CHICAGO (May 14, 2026) – UIC men's basketball introduced some further international flair to its 2026-27 roster on Thursday, when head coach Rob Ehsan announced the signing of freshman guard Mohamed Ndao (Doha, Qatar/Al Ahli SC/CIA Bella Vista Prep (Ariz.)). Ndao (last name pronounced END-ow) is the seventh newcomer, and fourth freshman, who has committed to suit up for UIC next season, joining redshirt junior guards Gabe Cupps and Asa Thomas, and redshirt junior forward Lucas Scroggins, along with a trio of fellow rookies in forwards Dikembe Shaw and DJ Hudson, and guard Elijah Garrett.
 
"Mo is the type of player our staff loves to coach because of the energy, toughness and effort he brings to the court," Ehsan said. "He's an explosive athlete who plays with a relentless motor and his defensive versatility gives us tremendous flexibility. We believe his best basketball is still ahead of him and we're excited about what he can become here at UIC."
 
A 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard, Ndao is one of the rising stars to come out of his native Qatar, suiting up for the Middle Eastern country 37 times in FIBA international competition at the youth level, averaging a near double-double with 19.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game at both the FIBA U16 and U18 Asia Cups and preceding qualifiers. The highlights of his national team career to date came at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asia Cup Qualifiers, when he averaged 34.8 points and 14.6 rebounds per game (including 46 points and 13 rebounds in an overtime win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage), as well as the 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup, when he logged 22.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game (including 35 points and 17 rebounds against Kazakhstan in another group stage win).
 
Ndao made his Qatar Senior National Team debut in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers against Kuwait and most recently saw action in last year's Asia Cup Qualifiers against Iran. He also competed in the NBA-backed Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia tournament in 2024 in Perth, Australia, earning BWB All-Star honors after averaging 5.8 points per game in the five-game event.
 
Ndao came to the United States as a high school junior in 2024, enrolling at Legacy the School of Sport Sciences in Spring, Texas, for his first prep season before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., for his senior campaign at CIA Bella Vista Prep. While there, he was an important contributor to the Bears winning the Chipotle Nationals championship and the Nike EYBL Scholastic titles before finishing No. 1 in the nation according to multiple major rankings, including ESPN, USA Today Sports and MaxPreps.
 
UIC is coming off a 19-win season and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference, capped off by a trip to the 2026 NIT (National Invitation Tournament), the school's first berth in that elite event since 2003, and the Flames' first-ever appearance in the MVC Tournament championship game. UIC also posted its highest overall KenPom rating since 2004 (No. 110) and highest defensive efficiency mark since 2008 (No. 91), along with its highest-ever NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking at No. 115. What's more, during Ehsan's first two years at UIC, the Flames have collected eight Quad 1 & 2 wins, the second-most in the MVC, as well as six wins over teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll (four against top-10 squads).
 
UIC is expected to return numerous key contributors next season, including 2026 All-MVC Freshman Team guard Andy Johnson and two other rising young standouts who developed significantly during their freshman years in guard Rashund Washington Jr. and forward Jayce Nathaniel. The Flames will also benefit from critical veteran leadership through a pair of senior starters in guard Ahmad Henderson II and guard/forward Mekhi Lowery.

Details on season ticket packages for the 2026-27 Flames' men's basketball campaign will be available in the coming weeks. Further information will be forthcoming via the UIC Athletics Ticket Office, which can be reached by phone (312.413.8421) or e-mail (athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).