Nianta Diarra selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

- March 13, 2020

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

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

Nianta Diarra

#1. This week's number one is an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). Diarra could not help Cholet Basket (24-0) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the league leader Cholet Basket was defeated 79-74 on the road by the much lower-ranked Limoges CSP Elite (#8). Diarra scored 11 points. It's Diarra's first season with the team. This year he averages: 6.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 2FGP: 72.7%(48-66), 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 65.4%. Diarra has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. He is currently a member of the Mali senior national team.

Cheick Diallo

#2. Second place goes to former U16 international power forward Cheick Diallo (206-96, college: Kansas, currently plays in NBA). Diallo was not able to help the Phoenix Suns in their game against the Portland Trail Blazers (29-37) in the NBA. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in only 14 minutes. The Phoenix Suns (26-39) were badly defeated 121-105 in Portland by the Trail Blazers. This year Diallo's overall stats are: 4.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 2FGP: 64.9%(87-134) and FT: 86.5% in 43 games he played so far. He played for the Mali U16 national team in 2011.

Fousseyni Drame

#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced U19 international forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States). He led St.Peter's to a 3-point victory against the Iona College (9-11) 68-65 in the NCAA on Friday night. Drame scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in only a mere 14 minutes. The Saint Peter's University has a solid 14-6 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Drame's total stats are: 5.6ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 45.0%, 3FGP: 21.4% and FT: 62.5% in 31 games. He is also a member of the Mali U19 national team.

Ibrahim Doumbia

#4. Forward Ibrahim Doumbia (198-98, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the East Carolina University (5-13) crushing them 94-62 in the NCAA last Sunday. Doumbia scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 16 minutes. The University of Central Florida has 7-11 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Doumbia has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 1.8rpg in 23 games. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team back in 2016.

Mahamadou Diawara

#5. Former U18 international power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, is currently at the American university) was not able to secure a victory for the Stetson (9-7) in their game against the Liberty University (13-3) in the NCAA. Despite his good performance on Thursday night Diawara scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Diawara has relatively good stats this season: 12.6ppg and 6.5rpg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team four years ago.

Hassan Drame

#6. Forward Hassan Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Fousseyni Drame and both played together in the last NCAA game. Drame managed to help Saint Peter's University in a 3-point victory against the Iona College (9-11) 68-65. He scored 5 points in 17 minutes. Drame has averaged so far 4.7ppg and 5.2rpg in 31 games. He is U19 international player who is currently on the Mali National Team roster.

Mamoudou Diarra

   #7. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Cincinnati to a 1-point victory against the Temple University (6-12) 64-63 in the NCAA on Saturday night. He recorded 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. The University of Cincinnati has a solid 13-5 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Diarra has averaged so far 3.0ppg and 2.8rpg. 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 Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the 16th-ranked UCAM Murcia (7-15) 87-72 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night's game. He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. MoraBanc Andorra (13-10) is placed sixth in the Liga Endesa. This year Sy averages: 7.1ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.2spg in 19 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Mambi Diawara (194-G-94, college: Calgary, currently plays in Romania) was the major contributor in a Miercurea Ciuc's victory against the fourth-ranked Marmatiei (3-14) crushing them 101-59 in the Romanian Liga Nationala in Saturday night's game. Diawara recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 5 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Diawara's third season in pro basketball. CSM Miercurea Ciuc (4-13) is placed third in Grupa Albastra group. It was his team's first victory after four consecutive loses. There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. Diawara has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 24.4ppg, 7.6rpg, 4.1apg and 3.9spg. Diawara is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.

   #3. Bourama Sidibe (208-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Syracuse to an easy victory against the University of North Carolina (6-14) crushing them 81-53 in the NCAA last Wednesday. He had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 13 rebounds. Sidibe also added 2 blocks and 3 steals in 35 minutes. The Syracuse University has 10-10 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Sidibe's total stats are: 6.0ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.4bpg and 1.3spg in 32 games.

   #4. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently studies in the States) led UCSB to a 2-point victory against the California State University, Fullerton (6-10) 55-53 in the NCAA on Thursday night. He scored 18 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 3 blocks. The University of California Santa Barbara has a solid 10-6 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Sow has relatively good stats this year: 14.1ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.1bpg.

   #5. Mamadou Diakite (196-F-93, college: Immaculata, currently plays in Indonesia) could not help Bima Perkasa (3-9) in their last game. Despite Diakite's very good performance Bima Perkasa lost 77-87 at home to the higher-ranked (#6) Pacific Caesar. He was the top scorer with 18 points. Diakite also added 9 rebounds in 34 minutes. It was Bima Perkasa's fourth consecutive loss in a row. Diakite has very impressive stats this year: 16.4ppg and 11.1rpg in eight 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.

   #6. Karim Coulibaly (206-PF, is currently at the American university) contributed to Pittsburgh's victory against the Wake Forest University 81-72 in the NCAA last Tuesday. Coulibaly scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Coulibaly's total stats this season are: 2.7ppg and 1.7rpg.

   #7. Experienced Drake Reed (194-PG-87, agency: Inception Sports, college: Austin Peay, currently plays in France) managed to help Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball to win against the fourth-ranked Olympique Antibes 82-76 in the French ProB (second division) in Friday night's game. Reed recorded only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Reed has relatively good stats this season: 10.1ppg and 4.8rpg. He also holds two passports: Mali and American.

   #8. Sidiki Kone (208-F/C-1, currently plays in North Macedonia) was not able to help Vardar in their game against Rabotnicki in the North Macedonian Prva Liga. Kone scored 6 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks in only 14 minutes. His team lost 76-81. Kone has averaged so far 6.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.5bpg and 2.0spg in two games. He has dual citizenship: French and Mali.

   #9. Nouhoum Bocoum (208-F/C-92, college: Arkansas St., currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked L'Hospitalet crushing them 71-47 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) last Sunday. Bocoum scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Bocoum has averaged so far 9.1ppg and 5.1rpg. He holds both American and Mali passports.

   #10. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the Portland in their game against the Santa Clara University in the NCAA. Diabate cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. His team was defeated 76-62. Diabate has averaged so far 9.6ppg and 5.1rpg.