Sagaba Konate selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

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

Sagaba Konate

   #1. This week's number one is former international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, college: WVU, currently plays in Italy). Konate contributed to Trieste's victory against the closely-ranked Cremona (1-3) 80-75 in the Italian Serie A last Wednesday. He recorded 6 points. 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: 8.7ppg, 6.7rpg, 2FGP: 60.6%(40-66) and FT: 66.7%. He played for the Mali senior national team two years ago.

N'Faly Dante

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former U17 international center N'Faly Dante (211-1, currently plays college basketball in the States). Dante led Oregon to a victory against the Oregon State University (1-4) 78-76 in the NCAA on Monday night. He had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. The University of Oregon has 3-2 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Dante's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 2FGP: 69.2%(45-65) and FT: 48.6% in 13 games he played so far. He played for the Mali U17 national team in 2016.

Nianta Diarra

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). Diarra could not help Cholet Basket (12-1) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance Cholet Basket was defeated 90-85 on the road by the lower-ranked ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (#7). Diarra scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Diarra's total stats this season are: 8.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 2FGP: 68.4%(52-76), 3FGP: 18.2% and FT: 45.5%. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is also a member of the Mali senior national team.

Fousseyni Traore

   #4. Forward Fousseyni Traore (201-2, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the University of Pacific (0-2) crushing them 73-51 in the NCAA last Thursday. He had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 11 rebounds. Traore also added 3 blocks in 26 minutes. The Brigham Young University has 2-1 conference record this season. This year Traore's total stats are: 8.1ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.4bpg in 16 games. He is also Mali U19 national team player.

Mamoudou Diarra

   #5. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, is currently at the American university) was not able to help the Tenn Tech in their game against the Belmont University (3-0) in the NCAA. Despite his good performance last Thursday Diarra scored 12 points. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Diarra has averaged so far 9.3ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.2apg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team eight years ago.

Mahamadou Diawara

   #6. Power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a 2-point Stetson's victory against the University of North Florida (0-3) 68-66 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Diawara scored 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. The Stetson University has 1-2 conference record this season. Diawara has averaged so far 6.6ppg and 6.1rpg in 16 games. He is a former U18 international player as he played for the Mali team six years ago.

Oumar Ballo

   #7. U19 international center Oumar Ballo (213-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help University of Arizona to win against the University of Colorado (3-2) crushing them 76-55 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Ballo scored 5 points. The University of Arizona has 3-0 conference record this season. So far his team won all three games in the conference. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Ballo has averaged so far 5.9ppg and 4.5rpg. He is also Mali U19 national team player.

Harouna Sissoko

   #8. Forward Harouna Sissoko (201-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the Illinois St. (1-2) in their game against the Drake University (3-1) in the NCAA. He recorded 5 points. The Illinois St. was defeated 86-75 at home by the Drake University. Sissoko has averaged so far 2.3ppg and 1.3rpg. He used to play for the Mali U17 national team back in 2016.

Moustapha Diarra

   #9. Former international center Moustapha Diarra (205-87, college: USF, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked GET Vosges (3-13) crushing them 87-64 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday. He scored 7 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, passed 3 assists and added 2 blocks. Andrezieux Boutheon Loire Sud Basket (11-6) is placed fourth in Group B. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Diarra has relatively good stats this season: 11.0ppg, 4.2rpg and 1.6apg. He used to play for the Mali national team four years ago.

Ludovic Chelle

   #10. Guard Ludovic Chelle (186-83, currently plays in France) couldn't help SOPCC (6-10) in their game against C'Chartres (7-5) in the French NM1 (third division). Chelle scored 7 points and added 5 assists in 24 minutes. The ninth-placed SOPCC (6-10) was badly defeated 88-72 on their home court in Pont de Cheruy by the higher-ranked (#6) C'Chartres in the Group B. Chelle has averaged so far 7.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.8apg and 1.1spg in 12 games. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Chelle is also a former international player as eleven years ago he still played for the Mali senior national team.

