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 U16 international power forward
Cheick Diallo (206-96, college:
Kansas, currently plays in NBA). Diallo managed to help Phoenix Suns to win against the Golden State Warriors (1-3)
121-110 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game.
He scored only 4 points.
The Phoenix Suns have 3-2 record this season.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
This season Diallo averages: 2.0ppg.
He played for the Mali U16 national team eight years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international forward
Ibrahim Djambo (208-92, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France). Djambo was the major contributor in a
Etoile Angers' victory against the sixth-ranked Caen (4-3)
73-69 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday.
He scored 14 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 31 minutes.
Etoile Angers Basket (6-0) is placed first in Group A.
So far his team won all six games in the Regular Season.
But there are still lots of games to play and it's a long way to go.
It's Djambo's first season with the team.
Djambo has relatively good stats this year: 14.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 56.4%(22-39), 3FGP: 42.9% and FT: 81.8% in seven games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and American.
Djambo is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Mahamadou Kante (192-92, currently plays in Africa Basketball League). He contributed to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked SLAC (1-2) crushing them
96-50 in the Africa Basketball League on Saturday night.
Kante scored 5 points, had 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
Groupe Sportif Petroliers Alger (2-1) is placed second in group A.
The Qualifying Round already ended in the Africa Basketball League.
Kante's overall stats this season are: 2.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.5apg, 2FGP: 33.3%.
He is also a member of the Mali senior national team.
#4. An experienced guard
Ludovic Chelle (188-83, currently plays in France) contributed to a
Saint Vallier's victory against the 12th-ranked Mulhouse (2-5)
90-82 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Chelle recorded 8 points in 18 minutes.
Saint Vallier Basket Drome (5-2) is placed fourth in Group B.
This year Chelle's overall stats are: 6.4ppg and 1.3apg in seven 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.
#5. International center
Moustapha Diarra (205-87, college:
USF, currently plays in France) helped
C'Chartres win their game against the 11th-ranked Kaysersberg (2-5)
84-79 in the French NM1 (third division) last Saturday.
Diarra recorded 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Chartres Basket Masculins (7-0) is placed first in Group B.
So far his team won all seven games in the Regular Season.
This season Diarra has relatively solid stats: 10.4ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.7apg and 1.3bpg.
He has both Mali and French nationalities.
Diarra used to play for the Mali national team
last year.
#6. Forward
Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) could not help
SOPCC (6-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the third-placed SOPCC (6-1) was edged
91-90 on the road by the second-ranked Rueil in the Group B.
Boundy recorded 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Boundy's total stats this season are: 5.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.1apg and 1.4spg.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team four years ago.
#7. International forward
Cheick Soumaoro (204-90, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Namory Boundy and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Soumaoro was not able to help
SOPCC in their game against Rueil (6-1).
He recorded 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.
SOPCC (#3) was edged
91-90 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Rueil in the Group B.
Soumaoro's total stats this season are: 9.4ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3bpg and 1.3spg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
last year.
#8. Point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Lorient (4-3) in their game against Tours (5-1) in the French NM1 (third division). Saounera cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 3 points and added 4 assists in 33 minutes.
Lorient (#7) was crushed
87-39 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Tours in the Group A.
Saounera has reliable stats this year: 11.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.9apg and 2.1spg in seven games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
last year.
#9. Former 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 (4-3) in their game against Tours (5-1). He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Samake recorded only 2 points.
Lorient (#7) was crushed
87-39 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Tours in the Group A.
Samake's total stats this season are: 2.7ppg and 3.6rpg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
two 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 Spain). He could not help
Andorra (3-3) to beat Real Betis (2-4).
Sy scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Andorra lost
81-86 on the road to the lower-ranked (#16) Real Betis.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
It's Sy's first year with the team.
This season he averages: 7.3ppg and 4.2rpg in six games he played so far.
Sy has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
#2. Mambi Diawara (194-G-94, college:
Calgary, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Argentino (3-5)
81-62 in the Argentinian La Liga last Friday.
He recorded 7 points.
Hispano Americano de Rio Gallegos (3-5) is placed third in Grupo C group.
The Regular Season already ended.
It's Diawara's first season with the team.
This year Diawara averages: 8.9ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.3apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.
#3. Drake Reed (194-PG-87, agency:
Inception Sports, college:
Austin Peay, currently plays in France) was not able to help
Saint-Quentin (1-2) in their last game. Despite Reed's good performance Saint-Quentin was edged
80-77 in Rouen by the higher-ranked (#10) SPO Rouen.
He scored 11 points in 22 minutes.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Reed averages: 7.7ppg and 2.7rpg in three games.
He has both American and Mali nationalities.
#4. Experienced
Modibo Diaby (200-F-3, currently plays in Romania) led
Univ Mobitelco II to an easy victory against the league outsider CSO 2 Voluntari (0-4) crushing them
120-37 in the Romanian Liga I (second division) on Sunday night.
He recorded 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a mere 18 minutes.
U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca II (3-0) is placed second in the Liga I.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Diaby has reliable stats this year: 11.0ppg, 8.5rpg, 2.0apg and 2.0spg in two games.
#5. Bakary Konate (211-C-93, college:
Minnesota, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Zornotza Saskibaloi Taleda in a victory against the 12th-ranked Algeciras (2-5)
77-69 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) last Saturday.
Konate recorded only 2 points in 8 minutes on the court.
Zornotza Saskibaloi Taleda (4-3) is placed fifth in East group.
It was his team's first victory after three consecutive loses.
This year Konate's total stats are: 3.7ppg and 5.6rpg in seven games.
