Cheick Diallo selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

CHEICK DIALLO

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Mali players, who play currently abroad.

Cheick Diallo

   #1. This week's number one is former U16 international power forward Cheick Diallo (206-96, college: Kansas, currently plays in NBA). Diallo contributed to an easy victory against the Phoenix Suns (3-11) crushing them 119-99 in the NBA last Saturday. He scored 7 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The New Orleans Pelicans have 7-7 record this season. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Diallo averages: 4.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 54.3% and FT: 77.8%. He played for the Mali U16 national team seven years ago.

Sagaba Konate

   #2. Second place goes to former U18 international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, currently plays college basketball in the States). Konate led W.Virginia to an easy victory against the Monmouth University 71-53 in the NCAA on Thursday night. He recorded 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and made 4 blocks in 26 minutes. It was his first game for W.Virginia this season. His team has conference record this season. Konate played for the Mali U18 national team in 2014.

Nianta Diarra

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Nianta Diarra (203-93, currently plays in France). He managed to help Boulazac Basket Dordogne to win against the closely-ranked Gravelines-Dunkerque (5-4) 77-69 in the French ProA in Friday night's game. Diarra scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Boulazac Basket Dordogne (5-4) is placed seventh in the ProA. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Diarra's overall stats this year are: 4.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 2FGP: 89.5%(17-19) and FT: 33.3%. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is also a member of the Mali senior national team.

Cheick Soumaoro

   #4. Forward Cheick Soumaoro (204-90, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Orchesien BC (6-4) crushing them 77-52 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night. He recorded 10 points. Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (9-1) is placed second in Group A. Soumaoro's overall stats this season are: 4.7ppg and 4.1rpg. He is also Mali national team player.

Ludovic Chelle

   #5. An experienced former international guard Ludovic Chelle (188-83, currently plays in France). Chelle could not help Saint Vallier (7-3) to beat Aubenas (3-7). He recorded 9 points. But the third-placed Saint Vallier (7-3) was defeated 68-60 at home by the much lower-ranked Aubenas (#11) in the Group A. They ended the series of six consecutive victories. It's Chelle's first season with the team. Chelle's overall stats this year are: 8.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.1apg and 1.4spg. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Despite Chelle played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Boubacar Sidibe

   #6. Center Boubacar Sidibe (205-94, currently plays in Spain) contributed to a HLA Alicante's victory against the ninth-ranked L'Hospitalet (3-5) 79-65 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) on Saturday night. Sidibe recorded only 3 points in 3 minutes on the court. HLA Alicante (6-2) is placed first in East group. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. This year Sidibe's overall stats are: 2.4ppg and 2.6rpg in seven games he played so far. He is international player as he played for the Mali senior team one years ago.

Sourata Cisse

   #7. International swingman Sourata Cisse (196-86, currently plays in France) was not able to help Brissac Anjou (2-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Cisse's very good performance Brissac Anjou (#13) was defeated 81-71 on their home court in Brissac-Quince by the higher-ranked Union Tours (#8) in the Group B. He was the top scorer with 15 points. Cisse has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.3apg and 1.2spg. Despite Cisse played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #8. Point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for GET Vosges (2-8) in their last game. Despite Sidibe's good performance GET Vosges (#14) was edged 71-70 on their home court in Golbey by the much higher-ranked (#5) Besancon in the Group A. He was the top scorer with 14 points. Sidibe also added 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Sidibe has very impressive stats this year: 18.4ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.0apg and 1.2spg in five games. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Sidibe is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Ibrahim Saounera

   #9. International point guard Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) couldn't help Lorient (7-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Lorient (#3) was crushed 99-59 on the road by the leading Vendee Challans in the Group B. Saounera recorded 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Saounera has relatively good stats this season: 11.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.8apg and 1.5spg. He is also in the roster of the Mali national team.

Namory Boundy

   #10. Forward Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahima Sidibe and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Boundy couldn't help GET Vosges (2-8) in their game against Besancon (6-4). He recorded 9 points in 24 minutes. But GET Vosges (#14) was edged 71-70 on their home court in Golbey by the much higher-ranked (#5) Besancon in the Group A. This year Boundy's total stats are: 10.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg and 1.4spg in 10 games. He is a former international player as three years ago he still played for the Mali senior national team.

