N'Faly Dante'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.

N'Faly Dante

   #1. This week's number one is former U17 international center N'Faly Dante (211-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA. He could not help the Oregon (11-6) in their last game. Despite Dante's good performance the Oregon was edged 84-81 at home by the University of Arizona. He had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 15 rebounds in 28 minutes on the court. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Dante averages: 8.1ppg, 5.9rpg, 2FGP: 67.2%(90-134) and FT: 54.5% in 26 games he played so far. He played for the Mali U17 national team year ago.

Oumar Ballo

   #2. Second place goes to former U19 international center Oumar Ballo (213-2002, currently studies in the States). Ballo contributed to Arizona's victory against the Oregon State University (1-15) 83-69 in the NCAA on Thursday night. He recorded 7 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 18 minutes. The University of Arizona has a very solid 15-1 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Ballo's overall stats are: 7.3ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 62.6%(72-115) and FT: 68.4% in 27 games. He played for the Mali U19 national team in 21.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-1995, currently plays in France). He led Orchesien BC to a victory against the eighth-ranked SO Maritime Boulogne (12-14) 78-65 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday. Sidibe scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 26 minutes. BC Orchies (15-11) is placed seventh in Group B. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. This year Sidibe's total stats are: 7.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 48.5% and FT: 55.6% in 26 games. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Despite Sidibe played previously for the French U20 national team, he played also for the Mali national team in 21.

Mahamadou Diawara

   #4. Power forward Mahamadou Diawara (208-1999, is currently at the American university) was not able to help the Stetson in their game against the Liberty University (10-3) in the NCAA. Diawara scored 9 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. But the Stetson (#6) was defeated 88-82 on their home court in DeLand by the Liberty University. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Diawara has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 6.0rpg. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team back in 16.

Fousseyni Traore

   #5. Former U19 international forward Fousseyni Traore (201-2002, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Loyola Marymount University (2-12) crushing them 79-59 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Traore scored 12 points in 22 minutes. The Brigham Young University has 8-6 conference record this season. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. Traore has averaged so far 8.3ppg, 8.2rpg and 1.2bpg in 26 games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team years ago.

Fousseyni Drame

   #6. Forward Fousseyni Drame (201-2000, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the St.Peter's (10-6) in their game against the Siena College (11-6) in the NCAA. Drame recorded 8 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. The St.Peter's was defeated 84-70 on their home court in Jersey City by the Siena College. There are only three games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Drame has averaged so far 7.4ppg and 7.1rpg. He is a former U19 international player as he played for the Mali team year ago.

Hassan Drame

   #7. Former U19 international forward Hassan Drame (201-2000, 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 couldn't help the St.Peter's (10-6) in their game against the Siena College (11-6). He recorded 5 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 21 minutes. The St.Peter's lost 70-84 on their home court in Jersey City to the Siena College. Drame has averaged so far 6.0ppg and 5.5rpg in 23 games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team years ago.

Abdoul Coulibaly

   #8. Power forward Abdoul Coulibaly (206-2000, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an St.Bonaventure's surprising victory against the University of Duquesne (1-13) crushing them 81-55 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Coulibaly scored 6 points. The St. Bonaventure University has a solid 10-4 conference record this season. There are only three games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. Coulibaly has averaged so far 3.8ppg and 1.6rpg. He used to play for the Mali national team back in 21.

Ibrahim Djambo

   #9. Former international forward Ibrahim Djambo (209-1992, college: Hofstra, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in Lorient's victory against the 14th-ranked JSA Bordeaux (3-23) crushing them 97-57 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game. Djambo scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 26 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. CEP Lorient Basket (19-7) is placed third in Group A. It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. Djambo has relatively good stats this year: 12.4ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.6apg and 1.4spg in 25 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and American. Djambo used to play for the Mali national team years ago.

Ibrahim Doumbia

   #10. Forward Ibrahim Doumbia (201-1998, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help California State University, Fullerton to win against the California State University Northridge (3-12) 81-73 in the NCAA last Saturday. He scored only 4 points. The California State University, Fullerton has quite an impressive 11-3 conference record this season. Doumbia's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. Doumbia has averaged so far 1.3ppg and 2.2rpg. He is a former U18 international player as years ago he still played for the Mali national team.

