Pro basketball Benjamin Ndour is headed to HBCU basketball after signing with FAMU, giving head coach Charlie Ward another major recruiting victory.
The Field of 68 reported Monday that Ndour, a 6-foot-9 forward from Dakar, Senegal, has signed with the Rattlers. He most recently played for Etrusca Basket San Miniato in Italy’s Serie B Interregionale.
Ndour brings size, experience and versatility to Tallahassee. The Field of 68 described him as a two-way forward who rebounds, blocks shots, attacks the rim and stretches the floor to the 3-point line.
That skill set could make him a valuable frontcourt piece in the SWAC.
Charlie Ward expands FAMU recruiting map
Ward has already proven capable of attracting highly rated prospects to the HBCU. Four-star point guard Jayden “JJ” Joseph committed to FAMU in August 2025 after receiving offers from Florida State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oregon, UCF and Southern California.
Ward followed that win by landing Cam Cooper, a 6-foot-7 guard with offers from Florida State and Texas A&M. Cooper became the second Power Four-level prospect to pick the Rattlers since Ward took over.
Now the former NBA point guard has gone overseas to add an Italian basketball pro with a different level of experience.
Ndour has spent several years in the Italian system. The 22-year-old also played for Fulgor Libertas Forlì in Serie A2 before joining Etrusca. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 7.2 points across 29 games.
His arrival gives FAMU another long, athletic option as Ward continues shaping the roster in his image. Ward’s first Rattlers team finished 15-16 overall and 11-7 in the SWAC, earning second place after being picked eighth in the preseason poll.
For an HBCU program competing in the transfer era, recruiting beyond the usual pipelines can make a difference. Landing Ndour suggests Ward’s name recognition and basketball résumé can open doors far beyond Florida.