Niang away from'Italy, mega contract unveiled. Virtus’ moves on the market.

Saliou Niang is about to leave Italy to move to the NCAA, with hopes of making it to the NBA in the future. The LSU Tigers beat North Carolina, Duke, and Kentucky and snagged the Azzurro, who will arrive in Louisiana after snagging a major contract.

According to La Repubblica, Niang struck a deal for about $5 million gross plus a series of clauses that would allow him to go up to $7 million. He will work under the supervision of the Cleveland Cavaliers during his collegiate experience.

Virtus will collect half a million dollars, but it loses a talent it had long bet on. According to Repubblica, the Bologna club’s first move will be to launch the talented Francesco Ferrari, then it will hunt for replacements on the market.

This is not a surprise departure for those who have followed Niang’s season closely. The 2004 class was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 2025 NBA Draft, but had decided to stay in Europe to continue growing in Bologna for another year. A choice that turned out to be right: the young Italian played a season of the highest level with the V Nere, confirming all the margins of improvement that had been recognized.