Player of the Year award following his freshman season and last year saw him take home the Ryan Gomes Most Improved Player award after his sophomore season.
So what hardware will Diallo be toting home with him after this season?
“I don’t know yet,” Diallo said laughing. “We’ll have to wait and see. There is still a little bit of the season left and we’re trying to finish this out the right way and make the (NCAA) tournament.”
And if Diallo can cook up an NCAA Tournament run, maybe we’ll see him take home the inaugural Wolfgang Puck Award as top Providence’s top chef. (Sorry Isaiah Jackson).