   #11. Former international point guard Siriman Kanoute (181-2001, currently plays in France) couldn't help Kaysersberg (9-17) in their last game. Despite Kanoute's good performance the 11th-placed Kaysersberg was crushed 84-58 on their home court in Kaysersberg by the higher-ranked (#8) SO Maritime Boulogne in the Group B. He scored 11 points, grabbed 4 boards, dished 6 assists and stole 3 balls in 35 minutes. Kanoute has averaged so far 9.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.5apg and 2.0spg in four games. He used to play for the Mali national team years ago.

   #12. Former U19 international center Moulaye Sissoko (206-1999, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the University of Massachusetts crushing them 82-61 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game. Sissoko recorded only 2 points. Sissoko has averaged so far 2.2ppg and 2.2rpg. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team back in 17.

   #13. An experienced former international swingman Mamadou Sy (194-1985, college: Cloud County, currently plays in France) contributed to Pontoise's victory against the leader Toulouse 83-69 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night. Sy scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Sy has averaged so far 3.4ppg and 4.9rpg. He used to play for the Mali national team years ago.

   #14. Former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-1997, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a Tenn Tech's victory against the Southeast Missouri State University 98-94 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. Diarra recorded only 3 points in 9 minutes on the court. Diarra has averaged so far 8.4ppg and 4.1rpg in 27 games. He used to play for the Mali U18 national team back in 14.

   #15. Former international point guard Ibrahim Saounera (179-1987, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Djambo and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Saounera helped Lorient win their game against the 14th-ranked JSA Bordeaux crushing them 97-57. He scored 12 points and added 3 passes. Saounera has averaged so far 7.8ppg, 2.3rpg and 3.4apg. He used to play for the Mali national team years ago.


The list of other players, who all have Mali passport but never been selected to any of Mali national teams:

   #1. Amadou Sow (206-F-1998, currently plays college basketball in the States) led UCSB to a victory against the University of California - Davis (5-4) 76-69 in the NCAA last Thursday. Sow recorded a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. The University of California Santa Barbara has 6-6 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Sow has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.1ppg and 8.3rpg.

   #2. Souleymane Diakite (206-PF-1999, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the NJIT (6-10) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Diakite's good performance the NJIT was defeated 65-61 at home by the University of Maine. He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 12 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Diakite's total stats this season are: 5.1ppg and 5.0rpg.

   #3. Amadou Sylla (203-F-1998, is currently at the American university) contributed to a Tenn Tech's victory against the Southeast Missouri State University (8-8) 98-94 in the NCAA on Thursday night. Sylla recorded 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. The Tennessee Tech University has 6-10 conference record this season. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. Sylla has averaged so far 5.6ppg and 5.4rpg in 29 games he played so far.

   #4. Bourama Sidibe (208-C-1997, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Syracuse University to win against the Georgia Institute of Technology (4-13) 74-73 in the NCAA in Monday night's game. He scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. The Syracuse University has 9-8 conference record this season. There are only three games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. Sidibe has averaged so far 1.8ppg and 1.9rpg.

   #5. Tim Troussel (203-PF-1995, college: Newman, currently plays in Austria) helped Lions win their game against the seventh-ranked Flames (4-3) crushing them 103-67 in the Austrian 2.Bundesliga (second division) last Saturday. Troussel recorded 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Raiffeisen Dornbirn Lions (8-5) are placed second in Capital West Conference. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. Troussel has very impressive stats this year: 15.5ppg, 9.2rpg, 2.4apg and 1.7spg in 11 games. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #6. Cheickna Sissoko (206-F/C, currently plays in NCAA2) helped Academy of Art win their game against the Hawaii Pacific University 73-54 in the NCAA2 on Thursday night. Sissoko scored 7 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Sissoko has averaged so far 4.6ppg and 4.0rpg.