Junior college forward Malik Dime is looking to surround himself with quality people when he decides next stop on the college level.
“They don't have to convince me,” said Dime, who plans to officially visit Arkansas Sept.19-21. “I just have to find out for myself. I just want to go somewhere that I'll like. Good people around, great fans, great coaches. People that care about each other.”
Dime, 6-10, 220 pounds, of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa also plans to officially visit Southern California on Aug. 29, Iowa State on Sept. 5 and Washington on Sept 27.
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson’s uptempo style of play is a plus for the Hogs.
“A team that gets up and down the floor,” Dime said of style of play preference. “A team that runs.”
Dime and his mother, Oumy Fall moved to America three years ago from Senegal, a nation of about 13.1 million in western Africa, where he played soccer, volleyball, handball and tennis.
He shot 65.2 percent from the field and averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds while having 88 blocked shots last season. Dime picked up a basketball for the first time after arriving in the states.
“I can finish around the rim,” said Dime, who also practiced karate back home. “I have great timing in blocking shots. I can run the floor I can rebound that's pretty much it I just have to work on my midrange range and my ball handling to get better.”
Brad Winton, who operates jucorecruiting.com, said Dime’s defensive skills are ahead of his offensive game.
“He’s so active blocking shots, he has very good timing,” Winton said. “He can rebound. He can sprint the court and finish at the other end. Right now, his biggest assets are defensively, blocking and altering shots.”
With more experience, Winton sees Dime’s offensive skills blossoming in the future.
“Of course, when he gets to the next level ,he’ll really take off as far as the offensive end goes,” Winton said.
Dime is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Pulaar, Joola and Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal. He’s considering international business as a possible major.
“Because I speak multiple languages,” he said.