Here is the weekly review of the top performing Mali players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Nianta Diarra (201-1993, currently plays in France). Diarra contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Limoges CSP Elite (14-11) crushing them
78-54 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Friday.
He scored 6 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Cholet Basket (9-3) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
This season Diarra averages: 7.8ppg, 5.2rpg, 2FGP: 67.3%(76-113), 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 38.5%.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Diarra played for the Mali senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former U19 international forward
Fousseyni Drame (201-2000, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA. He could not help the
St.Peter's (14-6) in their last game. Despite Drame's good performance the St.Peter's was badly defeated
69-49 at home by the University of North Carolina.
He scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 23 minutes.
The Regional Finals already ended in the NCAA.
This year Drame's overall stats are: 7.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 2FGP: 60.2%(77-128), 3FGP: 36.4% and FT: 62.7% in 33 games he played so far.
He played for the Mali U19 national team in 19.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former U19 international forward
Hassan Drame (201-2000, currently studies in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Fousseyni Drame. But that was another game of his team in NCAA which we would like to mention.
Drame contributed to a 3-point
St.Peter's' victory against the Purdue University (14-6)
67-64.
He recorded 7 points.
The Saint Peter's University has a solid 14-6 conference record this season.
Drame's total stats this year are: 6.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 2FGP: 53.1%, 3FGP: 34.6% and FT: 73.7%.
He played for the Mali U19 national team year ago.
#4. Power forward
Abdoul Coulibaly (206-2000, is currently at the American university) was not able to help the
St.Bonaventure in their game against the Xavier University (8-11) in the NCAA Regional Finals.
Coulibaly scored 6 points in only 9 minutes.
The St.Bonaventure lost
77-84 on their home court in St.Bonaventure to the Xavier University.
The Regional Finals already ended in the NCAA.
This year Coulibaly's total stats are: 3.7ppg and 1.7rpg in 33 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 21.
#5. Former U19 international center
Oumar Ballo (213-2002, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the
Arizona (18-2) in their game against the University of Houston (15-3) in the NCAA National Tournament Round 3. He cannot count it as his best performance.
Ballo recorded only 2 points in 10 minutes.
The Arizona lost
60-72 on the road to the University of.
The National Tournament Round 3 already ended in the NCAA.
Ballo has averaged so far 6.8ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.2bpg in 37 games.
He used to play for the Mali U19 national team
years ago.
#6. Point guard
Siriman Kanoute (181-2001, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Kaysersberg (7-2) in their last game on Friday. Despite Kanoute's very good performance the second-placed Kaysersberg (7-2) was defeated
72-67 in Gamarde les Bains by the lower-ranked Dax-Gamarde (#6) in the Group C.
He was the second best scorer with 16 points.
Kanoute has averaged so far 8.3ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.7apg and 1.9spg.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team year ago.
#7. Former international power forward
Baba Samake (202-1994, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Siriman Kanoute in the French NM1 last game.
Samake led
Dax-Gamarde to a victory against the second-ranked Kaysersberg (7-2)
72-67.
He scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Samake has averaged so far 5.2ppg and 4.5rpg in 21 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#8. An experienced center
Moustapha Diarra (205-1987, college:
USF, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Andrezieux (7-6) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Diarra's good performance Andrezieux (#5) was defeated
97-93 in Cergy by the higher-ranked Pontoise (#4) in the Group B.
He scored 12 points.
Diarra has relatively good stats this season: 10.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.5apg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 18.
#9. Former U19 international forward
Mohamed Sidibe (196-2002, currently plays in France) managed to help Les Sables Vendee Basket in a victory against the sixth-ranked SOPCC (6-7)
57-51 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
Sidibe scored 5 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 31 minutes.
Les Sables Vendee Basket (0-6) is placed sixth in Group B.
Sidibe has averaged so far 5.1ppg and 3.6rpg in seven games.
He used to play for the Mali U19 national team
years ago.
#10. Forward
Ibrahim Djambo (209-1992, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Lorient (7-6) in their game against Caen (4-9) in the French NM1 (third division).
Djambo scored 6 points.
Lorient (#4) was defeated
67-63 on their home court in Lorient by the lower-ranked Caen (#9) in the Group A.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
This season Djambo has relatively solid stats: 12.5ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.6apg and 1.3spg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and American.
Djambo is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Mali senior national team.
#11. Former U19 international center
Souleymane Pinda Traore (210-2002, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Zamora's victory against the eighth-ranked Navarra
83-75 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) in Saturday night's game.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 10 minutes.
This year Pinda Traore averages just 1.1ppg in 13 games.
He used to play for the Mali U19 national team
years ago.
#12. 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 couldn't help
Lorient in their game against Caen. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Saounera scored only 3 points.
His team was defeated
67-63.
Saounera has averaged so far 7.9ppg, 2.2rpg and 3.1apg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 21.
#13. Former U16 international point guard
Ladji Coulibaly (2006, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Sant Cugat in their game against Roser in the Spanish EBA (fourth division).
Coulibaly scored 6 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 24 minutes.
His team lost
63-72.
Coulibaly has averaged so far 6.4ppg and 6.0rpg in five games.
He used to play for the Mali U16 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. Bandja Sy (204-F-1990, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
NM State, currently plays in EuroCup) contributed to
Metropolitans' victory against the closely-ranked Andorra (9-8)
83-74 in the Eurocup in Tuesday night's game.
He scored 9 points in 25 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (11-6) is placed third in the Eurocup.
Sy's team will play only one more game in the Eurocup Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
This year Sy averages: 4.4ppg and 3.0rpg in 12 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
#2. Tim Troussel (203-PF-1995, college:
Newman, currently plays in Austria) could not help
Lions (8-11) in their last game on Friday. Despite Troussel's very good performance the fourth-placed Lions (8-11) were defeated
77-73 at home by the lower-ranked Mustangs (#5) in the Capital West Conference.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 13 rebounds.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Troussel has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.0ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.3apg and 1.7spg.
Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
