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SAGABA KONATE
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We bring you last week's top performances from Malians 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 former U18 international forward
Sagaba Konate (203-97, currently plays college basketball in the States). He led
W.Virginia to a victory against the Valparaiso University
88-76 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game.
Konate had a double-double by scoring 26 points and getting 10 rebounds.
The West Virginia University has conference record this season.
Konate has relatively good stats this year: 15.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2bpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 48.5%, 3FGP: 45.0% in five games he played so far.
He played for the Mali U18 national team four years ago.
#2. Second place goes to former U16 international power forward
Cheick Diallo (206-96, college:
Kansas, currently plays in NBA). Diallo contributed to an easy victory against the Washington Wizards (8-13) crushing them
125-104 in the NBA on Wednesday night.
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in only 6 minutes.
The New Orleans Pelicans have 11-11 record this season.
They ended the series of four consecutive loses.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Diallo averages: 4.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 2FGP: 55.3%(26-47) in 16 games.
He played for the Mali U16 national team in 2011.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward
Cheick Soumaoro (204-90, currently plays in France). Soumaoro contributed to
Saint-Quentin's victory against the ninth-ranked Sorgues BC (5-7)
86-82 in the French NM1 (third division) in Saturday night's game.
He scored 12 points.
Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (11-1) is placed second in Group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Soumaoro's overall stats this season are: 5.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 2FGP: 45.5% and FT: 83.3%.
He is also a member of the Mali senior national team.
#4. Power forward
Nianta Diarra (203-93, currently plays in France). He could not help one of league's weakest teams
Boulazac Basket (5-6) to beat ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (3-5). Diarra cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points.
Boulazac Basket was badly defeated
77-61 on the road by the higher-ranked ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (#9).
It was Boulazac Basket's third consecutive loss in a row.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
Diarra's overall stats this season are: 4.0ppg and 3.0rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Diarra is also Mali national team player.
#5. An experienced former international guard
Ludovic Chelle (188-83, currently plays in France) was not able to help
Saint Vallier in their game against SO Maritime Boulogne (6-6) in the French NM1 (third division).
He scored 6 points in 18 minutes.
The third-placed Saint Vallier (8-4) lost
65-71 at home to the lower-ranked (#7) SO Maritime Boulogne in the Group A.
It's Chelle's first season with the team.
This year Chelle's overall stats are: 8.8ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.3apg and 1.5spg in 12 games.
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.
#6. Forward
Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in a
GET Vosges' victory against the 13th-ranked Recy Saint-Martin (3-9)
79-74 in the French NM1 (third division) in Saturday night's game.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Golbey Epinal Thaon Vosges (3-9) is placed 12th in Group A.
This year Boundy's total stats are: 9.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.8apg and 1.3spg in 12 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team three years ago.
#7. International swingman
Samba Balayera (195-96, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Namory Boundy and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Balayera contributed to a
GET Vosges' victory against the 13th-ranked Recy Saint-Martin (3-9)
79-74.
He scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Balayera has averaged so far 10.0ppg and 2.5rpg.
He is also Mali national team player.
#8. Point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Lorient (8-4) in their last game. Despite Saounera's good performance Lorient (#2) was edged
67-65 in Bordeaux by the lower-ranked (#6) JSA Bordeaux in the Group B.
He scored 11 points and added 3 passes in 29 minutes.
This year Saounera has relatively solid stats: 10.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.8apg and 1.4spg in 12 games.
He plays currently for the Mali national team.
#9. 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 (8-4) in their game against JSA Bordeaux (7-5).
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Lorient (#2) was edged
67-65 in Bordeaux by the lower-ranked JSA Bordeaux (#6) in the Group B.
Samake has averaged so far 4.8ppg and 4.8rpg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
last year.
#10. Forward
Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, currently studies in the States) helped
Cincinnati win their game against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff crushing them
105-49 in the NCAA last Tuesday.
Diarra recorded 9 points in only 13 minutes.
The University of Cincinnati has conference record this season.
Diarra has averaged so far 3.3ppg and 2.8rpg in four games.
He is a former U18 international player as four years ago he still played for the Mali national team.
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 ABA League) could not help
Partizan (4-5) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Sy's good performance Partizan was defeated
77-71 in a derby game by the leading Crvena Zvezda.
He was the second best scorer with 12 points. Sy also added 3 steals.
This season Sy averages: 6.5ppg, 2.8rpg and 1.1apg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
#2. Salif Boudie (203-F-95, currently plays college basketball in the States) led
Arkansas St. to a victory against the Gardner-Webb University
77-69 in the NCAA last Sunday.
Boudie scored 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Arkansas State University has conference record this season.
This year Boudie's overall stats are: 5.8ppg and 2.8rpg in four games he played so far.
#3. Mambi Diawara (193-G-94, college:
Lamar St.CC, currently plays in Canada) led
University of Calgary to a victory over the Bisons (3-7) crushing them
87-59 in the U Sports on Friday night.
He was MVP of the game. Diawara scored 18 points, grabbed 5 boards, dished 5 assists and stole 3 balls.
The University of Calgary has a very good 10-0 record this season.
So far his team won all ten games in the Regular Season.
Diawara has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 19.5ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.7apg and 2.0spg.
Diawara is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.
#4. Nouhoum Bocoum (207-F/C-92, college:
Arkansas St., currently plays in Spain) was not able to help
Aridane (3-7) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the 14th-placed Aridane (3-7) was edged
106-103 at home by the much higher-ranked (#5) Nautico Tenerife in the Group B.
Bocoum had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks in 39 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Bocoum's third season in pro basketball. It was Aridane's third consecutive loss in a row.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
It's Bocoum's first year with the team.
He has very impressive stats this season: 16.5ppg, 10.6rpg and 2.1apg in 10 games.
Bocoum has both American and Mali nationalities.
#5. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Sacramento State University
75-58 in the NCAA on Thursday night.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 22 minutes.
The Univ. of California-Santa Barbara has conference record this season.
It's Sow's first year with the team.
This year Sow's overall stats are: 9.0ppg and 5.8rpg in six games.
#6. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, is currently at the American university) was not able to secure a victory for the one of league's weakest teams
Portland in their game against the Texas State University at San Marcos in the NCAA.
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
His team was crushed by 23 points
91-68.
Diabate's overall stats this season are: 6.7ppg and 3.7rpg.
#7. Cheickna Dembele (211-F-96, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
UNLV in their game against the Valparaiso University in the NCAA. Dembele cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
His team were defeated
72-64.
Dembele's total stats this season are: 2.2ppg and 3.8rpg.
#8. Kassoum Yakwe (201-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the University of Massachusetts - Lowell crushing them
97-75 in the NCAA on Tuesday night.
Yakwe recorded 6 points.
Yakwe has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 2.6rpg.
#9. Thimothee Troussel (203-F-95, college:
MSU-West Plains, currently plays in NCAA2) managed to help Newman University in a victory against the Missouri University of Science and Tech
88-81 in the NCAA2 in Friday night's game.
He recorded 5 points in 21 minutes.
Troussel has averaged so far 4.8ppg, 3.4rpg and 1.8apg in five games.
He also holds two passports: Mali and French.
