Mahamadou Diawara's double-double lands him Player of the Week award among Malians playing currently abroad:

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Malians who are currently playing abroad.

Mahamadou Diawara

   #1. This week's number one is former U18 international power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA. Diawara could not help the Stetson (9-7) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his very good performance his team was defeated 85-72 on the road by the University of North Florida. Diawara recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. It's Diawara's first season with the team. Diawara has relatively good stats this year: 12.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 2FGP: 60.8%(160-263), 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 60.1%. He played for the Mali U18 national team four years ago.

Nianta Diarra

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). He was not able to help Cholet Basket in their game against Chalon/Saor (10-14) in the French Jeep ELITE ProA. Diarra recorded 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. The league leader Cholet Basket was defeated 99-93 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked Chalon/Saor (#10). This season Diarra averages: 5.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 2FGP: 72.1%(44-61), 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 63.6%. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.

Ludovic Chelle

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced former international guard Ludovic Chelle (188-83, currently plays in France). He was not able to secure a victory for Saint Vallier (20-6) in their last game. Despite Chelle's good performance the second-placed Saint Vallier (20-6) lost 76-87 on the opponent's court to the much lower-ranked (#11) Besancon in the Group B. He was the second best scorer with 14 points in 24 minutes. The Regular Season already ended. This year Chelle's overall stats are: 9.4ppg, 1.2rpg, 2.0apg, 3FGP: 35.2% and FT: 87.9% in 25 games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Despite Chelle played previously for the French U20 national team, he played also for the Mali national team in 2011.

Moustapha Diarra

   #4. Center Moustapha Diarra (205-87, college: USF, currently plays in France) led C'Chartres to a victory against the third-ranked SOPCC (18-8) 97-92 in the French NM1 (third division) in Saturday night's game. Diarra scored 17 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in Group B. Chartres Basket Masculins (23-3) is placed first. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. This year Diarra has relatively solid stats: 10.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2bpg in 25 games. Similarly like Chelle and Diarra above he has both Mali and French nationalities. Diarra used to play for the Mali national team back in 2018.

Ibrahim Djambo

   #5. International forward Ibrahim Djambo (208-92, college: Hofstra, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Dax-Gamarde (11-15) crushing them 80-57 in the French NM1 (third division) in Saturday night's game. Djambo scored 10 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks. Etoile Angers Basket (20-6) is placed first in Group A. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. Djambo has reliable stats this season: 12.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.1apg. He also holds two passports: Mali and American. Djambo plays currently for the Mali national team.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #6. Point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France) couldn't help ALM Evreux (7-14) in their game against ADA Blois (17-4) in the French ProB (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Sidibe scored only one point. ALM Evreux was crushed 113-77 in Blois by the leading ADA Blois. It was ALM Evreux's fourth consecutive loss in a row. Sidibe's total stats this season are: 3.4ppg, 1.4rpg and 1.4apg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Mali National Team roster.

Fousseyni Drame

   #7. U19 international forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the St.Peter's (13-6) in their game against the Niagara University (9-9) in the NCAA. Drame recorded only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His team was defeated 63-54 at home by the Niagara University. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Drame's total stats this season are: 5.5ppg and 4.4rpg. He is also Mali U19 national team player.

Ibrahim Saounera

   #8. Point guard Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in Lorient's victory against the 14th-ranked Vanves (7-19) 88-73 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night. Saounera scored 16 points and added 7 passes in 37 minutes. CEP Lorient (7-17) is placed 12th in Group A. The Regular Season already ended. Saounera's stats this year are: 12.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.3apg and 1.2spg in 24 games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2018.

Hassan Drame

   #9. U19 international forward Hassan Drame (201-0, is currently at the American university) is a teammate of previously mentioned Fousseyni Drame and both played together in the last NCAA game. Drame couldn't help the St.Peter's (13-6) in their game against the Niagara University (9-9). He cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. Drame recorded only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was defeated 63-54 on their home court in Jersey City by the Niagara University. Drame's total stats this season are: 4.8ppg and 5.3rpg. He is also in the roster of the Mali U19 national team.

Sourata Cisse

   #10. Swingman Sourata Cisse (196-86, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Cisse contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Vanves (7-19) 88-73. He scored 10 points and added 3 passes in 30 minutes. Cisse averaged so far 12.3ppg, 3.0rpg and 2.2apg in 22 games. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Cisse is also an international player who is currently on the senior Mali National Team roster.

   #11. Former international center Drissa Ballo (203-95, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera. He played also in the last French NM1 game facing Sourata Cisse (above) in the other team. Ballo contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Vanves 88-73. He scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Ballo's total stats this season are: 6.3ppg and 4.9rpg. He used to play for the Mali national team two years ago.

