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Oumar Ballo (basketball)
Oumar Ballo (basketball)
Oumar Ballo (basketball)
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Oumar Ballo (born 13 July 2002) is a Malian professional basketball player for Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He previously played for the Arizona Wildcats, Gonzaga Bulldogs and Indiana Hoosiers. Listed at 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m) and 260 pounds (118 kg), he plays the center position.

Key Information

Early life and career

[edit]

Ballo grew up in Koulikoro, Mali. He played football as a goalkeeper but shifted his focus to basketball due to his exceptional height.[1][2] His mother and brother, who had moved to France at age 15 to play the latter sport, encouraged him to switch to basketball.[1] As a child, Ballo idolized National Basketball Association (NBA) player Shaquille O'Neal.[3]

High school career

[edit]

When he was 11 years old, Ballo began training with coach Mohamed Diarra in his hometown, eventually earning an invitation from Canterbury Academy, a British private school in Las Palmas, Spain.[4] He enrolled as a full-time student, despite not knowing Spanish or English, and started practicing basketball three times per day.[1] In May 2017, Ballo was named most valuable player (MVP) of the Spain Under-16 Championship after helping Canterbury finish in third place, behind bigger clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, and leading the tournament in rebounds.[1][5] In 2018, he averaged 15.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game at the Spanish Junior Championship, earning MVP honors.[6]

In October 2018, Ballo moved to NBA Academy Latin America, a training center in Mexico City sponsored by the NBA, CONADE, and Mexican Basketball Federation.[5][7] He missed a large portion of the 2018–19 season with an ankle injury.[8] In February 2019, Ballo played at the Basketball Without Borders camp at 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was one of the youngest participants.[9]

Recruiting

[edit]

In 2019, Ballo reclassified from the 2020 recruiting class to the 2019 class and was subsequently rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports and a five-star recruit by Rivals.[10][11] On 23 February 2019, he verbally committed to Gonzaga over offers from Arizona and Baylor, among others.[12][9]

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Oumar Ballo
C 		Koulikoro, Mali NBA Academy Latin America (MX) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Feb 23, 2019 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN:    (—)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: —    247Sports: 66    ESPN: —
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Gonzaga 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  • "2019 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved September 12, 2020.

College career

[edit]

On 28 October 2019, Ballo was ruled an academic redshirt for the 2019–20 season by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.[13] As a freshman, he averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, earning West Coast Conference (WCC) All-Freshman Team honors. After the season, Ballo transferred to Arizona to play for head coach Tommy Lloyd, who had recruited him to Gonzaga.[14] As a sophomore, Ballo averaged 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He averaged 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a junior, earning First Team All-Pac-12 as well as Pac-12 Most Improved Player honors.[15]

Professional career

[edit]

Pallacanestro Cantù (2025–present)

[edit]

On July 19, 2025, he signed with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[16]

National team career

[edit]

Ballo played for Mali at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in Vacoas-Phoenix, Mauritius. He averaged 14.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, winning the gold medal while making the tournament All-Star Five.[17] Playing for Mali at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Argentina, Ballo averaged 20.6 points and a tournament-high 16.9 rebounds per game and was named to the All-Star Five.[18] On 7 July 2018, he recorded 32 points and a tournament-record 32 rebounds in a 110–108 triple overtime loss to the Dominican Republic.[19] Ballo won a gold medal with Mali at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 African Championship in Bamako, Mali. He averaged 8.5 points and six rebounds per game.[20]

Ballo competed at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, missing the first two games due to visa issues.[21][22] In five games, he averaged 17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game, leading Mali to a silver medal, the best performance by an African team at a global basketball tournament.[22] Ballo was named to the All-Star Five with teammate Siriman Kanouté.[23]

Ballo played his first major senior tournament with Mali at FIBA AfroBasket 2025. He had 19 points in the semifinal win over Senegal, that secured Mali's first-ever AfroBasket final appearance.[24] They fell to hosts Angola in the final, thus finishing as runners-up, the country's best performance in history.[25]

