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

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). He could not help the Phoenix Suns (20-31) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Diallo's good performance the Phoenix Suns (20-31) were crushed 129-108 on the road by the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It's Diallo's first season with the team. This year Diallo averages: 4.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 2FGP: 63.9%(62-97) and FT: 83.3%. He played for the Mali U16 national team nine years ago.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #2. Second place goes to an international point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France). Sidibe contributed to a 2-point ALM Evreux's victory against the closely-ranked Aix-Maurienne (8-10) 75-73 in the French ProB (second division) in Friday night's game. He scored 10 points in 25 minutes. ALM Evreux Basket (7-11) is placed 14th in the ProB. This year Sidibe's overall stats are: 3.7ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.4apg and FT: 33.3% in 10 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Despite Sidibe played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently a member of the Mali senior national team.

Mahamadou Diawara

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former U18 international power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States). He led Stetson to a 3-point victory against the Florida Gulf Coast University (3-3) 65-62 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Diawara recorded 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The Stetson University has a solid 4-2 conference record this season. Diawara has relatively good stats this year: 13.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 2FGP: 61.2%(120-196), 3FGP: 22.2%. He played for the Mali U18 national team four years ago.

Hassan Drame

   #4. An experienced forward Hassan Drame (201-0, currently studies in the States) led St.Peter's to a victory against the Siena College (3-4) 85-80 in the NCAA last Sunday. Drame scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a mere 18 minutes. The Saint Peter's University has 3-3 conference record this season. This year Drame's total stats are: 5.4ppg and 5.8rpg in 20 games. He is also Mali U19 national team player.

Nianta Diarra

   #5. International power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France) managed to help Cholet Basket to win against the league outsider Le Portel (3-18) 78-71 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA on Friday night. Diarra recorded only 2 points. Cholet Basket (20-0) is placed first in the Jeep ELITE ProA. So far his team won all twenty games in the Regular Season. Diarra has averaged so far 6.3ppg and 3.6rpg. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Diarra plays currently for the Mali national team.

Ludovic Chelle

   #6. Guard Ludovic Chelle (188-83, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked CFBB (0-21) crushing them 83-58 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday. He recorded 8 points and added 4 passes. Saint Vallier Basket Drome (18-5) is placed second in Group B. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Chelle has averaged so far 9.3ppg, 1.2rpg and 2.0apg. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Chelle is also a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team nine years ago.

Moustapha Diarra

   #7. Former international center Moustapha Diarra (205-87, college: USF, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Andrezieux (12-11) crushing them 87-67 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game. Diarra recorded 11 points. Chartres Basket Masculins (20-3) is placed first in Group B. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This season Diarra has relatively solid stats: 10.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2bpg. He used to play for the Mali national team two years ago.

Ibrahim Djambo

   #8. Forward Ibrahim Djambo (208-92, college: Hofstra, currently plays in France) was not able to help Etoile Angers in their game against La Rochelle (8-15) in the French NM1 (third division). He recorded 8 points and blocked 2 shots. The second-placed Etoile Angers (16-6) was edged 75-73 in La Rochelle by the much lower-ranked La Rochelle (#11) in the Group A. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Djambo has reliable stats this season: 12.5ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.1apg. He has both American and Mali nationalities. Djambo plays currently for the Mali national team.

Fousseyni Drame

   #9. U19 international forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, is currently at the American university) is a teammate of previously mentioned Hassan Drame and both played together in the last NCAA game. Drame contributed to St.Peter's' victory against the Siena College (3-4) 85-80. He scored 5 points in 16 minutes. Drame has averaged so far 5.1ppg and 4.1rpg in 20 games. He is also in the roster of the Mali U19 national team.

Ibrahim Doumbia

   #10. Forward Ibrahim Doumbia (198-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the UCF (2-4) in their game against the University of South Florida (1-5) in the NCAA. Doumbia cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only one point. His team was badly defeated 64-48 at home by the University of South Florida. Doumbia has averaged so far 1.1ppg and 1.6rpg. He is a former U18 international player as four years ago he still played for the Mali national team.

   #11. International swingman Sourata Cisse (196-86, currently plays in France) contributed to an Lorient's surprising victory against the sixth-ranked Vendee Challans 74-58 in the French NM1 (third division) in Tuesday night's game. Cisse scored 12 points and added 3 assists. Cisse's stats this season are: 12.0ppg, 3.3rpg and 2.3apg. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Cisse is currently in the Mali national team roster.

   #12. Former international point guard Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Sourata Cisse and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Saounera contributed to an Lorient's shocking victory against the sixth-ranked Vendee Challans 74-58. He scored 7 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 10 assists in 28 minutes. Saounera's stats this year are: 11.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.3apg and 1.1spg in 21 games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2018.

