POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
We bring you last week's top performances from Moroccans who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Karim Gourari (203-89, currently plays in France). He contributed to a
Saint Vallier's victory against the tenth-ranked Mulhouse (8-12)
82-70 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night.
Gourari scored 7 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 26 minutes on the court.
Saint Vallier Basket Drome (16-4) is placed second in Group B.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
This year Gourari averages: 9.7ppg, 7.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 56.5%(61-108), 3FGP: 35.1% and FT: 71.7% in 20 games he played so far.
He played for the Moroccan senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international point guard
Sami Al Uariachi (185, currently plays in Canada). Al Uariachi could not help the
McGill University (6-4) to beat the Stingers (5-3).
He recorded 9 points.
But the McGill University was edged
68-67 in a derby game by the Stingers.
Al Uariachi's overall stats this season are: 7.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 30.8%, 3FGP: 47.1%(16-34) and FT: 91.7%.
He is in the roster of the Moroccan senior national team.
#3. The Moroccan player who performed third best last week abroad was former U18 international forward
Mehdi El Mardi (201-95, currently plays in NCAA2). El Mardi managed to help Seattle Pacific University in a victory against the Montana State University Billings (3-5)
83-72 in the NCAA2 last Saturday.
He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in 22 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. The Seattle Pacific University has a very solid 8-0 record this season.
So far his team won all eight games in the Regular Season.
This year El Mardi's overall stats are: 3.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 2FGP: 58.7%(27-46), 3FGP: 28.6% in 17 games.
He played for the Moroccan U18 national team eight years ago.
#4. An experienced shooting guard
Mohamed Hachad (194-83, college:
Northwestern, currently plays in France) helped
Provence Basket win their game against one of league's weakest teams Saint-Quentin (4-11)
96-85 in the French ProB (second division) on Saturday night.
Hachad scored only 2 points.
FOS Provence Basket (5-10) is placed 16th in the ProB.
Hachad's total stats this season are: 3.8ppg, 2.6rpg and 1.3apg.
He has a dual citizenship: Moroccan and Canadian.
Hachad used to play for the Moroccan national team
back in 2018.
#5. Former international power forward
John Wilkins (207-89, college:
Illinois St., currently plays in Germany) was not able to help
Duesseldorf (5-4) in their last game. Despite his good performance the third-placed Duesseldorf (5-4) lost
89-98 at home to the leading SG Schwelmer Baskets in the North group.
Wilkins was the second best scorer with 14 points in 24 minutes.
It was Duesseldorf's third consecutive loss in a row.
It's Wilkins' first season with the team.
This year his total stats are: 7.3ppg and 1.9rpg in 16 games.
Wilkins is a naturalized American.
He used to play for the Moroccan national team
two years ago.
Wilkins played also for As de Sale in Moroccan league.
The list of other players, who all have Moroccan passport but never been selected to any of Moroccan national teams: #1. Khalid Boukichou (208-C-92, agency:
Two Points, currently plays in Belgium) led
Spirou Charleroi to a 1-point victory over the eighth-ranked Okapi Aalstar (5-8)
84-83 in the Belgian Euromillions League in Friday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Boukichou scored 16 points in 23 minutes.
Proximus Spirou Charleroi (10-1) is placed second in the Euromillions League.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
Boukichou has relatively good stats this year: 14.5ppg, 5.8rpg and 2.3apg in four games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Moroccan and Belgian.
#2. Mohamed Kherrazi (200-F-90, currently plays in Holland) managed to help Landstede Basketbal Zwolle to win against the seventh-ranked Leiden (8-5)
98-92 in the Dutch Eredivisie last Saturday.
Kherrazi recorded only 4 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists.
Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (13-2) is placed first in the Eredivisie.
It's Kherrazi's first season with the team.
This year he averages: 5.9ppg, 9.5rpg, 2.4apg and 1.6spg.
Kherrazi is another player who holds two passports: Moroccan and Dutch.
Other top Moroccan players, who play abroad:Yassine Bassine (198-G/F-84) plays for
Montbrison in French NM2
Reda Diabi (200-F-97) plays for
C'Chartres in French NM1
Zakaria El Masbahi (192-F/G-79) plays for
Piacentina in Italian Serie B
Anoir Filahi (208-C-70) plays for
Cecina in Italian Serie B
Adam El Gazhi (204-F/C-95) plays for
Marseille in French NM2
Walid Dahmani (192-F/G-87) plays for
Tourcoing in French NM2
Yunss Akinocho (202-F-87) plays for
Pornic in French NM2
Sophiane Rafai (193-SG-86) plays for
Tremblay in French NM2
Omar Lanani (210-F/C-87) plays for
Al Nasr in Libyan D1
Notice:
The list above includes only some of the Moroccan playing currently abroad. Go to Moroccan Abroad Page to see completed list.
