In a hesitant start to the season, one of the best news for Real Madrid bears the name of Eli John Ndiaye. The youth player is earning a place through work in training and intensity on the court. This feeds the impression that perhaps the arrival of a power forward to replace Guerschon Yabusele, who left for the Sixers, leaving the white club with a changed foot, may not be so necessary.
Perhaps the signing of the ‘4’ was at home, as former Madrid player Vincent Poirier dropped on his social networks when interest in Dylan Osetkowski was revealed. The French center knows Ndiaye after sharing many training sessions and knows what he is talking about. Seeing the young man’s performance, he might not have been wrong to claim opportunities for him. Now, after Andrés Feliz’s injury, the Madrid club’s priorities could be different if it finally decides to go on the market.
Eli John Ndiaye receives congratulations from Facundo Campazzo.
Ndiaye, 20 years old and 2.04 meters tall, will have a new opportunity to shine this Sunday (12:30 p.m.) in the visit to Surne Bilbao Basket, in which the Madridistas will try to maintain their upward trend after overcoming their streak of three consecutive defeats beating Casademont Zaragoza and Partizan.
The youth player has participated in the two games that Madrid has played in the Euroleague and in both of the Endesa League. In the continental competition his averages are 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 recoveries for a rating of 5.5 in 19 minutes on the court. In the domestic field, his numbers rise to 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 10.5 credits in 18 minutes. While waiting for Usman Garuba to recover and reach optimal shape, Ndiaye, the only pure power forward in the squad, is one of Chus Mateo’s rotation.
Defense and triples
The young man, who was already a surprise factor in last season’s Final Four, is showing all the good things he noted in the past: he has already played 49 games in the Endesa League and 44 in the Euroleague. He is an excellent defender thanks to his long arms and a mobility that allows him to reach the help and in attack he has a great ability to run the counterattack and a good hand to open the field with his triples.
Eli John Ndiaye shoots a basket during the game against Casademont Zaragoza.
He showed all these virtues this Thursday in the victory against Partizan. It was one of his most complete games with the Madrid shirt and his contribution went beyond the 10 points, his record in the competition, three rebounds and 11 PIR that he achieved. He completed a 2+1 after a sensational coast-to-coast and scored two triples, one of them in the last quarter to help get the game back on track. He also had to play as ‘5’ due to the foul problems of Walter Tavares and Serge Ibaka. He complied with solvency.
Ndiaye’s good performance is great news for Real Madrid, but also for the national team. The player, a native of Senegal, received a Spanish passport a few days before turning 16, meaning he could play for Spain without taking up a nationalized position upon turning 21. This will happen in June 2025, making it likely that be in the squad for next year’s Eurobasket. The coach Sergio Scariolo, television analyst for Movistar+, has already called him for a training camp and does not stop praising his game on the broadcasts.
