Here is the weekly review of the top performing Ivorian players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international center
Deon Thompson (204-1988, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
UNC, currently plays in Spain). Thompson contributed to
Zaragoza's victory against the 16th-ranked Obradoiro (9-19)
80-73 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Wednesday night.
He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 16 minutes on the court.
Casademont Zaragoza (1-2) is placed third in the Liga Endesa.
Thompson's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
This year Thompson averages: 8.5ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 53.2%, 3FGP: 21.4% in 19 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and American.
Despite Thompson played previously for the USA university national team, he played also for the Ivorian national team in 21.
#2. Second place goes to former international swingman
Vafessa Fofana (198-1992, currently plays in France). Fofana contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Chalons-Reims (7-21) crushing them
96-76 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Friday.
He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 26 minutes.
BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral (12-1) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
It was Gravelines-Dunkerque's 11th consecutive victory in a row.
This year Fofana's overall stats are: 6.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 64.3%(63-98), 3FGP: 22.2% and FT: 56.8% in 28 games.
He played for the Ivorian national team in 21.
#3. The Ivorian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Cedric Bah (198-1994, currently plays in France). Bah could not help
JA Vichy (14-13) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his very good performance JA Vichy was edged
74-73 on the road by the second-ranked Sluc Nancy.
Bah recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 12 rebounds.
Bah's total stats this season are: 8.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 43.8%, 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 71.7%.
He played for the Ivorian national team year ago.
#4. Center
Seydou Aboubacar (207-1994, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Ourense's victory against the 13th-ranked Carbajosa (8-18)
76-65 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) last Sunday.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Club Ourense Baloncesto (18-8) is placed first in West group.
Aboubacar's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Aboubacar's total stats this season are: 7.7ppg and 4.9rpg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and Nigerien.
Aboubacar used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 20.
#5. Former international center
Mohamed Kone (210-1981, college:
Valpo, currently plays in France) led
Pontoise to a victory against the fourth-ranked Orchesien BC (9-8)
61-49 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night.
He had a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 13 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Entente Cergy Osny Pontoise BB (11-6) is placed third in Group B.
Kone's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
This year Kone's total stats are: 8.9ppg, 7.3rpg and 1.4apg in 30 games.
He has both Ivorian and French nationalities.
Kone used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#6. Swingman
Charles Abouo (196-1989, college:
BYU, currently plays in France) was not able to help
Le Portel in their game against Monaco (18-4) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
Abouo scored only 3 points.
Le Portel was defeated
82-70 at home by the second-ranked Monaco.
Abouo has averaged so far 8.9ppg, 3.2rpg and 1.1apg.
He also holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
Abouo is a former international player as he played for the Ivorian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Tiegbe Bamba (204-1991, college:
Portland St., currently plays in France) was the major contributor in
Kaysersberg's victory against the fifth-ranked Union Rennes (4-4) crushing them
79-54 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
He had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 13 rebounds in 34 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Bamba's first season in pro basketball. AS Kaysersberg Ammerschwihr BCA (9-2) is placed first in Group C.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage.
Bamba has relatively good stats this year: 11.7ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.6apg and 2.0spg in 23 games.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#8. Center
Bali Coulibaly (199-1995, agency:
Octagon Europe, currently plays in France) led
Lorient to a victory over the second-ranked Lyon (13-6)
89-73 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
Coulibaly was MVP of the game. He scored 17 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. CEP Lorient Basket (10-7) is placed third in Group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
This season Coulibaly has relatively solid stats: 10.7ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.4apg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
back in 21.
#9. Former international power forward
Amadou Sidibe (203-1994, agency:
Players Group, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Tours (12-15) in their last game. Despite Sidibe's good performance Tours lost
76-81 on the opponent's court to the much higher-ranked (#5) Saint-Quentin.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Sidibe has averaged so far 8.4ppg and 7.7rpg in 20 games.
He holds both American and Ivorian passports.
Sidibe used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
#10. Point guard
Maxence Dadiet (192-1999, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Tiegbe Bamba and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Dadiet contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Union Rennes (4-4) crushing them
79-54.
He scored 7 points and added 4 passes in 15 minutes.
Dadiet has reliable stats this year: 13.1ppg, 3.5rpg and 3.1apg in 29 games.
Despite he played previously for the French U16 national team, Dadiet is also a former international player as years ago he still played for the Ivorian senior national team.
#11. Former international point guard
Bryan Pamba-Juille (186-1992, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Tiegbe Bamba in the French NM1 last game.
Pamba-Juille couldn't help
Union Rennes in their game against Kaysersberg. He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Pamba-Juille scored only 3 points, made 4 passes and 3 steals.
His team was crushed by 25 points
79-54.
Pamba-Juille averaged so far 10.8ppg, 3.0rpg, 5.6apg and 1.9spg.
He used to play for the Ivorian national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Ivorian passport but never been selected to any of Ivorian national teams: #1. Mohamed Bamba (211-C-1998, college:
Texas, currently plays in NBA) led
Orlando Magic to a surprising victory over the Miami Heat (53-29)
125-111 in the NBA in Sunday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Bamba had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks in 28 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Bamba's first season in pro basketball. The Orlando Magic has not so impressive 22-60 record this season.
The Regular Season already ended in the NBA.
Bamba has relatively good stats this year: 10.6ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.2apg and 1.7bpg in 71 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Ivorian and American.
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.
#2. Mike Fofana (206-F-1997, agency:
One Motive Sports, college:
HSU, currently plays in Portugal) could not help
Sporting (19-6) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Fofana's very good performance the third-placed Sporting (19-6) was defeated
76-66 at home by the second-ranked FC Porto in the Places 1-4 group.
He was the top scorer with 21 points. Fofana also added 7 rebounds.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
This season Fofana averages: 9.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.4apg and 1.1spg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Ivorian and American.
#3. Bazoumana Kone (193-G-1993, college:
Bremerhaven, currently plays in Italy) contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Monferrato (14-12) crushing them
96-73 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) in Sunday night's game.
Kone scored 10 points.
Reale Mutua Basket Torinois placed in Group Green.
Kone's overall stats this season are: 5.7ppg and 2.3rpg.
He has both Ivorian and German nationalities.
Despite Kone's Ivorian passport, he previously played for the German university national team and probably cannot be called to the Ivorian team.
#4. Ladji Meite (203-F/C-2000, currently plays in France) managed to help SO Maritime Boulogne in a victory against the seventh-ranked Lourdes-Tarbes (8-9)
88-75 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Meite scored 5 points in 15 minutes.
SO Maritime Boulogne (11-6) is placed first in Group B.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Meite's total stats are: 3.3ppg and 2.8rpg in 31 games.
#5. Ousmane Doumbia (200-SF-2001, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help
Pas Pielagos in their game against Zarautz (9-20) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division).
He recorded 7 points.
The 15th-placed Pas Pielagos (5-22) was edged
65-63 on the road by the higher-ranked Zarautz (#13) in the Group A-A.
It was Pas Pielagos' fifth consecutive loss in a row.
Doumbia's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Doumbia has averaged so far 6.4ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.6apg and 1.3spg.
#6. Mohamed Toure (189-PG-1992, currently plays in Italy) led
Oleggio to an easy victory against the tenth-ranked Piombino
83-64 in the Italian Serie B (third division) last Saturday.
Toure scored 13 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 34 minutes.
Toure's stats this year are: 11.3ppg, 4.7rpg and 3.4apg in 14 games.
He also holds two passports: Ivorian and Italian.
Despite Toure's Ivorian nationality, he previously played for the Italian U20 national team.
