Mouhamed Gueye Bio
Mouhamed Gueye is a Senegalese professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Dakar, Senegal, he plays the power forward position and stands 6 ft 11 in tall. He entered the NBA in 2023 after a standout college career at Washington State. In his early seasons with the Hawks, he has split time between Atlanta and the team’s G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
Gueye is recognized for his size, rebounding, and developing offensive game, and he represents a new generation of Senegalese players reaching the NBA. He made the move from Africa to the United States as a teenager, an unusual path that shaped his rapid development. He continues to build his career with the Atlanta Hawks organization.
Early Life and Background
Mouhamed Gueye was raised in Dakar, Senegal, as the youngest of four siblings in a sporting family. He has cousins who have played for the Senegalese national basketball team and others who have played professionally in Europe, giving him an early connection to the sport. Growing up, Gueye played soccer but was encouraged by his mother to try basketball because of his height. He has also credited watching his older brother play basketball as a key early influence on his decision to pursue the sport.
Before taking up basketball seriously, Gueye had limited organized experience in the game. His size and family background, however, pointed him toward a future on the court. Those early years in Dakar laid the foundation for the path that would eventually take him overseas to the United States.
Path to Basketball
Gueye’s move to the United States began through his personal coach, Mamadou Cisse, who connected him with Philippe Doherty, the head coach of Prolific Prep in Napa, California. At age 16, Gueye left Dakar to enroll at Prolific Prep, where he had the chance to train and compete at a high level. Notably, he had never played organized basketball before arriving at Prolific Prep, making his development there especially impressive.
At Prolific Prep, Gueye emerged as a four-star recruit and a top-50 recruit nationally. He completed his academic requirements early and reclassified to the 2021 class before committing to play for the Washington State Cougars over several other high-major offers. This decision set the stage for his college career and, eventually, his professional future.
Mouhamed Gueye Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Gueye began his college career with the Washington State Cougars during the 2021–22 season, playing as a freshman in the Pac-12 Conference. He averaged 7.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while adjusting to the speed and physicality of NCAA Division I basketball. His freshman production was strong enough to earn him a selection to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team.
Following his freshman season, Gueye declared for the 2022 NBA draft to explore his professional options. He ultimately withdrew from the draft after receiving feedback from NBA teams, and he also tested the transfer portal before electing to return to the Cougars for his sophomore year. The decision to stay at Washington State allowed him to refine his game and take on a larger role.
Washington State Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Gueye’s role with the Cougars grew significantly during the 2022–23 season following the departure of key front-court players. Although he was a natural power forward, he played primarily as a center for much of the year. Head coach Kyle Smith repeatedly reinforced throughout the season that the team “plays through Gueye,” making him the centerpiece of the Washington State offense.
On 2 February 2023, Gueye scored a career-high 31 points against the USC Trojans, signaling his emergence as a go-to scorer. He finished the season averaging 14.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, and was named to the All-Pac-12 first-team. The strong sophomore campaign established him as one of the top prospects in college basketball and led him to declare for the 2023 NBA draft on 4 April 2023. He was later invited to participate in the NBA draft combine.
Atlanta Hawks Era (2023–Present)
Gueye was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round as the 39th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. His draft rights were traded to the Boston Celtics and then to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night. On 3 July 2023, Gueye signed his rookie contract with the Hawks, officially beginning his NBA career. His progress was interrupted on 12 November 2023, when he was ruled out for a month after suffering a right lower-back stress fracture, which caused him to miss most of his rookie season.
Gueye returned from injury through several stints with the Hawks’ NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, both as a rookie and a sophomore. During his rookie campaign, he made six total appearances for Atlanta, posting averages of 4.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. On 11 April 2025, he recorded a career-high 18 rebounds and scored 10 points during a 124–110 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He made 33 total appearances, including 28 starts, for the Hawks during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gueye is valued for his length, rebounding, and developing interior scoring. His ability to play both power forward and center gives his team flexibility, and he has shown a willingness to expand his offensive game. As he gains experience, his combination of size and skill continues to define his role within the Atlanta rotation.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gueye’s career has featured several memorable moments, including his 31-point performance against the USC Trojans in college and his 18-rebound game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. On 8 November 2025, he recorded a career-high 21 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in a 122–102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also navigated the challenges of injury, G League development, and the transition to a new country, all of which have shaped his early professional journey.
Mouhamed Gueye Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Mouhamed Gueye has accumulated notable individual and team achievements. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2022 and to the All-Pac-12 first-team in 2023, marking him as one of the conference’s top players in his sophomore year. With the Atlanta Hawks organization, he has earned the chance to contribute in both the NBA and the G League.
Atlanta Hawks Highlights
Since joining the Atlanta Hawks, Gueye has gradually expanded his role, moving from limited appearances as a rookie to a more prominent spot in the rotation during the 2024–25 season. His career-high 21-point game against the Los Angeles Lakers on 8 November 2025 stands as one of his most productive NBA performances. He has also produced double-doubles and strong rebounding nights, including his 18-rebound outing against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Other Wins & Performances
In the NBA G League with the College Park Skyhawks, Gueye continued his development across both his rookie and sophomore seasons, gaining valuable playing time. His work in the G League has complemented his NBA minutes and supported his growth within the Atlanta Hawks system.
Mouhamed Gueye Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Mouhamed Gueye comes from a sporting family in Dakar, Senegal, where he was raised as the youngest of four siblings. Several of his cousins have represented the Senegalese national basketball team, and others have played professionally in Europe, giving the family a strong basketball pedigree. His mother’s encouragement and his older brother’s example helped guide him toward the sport.
Personal Life
Gueye moved from Dakar to the United States as a teenager to attend Prolific Prep in Napa, California, beginning a new chapter of his life abroad. He has continued to build his career with the Atlanta Hawks organization while maintaining ties to his family in Senegal.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a breakout stretch for Mouhamed Gueye, highlighted by his expanded role with the Atlanta Hawks. During the 2024–25 NBA season, he made 33 appearances with 28 starts, averaging 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, showing clear growth from his injury-limited rookie year. His 18-rebound performance against the Philadelphia 76ers in April 2025 underscored his rebounding impact and growing comfort at the NBA level.
Early in the 2025–26 season, Gueye produced a career-high 21 points with seven rebounds and seven assists in a 122–102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on 8 November 2025, signaling continued offensive development. He remains a developing two-way contributor whose minutes and responsibilities within the Hawks rotation are expanding.
Looking ahead, Gueye’s outlook with the Atlanta Hawks is promising as he continues to add strength, experience, and consistency. His combination of size, rebounding, and improving skill set positions him as a long-term piece of the Hawks’ young core. Further growth in his scoring and defensive impact will be key areas to watch in the seasons to come.
