Overview
A tall, thin post player who excels on defense but is still working to develop his offensive game... Displays excellent footwork and good quickness for his size... Likes to score via a jump hook or fade-away jumper in the paint... Can be a very effective rebounder and shot-blocker.

Sophomore Season (2003-04)
Was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team... Saw action in 27 games for the Crimson and Blue... Averaged 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.7 minutes per game... Shot 70 percent from the free throw line and added six blocks on the season... Began the season with two points, a block and rebound in just one minute of action on Nov. 21 against UT Chattanooga... Scored three points and pulled down five rebounds in 18 minutes against Fort Hays State on Dec. 10... Logged a season-high 19 minutes, adding two points, five rebounds, one block, one steal and one assist, while going a perfect six-for-six from the free throw line against Oregon on Dec. 13... Tallied a career-high eight points and three steals against Binghamton on Dec. 29... Played 14 minutes and chipped in two points and two rebounds versus Colorado on Jan. 5... Recorded two points and one rebound against Missouri on Feb. 2... Poured in four points and three rebounds in nine minutes of action against Nebraska on March 3... Added one point and one rebound in just three minutes against Illinois-Chicago on March 19.

Freshman season (2002-03)
Saw action in 28 games, logging 6.9 minutes per contest... Averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds per game... Blocked four shots and managed 14 steals... Nailed 10 free throws... Scored a career-high three points on three occasions, while grabbing a career-best five rebounds versus Florida on Nov. 29 in the Preseason NIT.

High school
El Cajon (Calif.) Christian High School (2002)... Coached by Curtis Hofmeister... Averaged 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game his senior season... Shot 53 percent from the floor... Led the Patriots to a 20-9 record as a senior... Named first-team All-County after his senior campaign... Tabbed Harbor League Player of the Year as a junior and senior... Tallied 12.5 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior... Helped Christian High to a 22-6 record and an appearance in the sectional semifinals his junior year... Named MVP of the West Hills Tournament his junior year.

Off the court
Niang (pronounced Nyawn) is a native of Senegal, West Africa, and has only been in America for three years... He has only played basketball for nine years, after spending the majority of his childhood on the soccer field... Named captain of the San Diego Union- Tribune's All-Academic team after posting a 3.92 grade point average as a senior... Chose KU over UConn and San Diego State... One of many recent Kansas players to travel to Lawrence from California, including such notables as Drew Gooden, Jacque Vaughn, Rex Walters, Scot Pollard, Paul Pierce and Adonis Jordan... Joins former Jayhawk big men Roger Brown and Wayne Hightower in wearing the number 55.

— Courtesy of kuathletics.com