NEW YORK (USA) - More and more African players continue to make their names called in the glamorous NBA Draft night. 

And the 2022 edition of the ceremony was no different when - on Thursday, June 23, Senegal's Khalifa Diop was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with 39th pick.

The 20-year-old became the second player to have featured in a FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers campaign after Nigeria's Jordan Nwora.

Diop played for his native Senegal as recently as last February when the Lions hosted window 2 of the African Qualifiers in Dakar.

The 2.11m (6ft 11 in) center, who had limited playing time against DR Congo and Egypt, averaged 5 points and 3.3 rebounds, but it was in Senegal's blowout win over Kenya that the newest Cavaliers recruit made his name heard in the African Qualifiers.

Diop had a 4-for-5 shooting to finish 10 points, added 7 rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench to help Senegal cruise to a 100-55 triumph over Team Morans. 

Diop, who last played for Gran Canaria in Spain's ACB, has represented Senegal at last year's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup , a tournament he averaged 14 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

Prior to the U19 Worlds, Diop participated in the FIBA-NBA 2019 Basketball World Without Borders Global Camp in Charlotte, USA.

But before African Qualifiers participant Diop entered the NBA, Nwora left his mark in the World Cup African Qualifiers.

Nwora established a record for most points scored in a game when Nigeria trounced Mali 93-53 Mali in Lagos, Nigeria. 

It was window 3 of the 2019 World Cup African Qualifiers, in June 2018, when Nwora had a 12 of 20 shooting, including five three-pointers to finish with 36 points, a record that remains unbroken to date. 

Two years later, Nwora heard his name called in the NBA Draft night when the Milwaukee Bucks selected him with the 45th pick. 

In 2021 Nwora helped the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years.

DR Congo's Yanick Nsoza, who was preselected for window 2 of the African Qualifiers, was selected with 54th pick by Washington Wizards although but he is yet to suit up for his country.

The race for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is heating up with window 3 of the qualification coming up from July 1-3 in Abidjan, Alexandria and Kigali, and, a lot more top prospects are set to showcase their talent. 

FIBA