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Gonzaga Redshirt Redshirt
2020–21 Gonzaga 24 0 6.3 .629 – .552 1.5 .1 .2 .3 2.5
2021–22 Arizona 37 0 15.2 .622 – .701 4.4 .6 .4 1.2 6.8
2022–23 Arizona 35 35 27.6 .647 – .565 8.6 1.6 .7 1.3 14.2
2023–24 Arizona 36 36 26.0 .658 – .495 10.1 .8 .9 1.3 12.9
Career 132 71 19.8 .646 – .564 6.6 .8 .6 1.1 9.6

Personal life

[edit]

Ballo's mother and father stand 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) and 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) respectively. His older brother, Drissa, who stands 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) and weighs 118 kg (260 lbs), plays professional basketball in France.[1]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Oumar Ballo (basketball)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Oumar Ballo (born July 13, 2002) is a Malian professional basketball player who plays as a center for Pallacanestro Cantù of the Lega Basket Serie A. Standing at 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m) tall and weighing 260 pounds (118 kg), Ballo is known for his dominant presence in the paint, high field-goal percentage, and rebounding prowess. He played five seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Gonzaga Bulldogs (2020–2021), Arizona Wildcats (2021–2024), and Indiana Hoosiers (2024–2025), where he amassed 1,676 points, 1,149 rebounds, and 180 blocks over 163 games. During his tenure at Arizona, Ballo earned two First Team All-Pac-12 selections (2022–2023, 2023–2024), Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors in 2023–2024, and Pac-12 Most Improved Player in 2022–2023, while leading the conference in field-goal percentage both seasons. At Indiana in 2024–2025, he received Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media, as well as NABC Division I All-Great Lakes District recognition. Ballo was born in , , and began his basketball journey there before moving internationally for development. He attended high school at the Canterbury Academy in and later the in , where he trained alongside future NBA players like . As a highly touted recruit, ranked No. 95 in the 2019 class by RSCI, Ballo committed to after redshirting the 2019–2020 season due to NCAA eligibility rules. In his freshman season at Gonzaga in 2020–2021, Ballo appeared in 24 games off the bench, averaging 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting 62.9% from the field. He transferred to for 2021–2022, earning Pac-12 of the Year honors from select media and averaging 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 37 games. Ballo's breakout came in 2022–2023, where he started all 35 games, posting 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, including a MVP performance, and helping Arizona reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. In 2023–2024, he led the team with 10.1 rebounds per game and 20 double-doubles, finishing with over 1,000 career points and 800 rebounds at , tying for third in program history with 34 double-doubles. Transferring to for his final eligible season in 2024–2025 via the , Ballo started 27 of 31 games, averaging 13.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 62.3% from the field. Following his college career, Ballo went undrafted in the 2025 but participated in the with the , averaging notable minutes alongside former Indiana teammate . On July 19, 2025, he signed a professional contract with Acqua San Bernardo of Italy's for the 2025–2026 season, marking his debut in European professional . In his first eight games with as of November 16, 2025, Ballo has averaged 9.0 points and 8.8 rebounds, leveraging his physicality in the Italian league. Ballo has represented the Mali national team since his youth career, contributing to historic achievements for African basketball. He helped Mali win the 2018 FIBA U18 African Championship, securing their first title and qualification for the U19 World Cup. At the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, Ballo averaged 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds, leading Mali to a —the best finish ever by an African team. He debuted for the senior Mali team in 2022 and continued playing through 2025, including in FIBA Africa Championship qualifiers.