   #11. International swingman Mamadou Sy (196-85, college: Cloud County CC, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Sourata Cisse and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Sy couldn't help Brissac Anjou in their game against Union Tours. He recorded 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. His team was defeated 81-71. Sy has averaged so far 3.7ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.6apg. He plays currently for the Mali national team.

   #12. International power forward Baba Samake (200-94, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Samake couldn't help Lorient in their game against Vendee Challans. He recorded 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 15 minutes. His team was crushed by 40 points 99-59. Samake has averaged so far 4.9ppg and 5.1rpg in 10 games. He used to play for the Mali national team last year.

   #13. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, currently studies in the States) helped Cincinnati win their game against the North Carolina Central crushing them 73-51 in the NCAA on Tuesday night. He scored only 2 points. It was his first game for Cincinnati this season. Diarra used to play for the Mali U18 national team four years ago.


The list of other players, who all have Mali passport but never been selected to any of Mali national teams:

   #1. Bandja Sy (204-F-90, agency: BeoBasket, college: N.Mexico St., currently plays in EuroCup). He could not help Partizan (2-5) to beat Zenit (4-3). Sy recorded 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. But the sixth-placed Partizan (2-5) lost 71-75 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Zenit in the group C of Eurocup. There are only three games left until the end of the Eurocup Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This year Sy averages: 6.0ppg and 3.7rpg in six games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Mambi Diawara (193-G-94, college: Lamar St.CC, currently plays in Canada) led University of Calgary to a victory over the Huskies (3-3) 107-89 in the U Sports last Saturday. He was MVP of the game. Diawara scored 28 points (!!!) and grabbed 4 rebounds in 27 minutes. The University of Calgary has quite an impressive 6-0 record this season. So far his team won all six games in the Regular Season. But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen. Diawara has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 22.5ppg, 6.7rpg, 3.5apg and 2.0spg in six games. Diawara is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.

   #3. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the California Lutheran University (6-4) crushing them 88-32 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Sow scored 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 3 blocks in only a mere 14 minutes. The Univ. of California-Santa Barbara has conference record this season. It's Sow's first year with the team. This year his overall stats are: 9.3ppg, 6.7rpg and 1.3bpg in three games.

   #4. Souleymane Diakite (206-F-99, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Binghamton University 74-57 in the NCAA last Friday. Diakite recorded 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. The New Jersey Institute of Technology has conference record this season. It's Diakite's first year with the team. His overall stats this year are: 5.0ppg, 5.7rpg and 1.3apg.

   #5. Nouhoum Bocoum (207-F/C-92, college: Arkansas St., currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Aridane (3-5) in their last game. Despite Bocoum's very good performance the 11th-placed Aridane (3-5) lost 76-84 at home to the higher-ranked (#10) Pozuelo in the Group B. He had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 17 rebounds in 36 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Bocoum's third season in pro basketball. But there are still lots of games to play and it's a long way to go. It's Bocoum's first year with the team. He has very impressive stats this season: 15.5ppg, 10.0rpg and 2.0apg in eight games. Bocoum has both American and Mali nationalities.

   #6. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the Portland in their last game on Friday. Despite his good performance his team was badly defeated 82-64 on their home court in Portland by the University of Hawaii. Diabate recorded 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His overall stats this season are: 7.0ppg and 3.3rpg.

   #7. Bourama Sidibe (208-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Syracuse University in a victory against the Morehead State University 84-70 in the NCAA last Saturday. Sidibe scored only 4 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 9 minutes on the court. This year his overall stats are: 6.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.5bpg in two games.

   #8. Cheickna Dembele (211-F-96, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the University of California - Riverside crushing them 72-51 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Dembele scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. This year his overall stats are: 2.0ppg and 4.5rpg in two games.

   #9. Mamadou Doucoure (206-F/C, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Fairleigh Dickinson University crushing them 90-55 in the NCAA last Friday. Doucoure recorded only 2 points and blocked 2 shots. This season he averages just 1.0ppg.

   #10. Kassoum Yakwe (201-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Connecticut's victory against the Syracuse University 83-76 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Yakwe recorded only one point and grabbed 4 rebounds. Yakwe has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 1.5rpg.