We bring you last week's top performances from Ivorians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is an international forward
Deon Thompson (203-88, college:
UNC, currently plays in Spain). He could not help
Unicaja Malaga in their last game. Despite Thompson's good performance his team lost
62-67 on the road to the much lower-ranked (#10) Movil Estudiantes.
He was the top scorer with 14 points. Thompson also added 6 rebounds in 24 minutes on the court.
It's Thompson's first season with the team.
This year he averages: 9.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 60.9%(14-23), 3FGP: 26.7% and FT: 87.5% in five games he played so far.
Thompson has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and American.
Despite he played previously for the USA university national team, Thompson is currently a member of the Ivorian senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Moussa Kone (203-93, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in Sweden). He was the major contributor in an overtime
Wetterbygden's victory against the league outsider Nassjo (1-7)
109-104 in the Swedish Basketligan last Monday.
Kone scored 18 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 6 assists.
Wetterbygden Stars Huskvarna (6-2) is placed second in the Basketligan.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Kone has relatively good stats this year: 12.3ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.6apg, 2FGP: 56.8%(42-74) and FT: 45.2%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
Kone played for the Ivorian national team in 2015.
#3. The Ivorian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international swingman
Charles Abouo (196-89, college:
BYU, currently plays in France). Abouo was not able to help
Provence Basket (0-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance Provence Basket was defeated
79-74 in Lille by the much higher-ranked Metropole (#5).
Abouo was the top scorer with 22 points.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
Abouo has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 52.2%, 3FGP: 41.7% and FT: 73.3%.
Abouo has both American and Ivorian nationalities.
He is also a member of the Ivorian senior national team.
#4. Point guard
Jean-Francois Kebe (185-94, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Saint-Quentin (1-2) in their last game on Friday. Despite Kebe's very good performance Saint-Quentin was edged
80-77 in Rouen by the higher-ranked SPO Rouen (#10).
He was the top scorer with 20 points.
But there are still lots of games to play and it's a long way to go.
Kebe's overall stats this season are: 10.0ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.7apg.
He is also Ivorian national team player.
#5. Former international center
Aboubacar Aboubacar Hima (207-94, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the 12th-ranked Ourense (3-3) crushing them
77-56 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Wednesday.
Aboubacar Hima scored 9 points, had 9 rebounds and made 2 blocks.
Carramimbre CBC Valladolid (5-1) is placed third in the LEB Gold.
Aboubacar Hima's overall stats this season are: 6.3ppg and 9.0rpg.
He also holds two passports: Ivorian and Nigerien.
Aboubacar Hima used to play for the Ivorian national team
two years ago.
#6. Center
Louri Frejus Zerbo (208-89, currently plays in France) managed to help JL Bourg Basket in a victory against the 12th-ranked Le Mans (2-4) crushing them
86-55 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA on Saturday night.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 15 minutes.
JL Bourg Basket (5-1) is placed third in the Jeep ELITE ProA.
This year Zerbo's overall stats are: 1.5ppg and 1.7rpg in six games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Ivorian National Team roster.
#7. International swingman
Vafessa Fofana (198-92, currently plays in France) contributed to a
Cholet Basket's victory against the 15th-ranked Le Portel (2-5)
80-72 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA in Saturday night's game.
Fofana scored only 4 points.
Cholet Basket (7-0) is placed first in the Jeep ELITE ProA.
So far his team won all seven games in the Regular Season.
Fofana's total stats this season are: 5.3ppg and 2.5rpg.
He is also Ivorian national team player.
#8. An experienced center
Mohamed Kone (211-81, college:
Valpo, currently plays in France) led
JA Vichy to a 1-point victory against the 12th-ranked Aix-Maurienne (1-2)
80-79 in the French ProB (second division) on Friday night.
Kone scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Jean D'Arc Vichy Clermont Metropole (2-1) is placed third in the ProB.
This season Kone has relatively solid stats: 10.3ppg and 8.3rpg.
He plays currently for the Ivorian national team.
#9. International forward
Serge Pohohoulou (200-96, currently plays in Africa Basketball League) couldn't help
SLAC (1-2) in their last game. Despite Pohohoulou's good performance SLAC was crushed
96-50 at home by the second-ranked GS Petroliers.
He was the top scorer with 13 points. Pohohoulou also added 8 rebounds in 20 minutes.
The Qualifying Round already ended in the D1.
Pohohoulou has reliable stats this year: 10.3ppg and 8.3rpg in three games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
last year.
#10. Swingman
Issife Soumahoro (197-88, currently plays in France) couldn't help
SOPCC (6-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Soumahoro's very good performance the third-placed SOPCC (6-1) was edged
91-90 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Rueil in the Group B.
He was the second best scorer with 18 points.
Soumahoro averaged so far 13.6ppg, 1.9rpg and 2.1apg.
He is a former international player as three years ago he still played for the Ivorian senior national team.
#11. Former international center
Cedric Bah (198-94, currently plays in France) couldn't help
ADA Blois in their game against Gries/Oberhoffen in the French ProB (second division). Bah cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only one point in 9 minutes on the court.
His team was edged
78-77.
This year Bah's total stats are: 5.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.3apg and 1.3spg in three games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
two years ago.
#12. International center
Bali Coulibaly (199-95, currently plays in France) helped
Toulouse win their game against the tenth-ranked Vendee Challans
89-85 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Coulibaly's stats this year are: 11.4ppg and 6.7rpg in seven games.
He is also in the roster of the Ivorian national team.
The list of other players, who all have Ivorian passport but never been selected to any of Ivorian national teams: #1. Experienced
Alain Koffi (207-C-83, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in France) could not help
Gravelines-Dunkerque (3-3) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Gravelines-Dunkerque was badly defeated
95-76 on the road by the second-ranked JDA Dijon.
Koffi was the second best scorer with 15 points. He also added 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 28 minutes.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Koffi's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.3apg in six games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and French.
#2. Jonas Zohore (208-C-91, currently plays in Bulgaria) was not able to help
Rilski (3-1) in their last game. Despite Zohore's good performance Rilski was edged
85-83 in Botevgrad by the leading Balkan.
He recorded 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes.
It was Rilski's first loss after three consecutive victories.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Zohore has relatively solid stats: 14.0ppg, 8.5rpg and 1.5apg in four games.
He is another player who holds two passports: Danish and Ivorian.
#3. Mohamed Bamba (211-PF-98, college:
Texas, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an
Orlando Magic's victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2)
94-85 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game.
Bamba scored 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in only 14 minutes.
The Orlando Magic has 2-2 record this season.
This year Bamba's overall stats are: 5.8ppg and 4.3rpg in four games.
He has both American and Ivorian nationalities.
Despite Bamba's Ivorian passport, he previously played for the USA U18 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Ivorian team.
#4. Samuel Amed Diomande (193-G-88, currently plays in Norway) was not able to secure a victory for
Centrum (3-5) in their last game. Despite Diomande's very good performance Centrum lost
98-109 at home to the leading Kongsberg.
He recorded 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 27 minutes.
It was Centrum's third consecutive loss in a row.
This year Diomande's total stats are: 10.0ppg, 5.8rpg and 2.8apg in four games.
He also holds two passports: Ivorian and Norwegian.
#5. Ange-Michel Kuo (203-F, currently plays in NAIA) couldn't help the
Presentation College in their game against the William Penn University in the NSAA.
Kuo scored 8 points.
his team was crushed
140-53 in Oskaloosa by the William Penn University.
Kuo has averaged so far 5.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.3apg and 1.3spg.