Early life and high school

Early life

Oumar Ballo was born on July 13, 2002, in , . Growing up in a basketball-oriented family, Ballo comes from parents who stand 6 ft 5 in and 6 ft 8 in tall, respectively, contributing to his own imposing physical stature. His older brother, Drissa Ballo, measures 6 ft 10 in and pursued a in , beginning at age 15 and later playing for teams including . As a child, Ballo initially showed interest in soccer, playing as a in . However, around age 11, his rapid height growth made him too tall for the position, prompting a switch to at the urging of his mother and brother. He began under coach Mohamed Diarra in his hometown, where his potential quickly emerged. Ballo idolized during this early phase, drawn to the NBA legend's dominant, big-bodied style of play that mirrored his own physical attributes. At age 13, Ballo left home to join the International Basketball Academy in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, , marking the start of his structured development. This move to allowed him to immerse himself in competitive youth while adapting to a new environment far from his family in .

High school career

Ballo began his organized basketball training at the age of 13 when he joined the Canterbury International Academy (CIBA) in , , following a successful tryout that highlighted his potential as a . There, under structured coaching in a British-style prep school environment, he developed his skills over several years, focusing on post play and rebounding while adapting to competitive European youth . During his time at CIBA, Ballo emerged as a standout performer in national tournaments. In May 2017, he earned MVP honors at the Spanish Under-16 Championship, where his team finished third behind powerhouses Real Madrid and , showcasing his dominance in the paint despite being relatively new to the program. The following year, in 2018, Ballo repeated as MVP at the Spanish Junior Championship, averaging 15.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while leading CIBA to a strong showing in the competition. These back-to-back accolades underscored his rapid growth and physical presence as a 7-foot prospect. After his time at CIBA, Ballo enrolled at NBA Academy Latin America in in October 2018, where he completed his high school diploma.

Recruiting

Ballo's recruitment gained momentum after his impressive showings in international youth tournaments, notably the 2018 , where he averaged 20.6 points and 16.9 rebounds per game to help secure fourth place. His performances there, combined with his physical tools—a reported 7-foot-6 —drew interest from multiple programs, including power conference schools like and Baylor, as well as mid-major options. Enrollment at the in provided Ballo with greater exposure to U.S. scouts, enhancing his visibility as a top international prospect and facilitating official visits to potential programs. On February 23, 2019, Ballo, who had reclassified from the 2020 to the 2019 recruiting cycle, orally committed to following an official visit to Spokane, selecting the Bulldogs over his other finalists. He formalized his pledge by signing a in April 2019, joining a heralded Gonzaga class that ranked among the nation's top five. Ballo entered the 2019 cycle ranked No. 95 overall in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI) Top 100, earning four-star status from outlets like while being projected as a potential five-star talent due to his post dominance and upside.

College career

Gonzaga (2020–2021)

Ballo sat out the 2019–20 season as a true freshman at after being ruled an academic redshirt by the NCAA due to eligibility concerns related to his academic progress. This preserved four years of eligibility for him moving forward. As a redshirt in the 2020–21 season, Ballo served primarily as a reserve behind starter , appearing in 24 games without any starts. He averaged 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game while playing 7.3 minutes off the bench, contributing to Gonzaga's undefeated regular season and game appearance. Ballo achieved his season-high performance on December 29, 2020, scoring 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting to go with 5 rebounds in a 112–67 win over Dixie State. Following the Bulldogs' loss in the national title game, Ballo entered the on April 11, 2021, seeking greater playing opportunities after his minutes dwindled late in the season amid competition from other frontcourt players like Anton Watson.

Arizona (2021–2024)

After a limited role at Gonzaga, Ballo transferred to the in April 2021 to reunite with his former assistant coach , who had become the Wildcats' head coach. As a redshirt sophomore in the 2021–22 season, Ballo appeared in 37 games for without starting, while averaging 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and shooting 62.2% from the field. His efficient play off the bench and as a starter contributed to 's dominant 18–2 record in Pac-12 play, securing the regular-season conference championship. For his efforts, Ballo earned Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year honors. Ballo's development accelerated in the 2022–23 season as a redshirt junior, where he started all 35 games and posted career-high averages of 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 64.7% from the field. His strong presence in the paint, particularly on the boards where he ranked second in the Pac-12 in defensive rebounds, was instrumental in Arizona's 14–6 conference mark, a tie for second place in the regular season, and their Pac-12 Tournament title win. Ballo capped his junior year with First Team All-Pac-12 selection and the conference's Most Improved Player award. In the 2023–24 season as a redshirt senior, Ballo started all 36 games, averaging 12.9 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 65.8% from the field, leading the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage. He recorded 20 double-doubles, finishing his career with over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, and tying for third in program history with 34 double-doubles. Ballo earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive season, along with Pac-12 All-Defensive Team recognition.

