The teenage Trento guard is already making a name for himself
Being Saliou’s younger brother is not a problem for Cheickh Niang
Player Spotlight
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It will take a while before Cheickh Niang is not asked about his older brother. But the Dolomiti Energia Trento guard does not mind talking about Virtus Bologna’s Saliou Niang. Cheickh is proud of what Saliou has done.
Cheickh Niang is well on his way to making his own name as the 17-year-old has become an integral part of Trento’s rotation in his first full season with the pro team. Cheickh is averaging 6.8 points and 1.6 rebounds through his first 10 games in the BKT EuroCup.
The 1.95-meter guard started the EuroCup season like a house on fire with 9.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in the first five games, including 15 points against London Lions and 14 points versus Buducnost VOLI Podgorica. Niang was limited to a combined 5 points and 3 rebounds in the following three games from rounds 6 to 8.
“At the beginning, opponents didn’t know me, so it was easier. Now teams are scouting me more, which makes things more difficult. But I feel I’m growing and improving in the way I’m playing,” he said.
Niang sounded like a seasoned vet when talking about those other three games.
“I was trying to do other useful things on the court - not just scoring. Now that teams know me, I’m focusing on helping in other ways: passing the ball, getting rebounds, defending, doing all the little things instead of relying only on scoring.”
Niang came out of the national team break similar to the beginning of the season with 6 points in Round 10 against Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse and 11 points with 3 of 3 on three-pointers in Round 11 versus Buducnost.
Cheickh says he has received quite a bit of help and advice from his brother Saliou, who made his EuroCup debut in 2023-24 with Trento and then played a much bigger role in the team last season.
“He gives me a lot of suggestions,” Cheickh said of his brother, who is four years older. “He tells me to stay focused on defense and to get more rebounds — because he knows I can do more. And to give 100 percent on both ends of the court, staying fully focused.”
Saliou was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and this season, joined Virtus Bologna. In his EuroLeague debut season with Virtus, Saliou is averaging 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Cheickh said he still has a great relationship with his brother.
“The relationship is the same; nothing has changed. We still talk, but of course a bit less than before because we no longer live together,” he said “When we talk, it’s more about life in general. He still gives me suggestions about basketball, but most conversations are about life.”
Cheickh said it was tough seeing his brother leave for Bologna, but they still play Fortnite online together.
"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against my brother."
One of the biggest dates for the Niang family was November 1, 2025 when Trento hosted Virtus. The brothers’ parents - who arrived in Italy from Senegal about 20 years ago looking for work - were in the stands watching.
Saliou collected 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 18 minutes while Cheickh tallied 2 points and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes.
"It was a dream come true. I was really excited to play against him,” Cheickh said. “Before the game, I felt anxious and nervous. But once the game started, I just wanted to go at my brother and compete.”
The two were on the court at the same time for about 5 minutes and they got to defend one another multiple times.
“It was for sure emotional,” Cheickh said.
There really wasn’t much trash-talking though, according to Cheickh.
“I said: ‘Now we see what we can do.’ And I was asking if he was going to play short roll or post-up or something like that. And he didn’t answer.”
This season has been like a dream altogether for Cheickh, who only played with Trento’s youth teams last season. He had a spectacular Italian League debut on October 5, hitting 2 three-pointers and scoring 15 points to go with 6 rebounds and 1 steal against Cantu.
“I didn’t expect it at all, but I was really happy. During the pre-season, I realized I was playing a lot of minutes. It was unexpected, but I worked really hard for it, so I’m definitely happy,” said Niang, who is averaging 4.2 points on 39.1% three-point shooting and 1.7 rebounds in the Italian League.
“I expected a big gap. The biggest challenge has been the physicality. I’m still trying to figure out what I need to compete at this level.”
Cheickh also knows he landed in the right spot at Trento when he arrived from Vis 2008 Ferrara in 2023.
“Trento is one of the few clubs that lets young players play in the first league or in Europe. I believe there are many young players with talent who just need a chance to show it, and Trento gives that chance early,” Niang said.
Cheickh knows that part of the attention he gets comes from being Saliou’s younger brother.
“It doesn’t change anything. Being Saliou’s brother is not a problem,” he said. “I’m really happy to see my brother playing at this level.”
But that is where Cheickh’s allegiance stops. “I don’t support Virtus - only my brother.”