Jonesboro, AR — (Contributed) — May 8, 2025 — Arkansas State men’s basketball head coach Ryan Pannone announced Thursday the signing of transfer Aly Tounkara to the 2025-26 roster.

The 7-foot Tounkara, a native of Conakry, Guinea, joins the Red Wolves after spending his freshman season at Lindenwood. With the Lions, Tounkara appeared in 29 games (six starts), averaging 3.5 points and 4.7 rebounds across 15 minutes per game, and shot 60.3 percent from the field. He ranked second on the team in blocked shots, swatting away 26.

“We saw him as someone who could really be a big defensive force for us in the paint and help us protect the rim,” Pannone said. “We see his upside in his foot speed, ability to run the floor, play in our up-tempo pace and in our offensive system as a lob threat, pick-and-roll threat, screener, diver, offensive rebounder while continuing to develop his passing, decision-making and short roll decisions. As we’re looking to build the team, we felt that we really needed somebody that can help us defensively protect the rim, and we thought his upside was really good and his production as he played at Lindenwood as a freshman with limited in-game reps throughout his career could really help us.”

Tounkara recorded a double-double at Little Rock on Feb. 20, tallying career bests in points (15) and rebounds (11) with a pair of blocks. He had a career-best 4 blocked shots against Tennessee State on Jan. 9, along with 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Prior to beginning his collegiate career, Tounkara attended Principia High School in St. Louis. He also attended the NBA Academy Africa, winning the Award of Excellence in 2022 as well as being named the Academy’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Tounkara is now the ninth signing for Pannone’s first season leading the Red Wolves, joining Jalen Hampton (Missouri State transfer), Chandler Jackson (Florida State), Matt Hayman (Stephen F. Austin), TJ Caldwell (Ole Miss), Chudi Dioramma (Sacramento State), Christian Harmon (Gulf Coast State College), Jaxon Ellingsworth (UT Arlington) and Royal Smith (Gillion Academy).