Indiana (2024–2025)

Following his successful tenure at Arizona, where he earned back-to-back First Team All-Pac-12 selections, Oumar Ballo entered the transfer portal and committed to on April 16, 2024, as the top-ranked player available. The 7-foot center from brought immediate frontcourt reinforcement to the Hoosiers under coach , providing elite rebounding and rim protection to a team seeking to bolster its interior presence after a 17-15 season. In the 2024–25 season, Ballo's fifth year of college eligibility, he appeared in all 31 games for Indiana, starting 29, while averaging 28.9 minutes per contest. He posted career highs in several categories, including 13.0 points, 9.1 rebounds (leading the team), 2.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, all on an efficient 62.3% field goal shooting. Ballo's dominance in the paint was evident in his 13 double-doubles, including a 20-point, 12-rebound effort against Penn State, contributing significantly to Indiana's rebounding edge (No. 45 nationally at 37.4 per game) and helping the Hoosiers achieve a 19-13 overall record and 10-10 mark in Big Ten play despite a challenging schedule. His shot-blocking prowess (team-high 40 blocks) and offensive rebounding (3.4 per game) anchored the defense and created second-chance opportunities, allowing Indiana to rank among the Big Ten's top units in points allowed inside the arc. Ballo's impact earned him postseason recognition, including Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and media panels for his consistent threat and defensive contributions. He was also named to the NABC Division I All-Great Lakes Region team, highlighting his regional dominance as one of the conference's most reliable big men. After completing his degree in spring 2025, Ballo declared for the on April 22, forgoing any remaining eligibility to pursue a professional career. Across his entire college career at Gonzaga, , and , Ballo played in 163 games (100 starts), accumulating averages of 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 64.0% shooting, establishing himself as one of the most efficient post players in recent NCAA history.

Professional career

2025 NBA draft and summer league

Following his senior season at , Ballo declared for the on April 22, 2025. As a fifth-year senior, he was automatically eligible and entered the draft process without an agent, participating in workouts and the . The took place on June 26–27 in , New York, where Ballo went undrafted after 59 picks. Despite pre-draft projections placing him as a late second-round candidate due to his size and rebounding prowess, teams opted for other prospects at the center position. Ballo signed with the for the 2025 in , providing an opportunity to showcase his skills to NBA scouts and international teams. He appeared in two games, averaging 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game while playing alongside former teammate Pelle Larsson and former teammate . His limited minutes highlighted his physical presence in the paint but also areas for improvement in mobility, serving as a key platform for undrafted players to attract professional contracts abroad.

Pallacanestro Cantù (2025–present)

On July 19, 2025, Ballo signed a one-year contract with Acqua S. Bernardo , which had recently been promoted to Italy's . As the team's starting , Ballo has utilized his college-honed skills in rebounding and interior scoring to anchor 's frontcourt. In the early portion of the 2025–26 season, as of November 18, 2025, Ballo had appeared in 10 games, averaging double-digit points and rebounds, with a season-high of 14 rebounds recorded on November 11, 2025. Ballo has adapted to the European style by adjusting to a faster pace of play and heightened international competition, drawing on his prior experience with Mali's youth national teams.