   #12. Former international power forward Baba Samake (200-94, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera. He played also in the last French NM1 game facing Drissa Ballo (above) in the other team. Samake managed to help CEP Lorient in a victory against the 14th-ranked Vanves 88-73. He scored only 4 points in 11 minutes. This year Samake's total stats are: 2.8ppg and 3.0rpg in 26 games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2017.

   #13. Former international forward Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Moustapha Diarra in the French NM1 last game. Boundy couldn't help SOPCC in their game against C'Chartres. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Boundy scored only 2 points. His team was defeated 97-92. Boundy has averaged so far 4.6ppg, 3.2rpg and 1.1spg. He used to play for the Mali national team five years ago.

   #14. Former international swingman Samba Balayera (195-96, currently plays in France) couldn't help Caen in their game against Lourdes-Tarbes in the French NM1 (third division). Balayera cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points in 18 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 20 points 81-61. Balayera has averaged so far 2.7ppg and 1.3rpg in seven games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2018.

   #15. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Cincinnati's victory against the University of South Florida 79-67 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Diarra scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Diarra has averaged so far 2.7ppg and 2.7rpg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team six 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) could not help Andorra (1-5) in their last game. Despite his good performance the fourth-placed Andorra (1-5) was edged 97-94 on the road by the second-ranked Tofas in the group H of Eurocup. Sy scored 12 points in a mere 17 minutes. The Top 16 already ended in the Eurocup. It's Sy's first season with the team. This year he averages: 6.1ppg and 3.9rpg in 14 games he played so far. Sy has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Experienced Drake Reed (194-PG-87, agency: Inception Sports, college: Austin Peay, currently plays in France) was not able to help Saint-Quentin in their game against Saint Chamond (13-8) in the French ProB (second division). Despite his very good performance last Friday He scored 19 points. Reed has relatively good stats this season: 11.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.1apg. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and American.

   #3. Mambi Diawara (194-G-94, college: Calgary, currently plays in Romania) was not able to secure a victory for Miercurea Ciuc (3-13) in their game against Constanta (7-9) in the Romanian Liga Nationala, despite his very good performance on Saturday night. Diawara was the top scorer with 26 points. He also added 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals in 34 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Diawara's third season in pro basketball. But the fourth-placed Miercurea Ciuc (3-13) lost 71-80 at home to the leading Constanta in the Grupa Albastra group. It was Miercurea Ciuc's fourth consecutive loss in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. It's Diawara's first year with the team. He has individually a very good season with high stats. Diawara averages: 24.6ppg, 7.3rpg, 4.0apg and 4.3spg in seven games. He has both Mali and Canadian nationalities.

   #4. Bourama Sidibe (208-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Syracuse (9-9) in their game against the University of North Carolina (5-13) in the NCAA, despite his very good performance last Saturday. Sidibe had a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 6 blocks in 35 minutes. ButHis team lost 79-92 in Chapel Hill to the University of North Carolina. Sidibe's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. This year Sidibe averages: 6.0ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.3bpg and 1.2spg in 30 games.

   #5. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently studies in the States) led UCSB to a 2-point victory against the California State University, Fullerton (5-9) 55-53 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He scored 18 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 37 minutes. The University of California Santa Barbara has 8-6 conference record this season. Sow's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is quite important. This year Sow has relatively solid stats: 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.2bpg in 30 games.

   #6. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the Portland in their game against the University of San Francisco in the NCAA. Despite his very good performance last Thursday He recorded 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Diabate's overall stats this season are: 9.6ppg and 5.1rpg.

   #7. Mamadou Diakite (196-F-93, college: Immaculata, currently plays in Indonesia) couldn't help Bima Perkasa in their game against Satria Muda in the Indonesian IBL, despite his very good performance on Saturday night. Diakite had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 13 rebounds in 24 minutes. But his team was badly defeated by 16 points 73-57. Diakite has very impressive stats this year: 16.3ppg, 11.3rpg and 1.2spg in six games. He also holds two passports: Mali and American. Worth to mention he played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball.

   #8. Souleymane Diakite (206-F-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Kennesaw State University crushing them 76-55 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. Diakite scored 9 points, had 11 rebounds and made 6 blocks. Diakite's overall stats this season are: 7.7ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.8apg and 2.0bpg.

   #9. Thimothee Troussel (203-F-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help RSV Eintracht in their game against Iserlohn in the German ProB (third division). Despite his very good performance on Sunday night Troussel scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. This season Troussel has relatively solid stats: 10.4ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.4spg. He has Mali and French nationalities.

   #10. Nouhoum Bocoum (208-F/C-92, college: Arkansas St., currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Moron in their game against Albacete in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). Despite his very good performance last Wednesday He was the second best scorer with 19 points. Bocoum also added 4 rebounds. Bocoum's total stats this season are: 9.0ppg and 4.9rpg. He holds both American and Mali passports.