Sagaba Konate 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.

Sagaba Konate

   #1. This week's number one is an international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, college: WVU, currently plays in Italy). Konate contributed to a 3-point Trieste's victory against the closely-ranked Milano 71-68 in the Italian Serie A last Sunday. He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Allianz Pallacanestro Triesteis placed in the Serie A. It's Konate's first season with the team. This year Konate averages: 8.9ppg, 7.0rpg, 2FGP: 60.3%(38-63) and FT: 64.7%. He played for the Mali senior national team one years ago.

Nianta Diarra

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). Diarra could not help Cholet Basket (12-1) in their last game. Despite his good performance Cholet Basket lost 79-83 on the road to the much lower-ranked (#14) Provence Basket. Diarra scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes. This year Diarra's overall stats are: 8.0ppg, 5.5rpg, 2FGP: 67.7%(44-65), 3FGP: 18.2% in 13 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.

Oumar Ballo

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced U19 international center Oumar Ballo (213-2, currently plays college basketball in the States). He contributed to an easy victory against the California Baptist University crushing them 84-60 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. Ballo recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds. He also added 5 blocks. The University of Arizona has 1-0 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Ballo's total stats this year are: 6.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 59.2%(29-49) and FT: 67.9%. He is also a member of the Mali U19 national team.

Fousseyni Traore

   #4. Forward Fousseyni Traore (201-2, currently studies in the States) was not able to help the BYU (0-0) in their game against the Vanderbilt University in the NCAA. Traore scored 9 points, had 15 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 25 minutes. But the BYU was edged 69-67 at home by the Vanderbilt University. This year Traore's total stats are: 7.1ppg, 7.1rpg and 1.3bpg in 12 games. He is also Mali U19 national team player.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #5. International point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Orchesien BC (7-9) in their game against C'Chartres (7-4) in the French NM1 (third division), despite his very good performance in Friday night's game. He recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 27 minutes. But the eighth-placed Orchesien BC (7-9) lost 81-88 on the opponent's court to the higher-ranked (#5) C'Chartres in the Group B. Sidibe has averaged so far 8.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.5apg and 1.1spg in 16 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Despite Sidibe played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Mamoudou Diarra

   #6. Forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the Tenn Tech in their game against the University of Cincinnati in the NCAA. Despite his very good performance last Tuesday Diarra recorded 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Diarra has averaged so far 9.3ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.2apg. He is a former U18 international player as he played for the Mali team seven years ago.

N'Faly Dante

   #7. Former U17 international center N'Faly Dante (211-1, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Oregon (0-2) in their game against the Baylor University in the NCAA. Dante recorded 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes. The Oregon lost 70-78 in Waco to the Baylor University. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Dante has averaged so far 8.0ppg and 4.6rpg in 11 games. He used to play for the Mali U17 national team five years ago.

Cheick Diallo

   #8. Power forward Cheick Diallo (206-96, college: Kansas, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Detroit Pistons (5-26) in their game against the Miami Heat (20-13) in the NBA. Diallo cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points. It was his first game for Detroit Pistons this season. The Detroit Pistons (5-26) were edged 115-112 in Miami by the Heat. Diallo used to play for the Mali U16 national team back in 2011.

Hassan Drame

   #9. Former U19 international forward Hassan Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the St.Peter's (1-1) in their game against the Stony Brook University in the NCAA. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 19 minutes. The St.Peter's was edged 64-63 on their home court in Jersey City by the University. Drame has averaged so far 5.3ppg, 4.2rpg and 1.1spg in nine games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team two years ago.

Abdoul Coulibaly

   #10. Power forward Abdoul Coulibaly (206-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the St.Bonaventure in their game against the Virginia Tech University (0-2) in the NCAA. Coulibaly scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. The St.Bonaventure was crushed 86-49 on their home court in St.Bonaventure by the Virginia Tech University. Coulibaly has averaged so far 4.5ppg and 1.9rpg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Mali National Team roster.

   #11. International point guard Siriman Kanoute (181-1, currently plays in France) managed to help Sluc Nancy Basket Pro in a victory against the league leader Saint Chamond 93-87 in the French ProB (second division) in Wednesday night's game. Kanoute scored only 3 points in 2 minutes on the court. This year Kanoute averages just 1.5ppg in two games. He plays currently for the Mali national team.

   #12. Former U18 international power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Piedmont College crushing them 97-53 in the NCAA last Wednesday. Diawara scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Diawara has averaged so far 5.9ppg and 4.5rpg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team back in 2016.

   #13. Former international swingman Mamadou Sy (194-85, college: Cloud County, currently plays in France) couldn't help Pontoise in their game against Lorient in the French NM1 (third division). He scored only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. His team was crushed by 23 points 92-69. Sy has averaged so far 3.0ppg and 4.8rpg. He used to play for the Mali national team three years ago.

   #14. Former U19 international center Moulaye Sissoko (206-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Dayton in their game against the The University of Mississippi in the NCAA. Sissoko recorded only 4 points in 8 minutes on the court. His team lost 68-76. Sissoko has averaged so far 2.8ppg and 2.4rpg in 12 games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team back in 2017.

   #15. Former U19 international forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Hassan Drame and both played together in the last NCAA game. Drame couldn't help the St.Peter's in their game against the Stony Brook University. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Drame recorded only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His team was edged 64-63. Drame has averaged so far 9.2ppg, 7.7rpg and 1.3apg. He used to play for the Mali U19 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: NM State, currently plays in France) contributed to a 3-point Metropolitans' victory against the 13th-ranked JL Bourg (5-8) 71-68 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Thursday night's game. He recorded 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 15 minutes. Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (12-1) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA. It was his team's 12th consecutive victory in a row. This year Sy averages: 8.0ppg and 3.3rpg in four 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) led UCSB to a victory against the Idaho State University (0-2) 56-43 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. Sow scored 18 points. The University of California Santa Barbara has 6-3 overall record this season. Sow is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UCSB's roster. He has individually a very good season with high stats. Sow averages: 17.0ppg and 7.6rpg.

   #3. Amadou Sylla (203-F-98, currently studies in the States) contributed to an Tenn Tech's surprising victory against the Montreat Anderson College (9-2) 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 5.6ppg and 4.3rpg in 13 games.

   #4. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, is currently at the American university) managed to help San Diego State University in a victory against the University of California at San Diego crushing them 78-57 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game. Diabate scored only 2 points in 5 minutes on the court. The San Diego State University has 6-5 overall record this season. Diabate has averaged so far 2.5ppg and 2.3rpg in six games.

   #5. Tim Troussel (203-PF-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Austria) contributed to Lions' victory against the fifth-ranked KOS (4-3) 77-71 in the Austrian 2.Bundesliga (second division) last Saturday. He recorded 8 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Raiffeisen Dornbirn Lions (6-4) are placed second in Capital West Conference. This season Troussel has very high stats. He averages: 16.1ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.5apg and 1.9spg. Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.

   #6. Nabil Kone (203-F, currently plays in NAIA) contributed to a Trinity International University's victory against the Saint Ambrose University 97-83 in the NAIA on Tuesday night. He recorded 6 points. Kone has averaged so far 3.1ppg and 3.7rpg.

   #7. Experienced Lassena Fofana (198-F-5, currently plays in Spain) helped Torta del Casar win their game against the 12th-ranked Xerez crushing them 82-62 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Sunday night's game. He scored 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 25 minutes. Fofana has averaged so far 5.9ppg and 5.9rpg in 11 games.