National team career

Youth international career

Ballo began his youth international career representing at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in , where he played a pivotal role in securing the country's first-ever in the competition. Averaging 14.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game over eight contests, Ballo emerged as a key interior presence for the victorious squad. The following year, Ballo elevated his performance at the 2018 in , earning selection to the tournament's All-Star Five. He averaged 20.6 points and a competition-leading 16.9 rebounds per game across seven games, setting a single-tournament rebound record with 101 total rebounds after six outings. In 2019, Ballo captained Mali to a historic silver medal at the in , marking the nation's best finish in the event after a 93–79 loss to the in the final. Over five games, he posted averages of 17.6 points, a tournament-high 11.8 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. These appearances solidified Ballo's reputation as Mali's top big man in youth internationals, with his rebounding dominance—leading his and often the tournament in that category—underscoring his physicality and positioning on both ends of the court.

Senior international career

Ballo received his first call-up to Mali's senior national in 2022 for the AfroBasket qualifiers amid controversy with the federation, resulting in no recorded participation. Ballo did not record any senior international games between 2022 and 2024, making the 2025 AfroBasket his senior debut. Ballo emerged as a key contributor for at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket, helping the team achieve a historic first final appearance and secure a after falling to in the championship game. Over the tournament, he averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over seven contests, providing a strong interior presence that bolstered 's rebounding and defensive efforts. In the semifinal victory over , an 88-80 upset that propelled to the final, Ballo recorded 19 points and 7 rebounds, dominating the paint and helping overcome an earlier group-stage loss to the same opponent. Through his performances, Ballo played a pivotal role in elevating the profile of Mali's senior team on the international stage, leveraging his size and rebounding prowess as a 7-foot to anchor the frontcourt and inspire a new generation of players.

Career statistics

College

SeasonTeamGPGSMPGFG%RPGAPGBPGPPG
2020–21Gonzaga2405.8.6291.50.10.22.5
2021–22Arizona37013.5.6224.40.30.56.8
2022–23Arizona353527.4.6478.60.91.314.2
2023–24Arizona363626.1.65810.11.21.112.9
2024–25Indiana312928.8.6239.12.11.313.0
Career16310021.5.6427.00.90.910.9
During his collegiate career, Oumar Ballo earned several conference honors across three programs, recognizing his development as a dominant . At Gonzaga in the 2020–21 season, he was named to the (WCC) All-Freshman Team after appearing in 24 games off the bench. Ballo's time at marked a significant rise, where he received multiple Pac-12 accolades. In the 2022–23 season, he was selected to the First Team All-Pac-12 and awarded Pac-12 Most Improved Player after averaging 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 35 starts. That year, he also garnered Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention for his rim protection and rebounding prowess. The following 2023–24 season, Ballo again earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, averaging 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 65.8% from the field. Transferring to for the 2024–25 season, Ballo continued to be recognized for his impact. He received Honorable Mention All-Big Ten from both coaches and media after averaging 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Additionally, he was named to the 2025 NABC Division I All-Great Lakes District Second Team.

Professional

Oumar Ballo began his professional career in after going undrafted in the 2025 , signing with of the Serie A2 for the 2025–26 season. In his debut professional campaign, Ballo quickly adapted to the European style of play, showcasing his rebounding prowess and interior scoring ability as a 7-foot center. Through the first eight games of the 2025–26 season as of November 10, 2025, Ballo has averaged the following per-game numbers, contributing significantly to Cantù's frontcourt . The following table summarizes his early-season statistics:
StatisticAverage
Points9.0
Rebounds8.8
Assists0.6
Blocks1.0
Field Goal %68.1%
Ballo has recorded double-doubles in notable performances, highlighting his efficiency in transition to professional . These games demonstrated his ability to dominate the glass and protect the rim, with several blocks altering opponents' drives. In the context of Serie A2's faster pace compared to , Ballo has maintained a high level of efficiency, adjusting his positioning and timing to the league's physicality while leveraging his college-honed rebounding instincts for pro-level impact.