   #13. Former international forward Cheick Soumaoro (205-90, currently plays in France) contributed to SOPCC's victory against the tenth-ranked GET Vosges 80-76 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game. Soumaoro recorded 6 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks in 22 minutes. Soumaoro has averaged so far 8.7ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.3bpg in 23 games. He used to play for the Mali national team two years ago.

   #14. Former international forward Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Cheick Soumaoro and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Boundy contributed to SOPCC's victory against the tenth-ranked GET Vosges 80-76. He recorded 5 points and blocked 2 shots in 22 minutes. Boundy has averaged so far 5.1ppg, 3.1rpg and 1.2spg in 21 games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2015.

   #15. Former international power forward Baba Samake (200-94, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Sourata Cisse. He played also in the last French NM1 game facing Ibrahim Saounera (above) in the other team. Samake contributed to an Lorient's shocking victory against the sixth-ranked Vendee Challans 74-58. He scored 5 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Samake has averaged so far 2.7ppg and 3.2rpg. He used to play for the Mali national team three 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) led Andorra to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Movil Estudiantes (5-15) 69-65 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Sy scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 25 minutes. MoraBanc Andorra (12-8) is placed fifth in the Liga Endesa. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Sy's first season with the team. This year he averages: 7.1ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.1spg in 16 games he played so far. Sy has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Mambi Diawara (194-G-94, college: Calgary, currently plays in Romania) could not help Miercurea Ciuc (3-12) in their last game. Despite Diawara's very good performance the third-placed Miercurea Ciuc (3-12) lost 77-85 on the road to the second-ranked Targu Jiu in the Grupa Albastra group. He was the top scorer with 27 points. Diawara also added 7 boards, dished 4 assists and stole 3 balls in 37 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. It was Miercurea Ciuc's third consecutive loss in a row. Diawara has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 24.3ppg, 7.7rpg, 4.0apg and 4.2spg 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 UCSB's victory against the University of Hawaii (3-1) 76-66 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He recorded 30 points (!!!) and grabbed 6 rebounds. The University of California Santa Barbara has 1-3 conference record this season. Sow has relatively good stats this year: 14.8ppg and 7.2rpg.

   #4. Mamadou Diakite (196-F-93, college: Immaculata, currently plays in Indonesia) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams Bima Perkasa (2-4) in their last game. Despite Diakite's very good performance Bima Perkasa was edged 91-88 in Salatiga by the higher-ranked (#7) Satya Wacana. He had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 16 rebounds in 39 minutes. It was Bima Perkasa's third consecutive loss in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Diakite has very impressive stats this year: 18.5ppg, 15.5rpg, 2.0apg and 1.5bpg in two games. He has both American and Mali nationalities. Worth to mention he played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.

   #5. Experienced Drake Reed (194-PG-87, agency: Inception Sports, college: Austin Peay, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Saint-Quentin (4-14) in their game against Quimper UJAP (14-4) in the French ProB (second division). Reed scored 9 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists. But Saint-Quentin was defeated 80-65 at home by the second-ranked Quimper UJAP. It was Saint-Quentin's fourth consecutive loss in a row. Reed has relatively good stats this season: 10.2ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.2apg. He also holds two passports: Mali and American.

   #6. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Portland (1-5) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Diabate's very good performance his team was crushed 86-64 on their home court in Portland by the Saint Mary's College of California. He scored 18 points, had 6 rebounds and made 4 blocks. Diabate's total stats this season are: 9.4ppg and 4.9rpg.

   #7. Souleymane Diakite (206-F-99, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the NJIT (3-3) in their last game. Despite his good performance his team lost 75-82 in Jacksonville to the University of North Florida. Diakite had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks and 3 steals in 37 minutes. This year Diakite's total stats are: 7.0ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.0apg and 1.7bpg in 22 games.

   #8. Bourama Sidibe (208-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Syracuse in their game against the Duke University in the NCAA. He scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 22 minutes. His team lost 88-97. Sidibe has averaged so far 5.4ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.1bpg and 1.1spg in 22 games.

   #9. Thimothee Troussel (203-F-95, agency: The Champions Agency, college: Newman, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help RSV Eintracht in their game against Itzehoe in the German ProB (third division). He scored 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 18 points 76-58. Troussel has averaged so far 9.0ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.4spg in five games. He has Mali and French nationalities.

   #10. Amadou Sylla (203-F, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Tenn Tech in their game against the Tennessee State University in the NCAA. Sylla scored only 4 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 21 minutes. His team lost 67-72. Sylla has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 5.8rpg in 24 games.