   #11. Former international center Cheick Soumaoro (205-90, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ludovic Chelle and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Soumaoro couldn't help SOPCC in their game against C'Chartres. He cannot count Tuesday's game as one of the best ones. Soumaoro scored only 3 points in 13 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 16 points 88-72. Soumaoro has averaged so far 6.1ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.1spg in 16 games. He used to play for the Mali national team four years ago.

   #12. Former U17 international forward Adama Sanogo (206-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to UConn's surprising victory against the St. John's University 86-78 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. Sanogo recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points and getting 18 rebounds. He also added 6 blocks. Sanogo has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 7.8rpg and 2.2bpg. Sanogo used to play for the Mali U17 national team back in 2018.

   #13. U16 international center Ladji Coulibaly (6, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Sant Cugat in their game against SESE in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. Coulibaly scored only 2 points. It was his first game for Sant Cugat this season. His team was crushed by 46 points 98-52. Coulibaly is also Mali U16 national team player.


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). He could not help Metropolitans (12-2) to beat Chorale de Roanne (7-8). Sy scored 8 points and added 3 assists in 24 minutes. The league leader Metropolitans was edged 93-92 on the road by the much lower-ranked (#10) Chorale de Roanne. It was Metropolitans' first loss after twelve consecutive victories. This year Sy averages: 8.0ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.4apg in five games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Souleymane Diakite (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the NJIT (3-1) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Diakite's good performance the NJIT was badly defeated 76-56 in Baltimore by the University of Maryland - County. He recorded 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Diakite has been at the team for four years. Diakite has averaged so far 4.1ppg and 5.0rpg.

   #3. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently studies in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the UCSB (0-2) in their game against the Long Beach State University (1-1) in the NCAA. He scored 9 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 31 minutes. But the UCSB lost 58-65 at home to the State University. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Sow is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UCSB's roster. Sow has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.1ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.2bpg in 12 games.

   #4. Mamadou Doucoure (206-F, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the La Salle (0-3) in their game against the St. Bonaventure University (1-0) in the NCAA. Doucoure scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes. The La Salle lost 76-80 in St.Bonaventure to the St. Bonaventure University. So far La Salle lost all three games in the conference Doucoure has averaged so far 1.8ppg and 3.1rpg in 13 games.

   #5. Amadou Sylla (203-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Tenn Tech (0-1) in their game against the Belmont University (3-0) in the NCAA. Sylla cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points in 11 minutes. The Tenn Tech lost 77-92 on their home court in Cookeville to the Belmont University. Sylla's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Sylla has averaged so far 5.6ppg and 4.3rpg in 13 games.

   #6. Tim Troussel (203-PF-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Austria) couldn't help Lions (6-5) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his good performance Lions (#2) were badly defeated 66-49 in Jennersdorf by the lower-ranked Blackbirds (#3) in the Capital West Conference. Troussel was the second best scorer with 11 points. He also added 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists. This season Troussel has very high stats. He averages: 15.6ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.6apg and 1.7spg. Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.

   #7. Nabil Kone (203-F, currently plays in NAIA) couldn't help the Trinity International University in their game against the Lincoln College in the NAIA. He cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones. Kone scored only 2 points in 5 minutes on the court. His team lost 83-96 in the NAIA. Kone has averaged so far 2.9ppg and 3.7rpg in 13 games.

   #8. Cheickna Sissoko (206-F, currently plays in NCAA2) led Academy of Art to a victory against the Concordia University Irvine 85-71 in the NCAA2 last Saturday. He scored 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Sissoko has averaged so far 4.1ppg and 2.8rpg.

   #9. Experienced Mamadou Dembele (209-C-5, currently plays in Italy) managed to help WithU Bergamo in a victory against the leader Jesolo 71-67 in the Italian Serie B (third division) on Sunday night. He scored 5 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 10 minutes. Dembele has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 2.1rpg in nine games.