Awards and honors

College

During his collegiate career, Oumar Ballo earned several conference honors across three programs, recognizing his development as a dominant center. At Gonzaga in the 2020–21 season, he was named to the (WCC) All-Freshman Team after appearing in 24 games off the bench, contributing 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Ballo's time at marked a significant rise, where he received multiple Pac-12 accolades. In the 2021–22 season, he earned Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year honors from select media. In the 2022–23 season, he was selected to the First Team All-Pac-12 and awarded Pac-12 Most Improved Player after averaging 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 35 starts. That year, he also garnered Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention for his rim protection and rebounding prowess. The following 2023–24 season, Ballo again earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, leading the Wildcats with 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 65.8% from the field. Transferring to for the 2024–25 season, Ballo continued to be recognized for his impact. He received Honorable Mention All-Big Ten from both coaches and media after averaging 13.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Additionally, he was named to the 2025 NABC Division I All-Great Lakes District Second Team and included on the preseason watchlist for the 2025 NABC Division I Player of the Year award.

International

Ballo's international honors span his youth career with , where he established himself as a premier rebounder and interior presence in competitions. At the 2017 in , he played a pivotal role in Mali's first-ever gold medal at the event, averaging 14.4 points and a team-high 12.8 rebounds per game while earning Five recognition. He helped Mali win gold at the 2018 FIBA U18 African Championship, their first title, averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. His dominance on the boards continued at the 2018 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in , where he led all players with 16.9 rebounds per game en route to Five honors despite Mali's seventh-place finish. Ballo's youth accolades peaked at the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in , where he captained to a historic —the best result ever for an African team—and was named to the All- Team after topping the in rebounds (11.8 per game) and blocks (3.8 per game). These performances underscored his overall youth international dominance as a rebounding leader across multiple events, averaging double-digit boards in each major from 2017 to 2019. Transitioning to senior competition, Ballo contributed significantly to Mali's silver medal at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket in Angola, marking the nation's strongest showing in the tournament's history. His recognition came for a commanding semifinal performance against Senegal, where he scored 19 points and secured 7 rebounds in an 88–80 win that propelled Mali to the final against host Angola.

