Here is the weekly review of the top performing Ivorian players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Matt Costello (208-1993, college:
Michigan St., currently plays in Spain). He could not help
Baskonia (1-1) in their last game. Despite Costello's good performance Baskonia lost
74-89 on the road to the leading Barca.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 26 minutes on the court.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Costello averages: 8.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.5apg, 2.0bpg, 3.5spg, 2FGP: 66.7%, 3FGP: 28.6% and FT: 75.0% in two games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and American.
Costello played for the Ivorian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Joseph Mobio (199-1998, currently plays in Italy). He led
Vanoli Cremona to a 3-point victory over the 12th-ranked Piacenza (0-1)
90-87 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) last Sunday.
Mobio was MVP of the game. He recorded 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It was his first game for Vanoli Cremona this season.
His team is placed eighth in Group Green.
Mobio is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and Italian.
He played for the Ivorian national team in 22.
#3. The Ivorian player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced former international swingman
Charles Abouo (196-1989, college:
BYU, currently plays in France). Abouo was not able to help one of league's weakest teams
Le Portel in their game against Metropolitans (2-1) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
But Le Portel was defeated
92-82 in Levallois by the higher-ranked Metropolitans (#5).
So far Le Portel lost all three games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Abouo has relatively good stats this season: 10.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 53.3% and FT: 87.5%.
He has both American and Ivorian nationalities.
Abouo played for the Ivorian national team year ago.
#4. Swingman
Vafessa Fofana (198-1992, currently plays in France) managed to help BCM Gravelines Dunkerque in a 2-point victory against the seventh-ranked JDA Dijon (2-1)
71-69 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Saturday.
He scored only 2 points in 15 minutes.
BCM Gravelines Dunkerque (3-0) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Fofana's overall stats are: 5.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.7apg and 1.7spg in three games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international center
Bali Coulibaly (199-1995, agency:
Octagon Europe, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Poitiers (2-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Coulibaly's good performance the third-placed Poitiers (2-1) was defeated
80-71 at home by the much lower-ranked C'Chartres (#11) in the Group A.
He scored 12 points and blocked 2 shots.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Coulibaly's total stats this season are: 10.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.5spg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Patrick Tape (208-1998, agency:
Players Group, college:
USF, currently plays in United Kingdom) couldn't help
Gladiators (2-0) in their game against Lions (3-0) in the British BBL.
Tape scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. It was his first game for Gladiators this season.
But the league leader Gladiators lost
87-95 in London to the leading Lions.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Tape also holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
He is a former international player as he played for the Ivorian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international center
Mohamed Kone (210-1981, college:
Valpo, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Pontoise (1-2) in their game against Kaysersberg (1-1) in the French NM1 (third division).
He scored 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 20 minutes.
Pontoise (#4) lost
66-71 on the opponent's court to the lower-ranked (#8) Kaysersberg in the Group B.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Kone's total stats are: 5.0ppg and 4.0rpg in two games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#8. Guard
Bazoumana Kone (190-1993, college:
Bremerhaven, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help
Lions (0-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Kone's very good performance Lions was defeated
90-77 on the opponent's court by the much higher-ranked Leverkusen (#6).
He was the top scorer with 28 points. Kone also added 3 steals. It was his first game for Lions this season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Despite Kone played previously for the German university national team, he is currently in the Ivorian national team roster.
#9. Former international forward
Remi Dibo (201-1991, college:
WVU, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Lourdes-Tarbes (1-1)
86-69 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
Dibo scored 5 points and had 3 steals in 27 minutes.
Union Rennes Basket 35 (1-2) is placed fourth in Group A.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Dibo has relatively solid stats: 11.0ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.5apg and 4.0spg in two games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#10. Point guard
Maxence Dadiet (192-1999, currently plays in France) led
Toulouse to a victory over the 12th-ranked Berck (0-2)
80-74 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
Dadiet was the best player in that game. He scored 25 points and had 7 steals (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line).
Toulouse Basket Club (2-0) is placed third in Group A.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Dadiet has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 18.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 2.5apg and 3.5spg.
Despite Dadiet played previously for the French U16 national team, he is also a former international player as years ago he still played for the Ivorian senior national team.
The list of other players, who all have Ivorian passport but never been selected to any of Ivorian national teams: #1. Jonas Zohore (210-C-1991, agency:
BIG, currently plays in Lithuania) could not help
Siauliai (0-2) in their last game. Despite Zohore's good performance Siauliai was edged
88-85 at home by the leading Lietkabelis.
He scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Zohore has relatively good stats this year: 11.5ppg and 4.5rpg in two games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Danish and Ivorian.
#2. Mohamed Toure (189-PG-1992, currently plays in Italy) led
Ancona to an easy victory against the tenth-ranked Cesena (0-1)
90-71 in the Italian Serie B (third division) last Sunday.
Toure recorded 12 points. It was his first game for Ancona this season.
His team is placed first in Group C.
Toure is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and Italian.
Despite his Ivorian nationality, Toure previously played for the Italian U20 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Ivorian team.
#3. Ladji Meite (203-F/C-2000, currently plays in France) managed to help Toulouse Basket Club in a victory against the 12th-ranked Berck (0-2)
80-74 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Meite scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 20 minutes.
Toulouse Basket Club (2-0) is placed third in Group A.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Meite has averaged so far 5.5ppg and 3.5rpg in two games.
