It’s official visit season in college basketball recruiting, and one of the more intriguing prospects on the board will step foot on an HBCU campus this week.
French forward Diamant Blazi is visiting Tennessee State University.
Blazi, a native of Sète, France, has caught attention as both an emerging basketball talent and a global social media personality. Standing 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Blazi blends explosiveness and length with a developing perimeter game. He’s also a viral figure online, boasting more than 5 million TikTok followers and 2 million on Instagram, where his mix of basketball clips and dance routines have made him a digital star.
Before making the leap to the United States, Blazi spent three years competing in France’s youth development league.
“I played in the league for three years, and after my third year, I decided that I wanted more for my future,” Blazi said. “The option I had was either stay four more years to play professional in France or move to the U.S., do one year of high school, then move to college — and that’s what I decided to do.”
During the 2022 season, Blazi suited up for Chorale Roanne Basket’s U-21 team, showcasing his athleticism, shot-blocking, and rim-running ability. Recruiting analysts point to his 42-inch vertical leap and inside-out versatility as reasons he’s quickly gaining traction among mid-major programs.
Per reports, Blazi has drawn interest from Western Kentucky, Notre Dame, San Diego, UNC Greensboro, Stetson, UNF, and Overtime Elite, a professional high-school-aged league for elite prospects.
This week, however, his attention is squarely on Nashville, where TSU head coach Nolan Smith will host him for an official visit. Smith, now in his first season leading the Tigers, has made no secret of his mission to elevate the program’s recruiting footprint.