References

  1. https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/175048/ballo-oumar
  2. https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Oumar-Ballo/420596
  3. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/oumar-ballo-1.html
  4. https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/oumar-ballo/15368
  5. https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/oumar-ballo/18780
  6. https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2025/6/27/24457223/former-arizona-wildcats-big-man-oumar-ballo-added-to-miami-heat-summer-league-roster
  7. https://www.eurobasket.com/Italy/news/944211/Cantu-lands-Oumar-Ballo
  8. https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/cantu/2026.html
  9. https://gozags.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/oumar-ballo/3299
  10. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u19-basketball-world-cup-2019
  11. https://www.afrobasket.com/Mali/news/944212/Cantu-lands-Oumar-Ballo
  12. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/221734-oumar-ballo
  13. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20221193/mali-oumar-ballo-little-shaq-lot-potential-game-nba-draft
  14. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/exclusive-oumar-ballo-interview-baby-shaq-gonzaga-mali-nba
  15. https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/54477/drissa-ballo
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  17. https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-basketball/oumar-ballo-wingspan
  18. https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2019/10/6/20901599/2019-20-player-preview-oumar-ballo-is-waiting-to-be-unleashed
  19. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/history/249-fiba-u17-basketball-world-cup/6362/players/221734-oumar-ballo
  20. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26065229/oumar-ballo-16-year-old-malian-center-commits-gonzaga
  21. https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article103097.aspx
  22. http://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/237779/oumar-ballo
  23. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/apr/23/talented-young-center-oumar-ballo-signs-with-gonza/
  24. https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2019/2/23/18238179/2019-recruiting-oumar-ballo-gonzaga-bulldogs
  25. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/men/rsci-recruit-rankings-2019.html
  26. https://247sports.com/article/oumar-ballo-evaluating-2019-top-75-mali-center-and-new-gonzaga-commit-129452993/
  27. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/oct/28/gonzaga-freshman-center-oumar-ballo-ruled-academic/
  28. https://www.slipperstillfits.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-game-recap/2020/12/29/22205742/gonzaga-closes-out-the-year-with-112-67-win-over-dixie-state
  29. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/apr/11/gonzaga-center-oumar-ballo-enters-transfer-portal/
  30. https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/pascoe/article_196c5a0a-a187-11eb-b17c-5f57a0f0fc73.html
  31. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/arizona/men/2022.html
  32. https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/pac-12/stats?category=rebounding&sort=defreb&season=2022&sortOrder=desc&groupId=31
  33. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39956092/oumar-ballo-top-player-transfer-portal-picks-indiana
  34. https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/oumar-ballo-transfers-to-indiana-arizona-big-man-gives-hoosiers-a-top-10-prospect-in-portal/
  35. https://hoosierstateofmind.com/five-former-indiana-hoosiers-participating-in-2025-nba-summer-league-01jzgt65xace
  36. https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/oumar-ballo-player-stats?category=defense&seasonType=reg
  37. https://bigten.org/mbb/article/bltd7e209f30bceb6f0/
  38. https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2025/3/11/mens-basketball-three-hoosiers-honored-by-big-ten-conference
  39. https://x.com/AZBandCatSports/status/1914501018286768229
  40. https://nbadraftroom.com/p/oumar-ballo/
  41. https://www.insidethehall.com/2025/06/27/report-former-iu-basketball-big-man-oumar-ballo-to-play-for-miami-in-nba-summer-league/
  42. https://lebronwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/06/08/2025-lakers-draft-prospects-oumar-ballo/84100929007/
  43. https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2025/7/21/24471616/how-former-arizona-wildcats-fared-in-nba-summer-league-carter-bryant-caleb-love-christian-koloko
  44. https://zonazealots.com/arizona-alums-performed-at-a-high-level-in-nba-las-vegas-summer-league
  45. https://www.errea.com/world/news/cantu-is-back-the-historic-club-returns-to-serie-a/
  46. https://www.backdoorpodcast.com/en/oumar-ballo-scouting-cosa-porta-alla-pallacanestro-cantu/
  47. https://www.proballers.com/basketball/player/175048/ballo-oumar/games
  48. https://www.proballers.com/basketball/team/164/acqua-s-bernardo-cantu
  49. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/history/224-fiba-u16-afrobasket/10772/stats
  50. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/world-u17-2018-news-mali-big-man-ballo-shatters-u17-world-cup-rebound-record-by-10
  51. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/world-u17-2018-news-usa-s-jalen-green-wins-u17-world-cup-mvp-tops-all-star-five
  52. https://www.usab.com/news/2019/07/mu19-game-7-mali
  53. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/history/276-fiba-u19-basketball-world-cup/208102/teams/mali
  54. https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/basketball/article_34c63832-fe12-11ec-a638-9b2b44660bfd.html
  55. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-afrobasket-2025/news/inspired-mali-makes-historic-flight-to-afrobasket-final
  56. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-afrobasket-2025/news/can-africas-history-makers-do-it-again-for-mali
  57. https://wccsports.com/news/2021/3/2/wcc-unveils-2020-21-mens-basketball-all-conference-honors.aspx
  58. https://arizonawildcats.com/news/2023/3/7/mens-basketball-tubelis-ballo-lead-arizona-on-pac-12-honors-list
  59. https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2025/3/18/mens-basketball-ballo-named-all-great-lakes-district-second-team
  60. https://pac-12.com/article/2023/03/07/gueye-and-bamba-earn-pac-12-all-conference-honors
  61. https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2024/10/30/mens-basketball-ballo-selected-to-nabc-naismith-player-of-the-year-watchlists
  62. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/africa-u16-2017-news-history-made-as-mali-win-first-ever-fiba-u16-african-championship-title-in-phoenix
  63. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/world-u17-2018-news-usa-crowned-2018-fiba-u17-world-champions
  64. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/world-u19-2021-news-wild-three-year-ride-leads-to-success-and-perspective-on-expecations-for-ballo
  65. https://www.africannow.com/afrobasket-2025-mali-stuns-senegal-final-angola/
  66. https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-afrobasket-2025/news/angola-regain-afrobasket-glory-with-dominant-win-over-mali
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