N'Faly Dante selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

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.

N'Faly Dante

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former U17 international center N'Faly Dante (211-1, currently plays college basketball in the States). Dante led Oregon to an easy victory against the University of Portland crushing them 96-71 in the NCAA last Wednesday. He recorded 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The University of Oregon has 0-2 conference record this season. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This season Dante averages: 6.9ppg, 3.9rpg, 2FGP: 70.4%(19-27) and FT: 43.5%. He played for the Mali U17 national team five years ago.

Fousseyni Drame

   #2. Second place goes to former U19 international forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, currently studies in the States). Drame led St.Peter's to an easy victory against the Nyack College crushing them 87-48 in the NCAA on Sunday night. He had a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 12 rebounds in 23 minutes. The Saint Peter's University has 1-1 conference record this season. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Drame's overall stats are: 8.4ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 51.4%, 3FGP: 26.7% and FT: 55.0% in seven games he played so far. He played for the Mali U19 national team in 2019.

Sagaba Konate

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, college: WVU, currently plays in Italy). Konate could not help Trieste to beat Fortitudo BO (0-4). He scored only 4 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. His team was crushed 96-60 on the road by the lower-ranked Fortitudo BO (#3). Konate's total stats this season are: 8.9ppg, 7.3rpg and FT: 65.4%. He played for the Mali national team one years ago.

Nianta Diarra

   #4. Power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France) was not able to help Cholet Basket in their game against Gravelines-Dunkerque (5-5) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. Diarra scored 5 points. The league leader Cholet Basket was badly defeated 90-74 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked Gravelines-Dunkerque (#8). But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Diarra's total stats this season are: 8.0ppg and 5.8rpg. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is also Mali national team player.

Mamoudou Diarra

   #5. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, is currently at the American university) led Tenn Tech to an easy victory against the Montreat Anderson College (5-5) crushing them 117-60 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He scored 11 points and added 4 passes in only a mere 13 minutes. The Tennessee Tech University has 5-5 overall record this season. It's Diarra's first year with the team. This year Diarra's total stats are: 8.7ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.2apg in 11 games. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team seven years ago.

Mahamadou Diawara

   #6. Power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Johnson University, FL (5-5) crushing them 104-58 in the NCAA last Monday. Diawara scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Stetson University has 6-5 overall record this season. Diawara has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 4.2rpg. He is a former U18 international player as he played for the Mali team five years ago.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #7. International point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Orchesien BC (7-8) in their game against SOPCC (6-9) in the French NM1 (third division). Sidibe scored 9 points in 18 minutes. But the eighth-placed Orchesien BC (7-8) lost 76-86 in Pont de Cheruy to the lower-ranked (#10) SOPCC in the Group B. Sidibe has averaged so far 7.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.5apg and 1.2spg in 15 games. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Sidibe is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Oumar Ballo

   #8. Center Oumar Ballo (213-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Arizona's victory against the University of Illinois (2-0) 83-79 in the NCAA last Saturday. He scored 6 points in only 12 minutes. The University of Arizona has 1-0 conference record this season. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Ballo has averaged so far 6.6ppg and 5.3rpg in eight games. He plays currently for the Mali U19 national team.

Fousseyni Traore

   #9. U19 international forward Fousseyni Traore (201-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the BYU in their game against the Creighton University in the NCAA. Traore scored only 4 points, had 7 rebounds and made 3 blocks. The BYU was defeated 83-71 at home by the Creighton University. Traore has averaged so far 7.4ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.3bpg. He is also in the roster of the Mali U19 national team.

Hassan Drame

   #10. 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 to win against the Nyack College (1-0) crushing them 87-48. He recorded only 3 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Drame has averaged so far 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg and 1.1spg. He is a former U19 international player as two years ago he still played for the Mali national team.

   #11. Former U18 international forward Ibrahim Doumbia (201-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Life Pacific College crushing them 87-59 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Doumbia has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 4.0rpg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team five years ago.

   #12. Former international swingman Mamadou Sy (194-85, college: Cloud County, currently plays in France) contributed to a 2-point Pontoise's victory against the second-ranked Rueil 99-97 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday. Sy scored 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 15 minutes. Sy has averaged so far 2.8ppg and 4.5rpg in 13 games. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 2018.

   #13. International guard Mamadou Keita (192-93, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) was the major contributor in SLAC's victory against the closely-ranked Nigelec crushing them 82-54 in the Basketball Africa League on Monday night. Keita scored 16 points. Keita has relatively good stats this season: 11.0ppg and 3.3rpg. He is also Mali national team player.

   #14. International power forward Abdoul Coulibaly (206-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the St.Bonaventure in their game against the University of Connecticut in the NCAA. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Coulibaly scored only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 14 minutes. His team lost 64-74. Coulibaly has averaged so far 4.6ppg and 1.3rpg in nine games. He plays currently for the Mali national team.

   #15. Former U17 international forward Harouna Sissoko (201-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Quincy University 81-63 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Sissoko scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Sissoko has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 1.7rpg. He used to play for the Mali U17 national team five 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: NM State, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Provence Basket (4-7) crushing them 98-73 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Friday night's game. He scored 10 points in 15 minutes. Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (10-1) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA. It was his team's tenth consecutive victory in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Sy has relatively good stats this year: 11.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.5spg in two games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the UCSB in their last game. Despite Sow's very good performance the UCSB was crushed 80-59 at home by the Saint Mary's College of California. He scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds (went 6 for 6 at the free throw line) in 29 minutes. It's Sow's fourth season with the team. Sow has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 19.1ppg and 7.9rpg in seven games.

   #3. Experienced Bassala Bagayoko (208-C-6, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Urbas Fuenlabrada to win against the closely-ranked Zaragoza (4-9) 85-74 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night's game. He recorded only 2 points. Urbas Fuenlabrada (4-9) is placed 15th in the Liga Endesa. Bagayoko has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 2.2rpg.

   #4. Souleymane Diakite (206-PF-99, currently studies in the States) was not able to help the NJIT (0-0) in their game against the Northwestern University (1-0) in the NCAA. Diakite recorded 5 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 29 minutes. The NJIT was badly defeated 70-52 on their home court in Newark by the Northwestern University. Diakite has been at the team for four years. He has averaged so far 2.7ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.3bpg in nine games.

   #5. Amadou Sylla (203-F-98, is currently at the American university) contributed to an Tenn Tech's surprising victory against the Montreat Anderson College (1-0) crushing them 117-60 in the NCAA on Thursday night. Sylla scored 6 points in only 11 minutes. The Tennessee Tech University has 5-5 overall record this season. Sylla has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 4.9rpg in 11 games.

   #6. Mady Sissoko (206-C-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an Michigan St.'s shocking victory against the The Pennsylvania State University 80-64 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. Sissoko scored only 4 points in 6 minutes on the court. Sissoko has averaged so far 1.0ppg and 1.3rpg in 10 games.

   #7. Tim Troussel (203-PF-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Austria) was not able to secure a victory for Lions (5-4) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance Lions (#3) were badly defeated 90-72 on the road by the leading Raiders Tirol in the Capital West Conference. Troussel was the top scorer with 26 points. He also added 4 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!). This season Troussel has very high stats. He averages: 17.3ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.3apg and 2.0spg. Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.

   #8. Lassena Fofana (198-F-5, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Torta del Casar in their game against Corazon in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Fofana recorded 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. His team was edged 75-72. Fofana has averaged so far 5.6ppg and 5.6rpg.