A Journey of Resilience

In the world of collegiate basketball, every athlete has a story. Some stories weave together with victories, while others are put together with perseverance and determination. Makoye Diawara transformed obstacles into opportunities, proving that resilience and hard work can turn dreams into reality.

Diawara was born in Senegal and spent her early childhood there. Her life took a turn in 2010 when she moved to the United States at seven years old. Diawara found the transition overwhelming because she faced a new country and a very different climate

“It was really cold,” Diawara said. “In Senegal, it’s hot most of the time, so that was one of the biggest changes for me.” 

Diawara faced a challenge with the language barrier. She found communication difficult because she wasn't fluent in English. Within a few months she had already picked up the language. 

“I was a kid, so we picked up things very quickly,” Diawara said. “I probably learned English in around four to five months.”

Diawara initially didn’t consider basketball. She loved soccer, a common sport among kids in Senegal. However, boredom led her to try out for a basketball league in eighth grade, a move that would unknowingly change the course of her life. 

“The league was like a subdivision of my high school,” Diawara said. “I didn’t make the team because I didn’t have any skills at the time, I was just fast. I wasn’t sad, I just told myself I’d try again.” 

Diawara’s determination paid off over the next year as she continued to work on her skills and get better as a player. By the time her freshman year rolled around, she made the team. Although she didn’t play that much, she found joy in simply being a part of a group. 

With a competitive spirit and an eagerness to learn, she kept training and improving her skills, dedicating herself to conditioning, skill development, and rebounding. By the time her sophomore year came around, she made the varsity squad before joining an AAU team over the summer. 

“It wasn’t an official team, but it helped me to learn more about the game,” Diawara said. “I was able to play a lot more and be around good coaches that knew the game of basketball. Along with that, the competition was better and motivated me even more.” 

Faced with a difficult decision when college offers came her way, Norfolk State stood out amongst the rest. Head coach Larry Vickers and his staff made her feel like she would find a home at NSU. 

“They made me feel welcomed,” Diawara said. “It just felt like this is where I had to be.” 

Diawara also embraced the experience of attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), providing her with a strong sense of culture and belonging. 

“I never regretted my decision to come here or had second thoughts about leaving,” Diawara said. “I am extremely grateful and very happy that I chose to be at Norfolk State.” 

Diawara’s time at Norfolk State did not start smoothly. During her freshman year, she suffered a devasting injury, tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. 

“It was hard,” Diawara said. “I’ve never had an injury like that before, and my season was over just like that.” 

Despite living far away from home, she leaned on her support system at Norfolk State, including coaches, teammates, trainers, and her unwavering faith. She committed to rehab, keeping a positive mindset while remaining engaged with the team. 

Following her recovery, she could not wait to get back on the basketball court and prove herself to everyone that she belonged at Norfolk State. 

“I came back very motivated and ready to go,” Diawara said. “I just felt like it was important to me to represent our school as an HBCU, it always felt like we were playing for something bigger.” 

During Diawara’s time at Norfolk State, the basketball program has evolved. From her first year with a losing record to reaching 30 wins and the NCAA tournament, Diawara and her teammates fought hard to build a winning culture. 

“We belong here,” Diawara said. “We don’t need to be at a power four school to make an impact, we worked hard to be here and put together a successful season.” 

Beyond the game of basketball, she hopes that she leaves a legacy of resilience and determination at Norfolk State. 

“I want to be an example that you can overcome anything,” Diawara said. “I want people to see that no matter what you go through, you can rise above it.” 

As her playing career comes to an end this weekend at the HBCU All-star Game, a new chapter begins. Diawara plans to become a graduate assistant coach while pursuing a mater’s degree in either information technology or computer science.

“Technology is the future,” Diawara said. “I’m really interested in how it affects us, from cybersecurity to cyber psychology. I see myself working in IT for a major company one day.”