By UNI Athletics
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI men’s basketball team on Thursday announced the signing of three student-athletes to the Panther roster for the 2025-26 season.
The signees include a trio of forwards, including NAIA First Team All-American Tristan Smith (Elizabeth, Colo. / Concordia [NE]), as well as a pair of international players in Canadian Ismaël Diouf (Saint-Jean-Sur Richelieu, Quebec / North Carolina State) and Croatian Marino Dubravcic (Otocac, Croatia / Baylor).
Smith, Diouf and Dubravcic join high school seniors Jalen Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School) and Geon Hutchins (Detroit, Mich. / Warren Lincoln High School), who both signed with the Panthers in the fall.
“We feel great about the addition of Ismael, Tristan and Marino,” said Panther head coach Ben Jacobson. “With eleven players returning it allowed us to focus on a handful of recruits that fit specific needs. We wanted to add size, versatility, experience as well as players that will positively impact our locker room. These three young men met, and in some ways, exceeded our expectations throughout the recruiting process. With Jalen and Geon signing early, this class has exactly what we were looking for to add to our returning core group.”
Tristan Smith | Forward / 6-5 | (Elizabeth, Colo. / Elizabeth HS / Concordia [NE])
A highly-talented combo forward originally from just south of Denver, Colorado, Smith signs with the Panthers after four seasons at NAIA Concordia in Nebraska with one year of eligibility remaining. In 114 career games at Concordia, Smith, a three-time Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Team selection, contributed to four NAIA National Tournament appearances, including a quarterfinal run as a freshman in 2022.
The 2025 GPAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Smith, posted a monstrous senior season in 2024-25 to earn NAIA First Team All-American honors with 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals a game while shooting 68.8% from the field. Setting the program’s single season scoring record with 677 points, he also set a single-game school record with a 48-point outing in the GPAC Tournament against Midland (NE), one of five games last season of at least 33 points, along with 12 double-double outings. He was also named a First Team Academic All-American.
As a junior in 2023-24, Smith averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds a game with a 60% shooting clip, scoring a season-high 28 points against Doane (NE) and pulling down a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Concordia Ann Arbor with 14 double-doubles on the year. He also put up impressive numbers as a sophomore in 2022-23 with 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game while maintaining a shooting percentage just north of 50%. Smith appeared in 33 games off the bench as a freshman in 2021-22 averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
A three-year letterwinner and two-year captain at Elizabeth High School, Smith earned Second Team All-State honors in Colorado, along with conference MVP recognition as a senior in a prep career that saw him earn a pair of all-conference team nods and help lead the Cardinals to two state playoff appearances and a conference championship.
“Tristan is a winner,” Jacobson explained. “He’s worked for everything that he’s been a part of and plays the game with tremendous enthusiasm. His versatility and commitment to playing both ends of the floor will add an important element to our roster. I’ve been very impressed with his approach to the entire recruiting process. Tristan is about all of the right things and we can’t wait to get him here in June!”
Ismaël Diouf | Forward / 6-9 | (Saint-Jean-Sur Richelieu, Quebec / Cegep Saint-Jean Sur-Richelieu / Laval / North Carolina State)
Hailing from just north of the border outside of Montreal, Diouf joins the Northern Iowa roster after playing last season at North Carolina State. In 18 games for the Wolfpack, he averaged 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, which included a season-high nine points, five rebounds and two assists against Stanford in February.
Prior to his arrival in the United States, Diouf played his first two years of college basketball at Laval College in Quebec City. As a freshman in 2022-23, he appeared in 26 games with 24 starts, notching 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds a game, while also racking up 35 total blocks on the season to earn RSEQ All-Rookie Team honors.
A year later, Diouf played in 24 games with 19 starts as a sophomore, averaging 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 56% from the field. His skillset only improved in the postseason where he averaged a double-double with 18.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the Final 8 Tournament, helping Laval to its first U Sports national championship in team history. For his outstanding play, Diouf was named the MVC of the championship and to the Final 8 Tournament All-Star Team.
In 2024, following his sophomore season at Laval, Diouf was selected first overall by the Montreal Alliance in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Draft, becoming the first Quebec born player to be picked first overall in the league’s history. He played five games for the Alliance during the summer season, averaging two points and one rebound a game playing alongside former NCAA players Jordan Bowden (Tennessee), Ahmed Hill (Virginia Tech) and Chris Smith (UCLA).
“Ismaël brings size, skill and versatility that will fit perfectly into our system and with this roster,” Jacobson said. “He will join us with a tremendous amount of playing experience against very good competition at North Carolina State, Laval and in the CEBL. We really enjoyed our time with Ismaël and his family during the recruiting process. He is a high character young man, a big time worker, and will be a great addition to our locker room. We look forward to Ismaël joining us in June.”
Marino Dubravcic | Forward / 6-10 | (Octocac, Croatia / Obrtna Tehnicka / Baylor)
A 6-10 forward from eastern Europe, Dubravcic helps bolster the Panther front court, joining the UNI roster after playing his first season of college basketball at Baylor.
In his lone season with the Bears, Dubravcic appeared in 18 games and totaled nine points, eight rebounds and two assists, including a season-high three points against Tarleton State. His position as a forward on the roster helped bring depth to a Baylor team that won 20 games during the 2024-25 season, finished in the upper half of the highly competitive Big 12 Conference and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his arrival in Waco last year, Dubravcic averaged 5.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in the summer of 2024 in six games for Croatia at the FIBA U20 European Championships. He also participated with Croatia in the FIBA U18 European Championships averaging 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
“Marino gives us size at the center position that will enhance our skill and presence around the rim,” Jacobson said. “His experiences with his home country FIBA U18’s and at Baylor will be valuable for our team. I look forward to his impact and his development with our program. Marino is a fun, outgoing young guy with lots to offer. We are excited to get him here.”