Adama Sanogo
Sanogo in 2023
No. 21 – Chicago Bulls
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2002-02-12) 12 February 2002 (age 21)
Bamako, Mali
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeUConn (2020–2023)
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentChicago Bulls
2023–present→Windy City Bulls
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Mali
FIBA Under-16 African Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Mauritius Team

Adama Sanogo (born 12 February 2002) is a Malian professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. In 2023 he won the national championship with the UConn Huskies and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

Early life and high school career

Sanogo grew up in Bamako, Mali, and first played soccer before switching to basketball in 2014.[1][2] His uncle, basketball scout Tidiane Dramé, convinced him to start playing basketball. One year later, Sanogo moved to the United States to play for Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York. He transferred to The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey, due to a coaching change at his previous school. In his senior season, he averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Sanogo competed for the New York Rens on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[3] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for UConn over offers from Seton Hall and Nebraska.[1]

College career

Sanogo became a starter in the third game of his freshman season at UConn. On 3 March 2021, he recorded a season-high 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a 69–58 win over Seton Hall.[4] As a freshman, Sanogo averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, earning Big East All-Freshman Team honors.[5] On 24 November 2021, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 115–109 double overtime win against Auburn.[6] On 1 December, Sanogo suffered an abdominal injury during a 72–63 win versus Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks and was ruled out for several weeks.[7] He was named to the First Team All-Big East.[8]

On 4 April 2023, Sanogo won the national championship with UConn and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.[9] He became the first African-born player since Hakeem Olajuwon (1983) to win the award.[10]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Sanogo signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls on 10 July 2023.[11]

On December 28, 2023, Sanogo made his NBA debut for the Bulls in a 120–104 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

National team career

Sanogo won a gold medal representing Mali at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 African Championship in Mauritius, averaging 10.5 points and eight rebounds per game.[12] At the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, he averaged six points and seven rebounds per game.[13]

Career statistics

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

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 UConn 23 20 17.0 .554 – .577 4.8 .6 .4 .9 7.3
2021–22 UConn 29 28 29.2 .504 .000 .686 8.8 1.0 .9 1.9 14.8
2022–23 UConn 39 39 26.5 .606 .365 .766 7.7 1.3 .7 .8 17.2
Career 91 87 25.0 .560 .358 .715 7.3 1.0 .7 1.2 13.9

Personal life

Sanogo is the son of Cheickne Sanogo and Awa Traore, and has four sisters and one brother. He is a practicing Muslim,[10] so, due to the timing of Ramadan in 2023, he was fasting during the NCAA tournament.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Carroll, Charlotte (5 May 2020). "Adama Sanogo gives UConn a piece for the present and the future". The Athletic. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ Amore, Dom (6 May 2020). "In Adama Sanogo, the UConn men got a versatile big man on and off the court. Here's what to know about the newest Husky". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ Amore, Dom (5 May 2020). "UConn men land prized big man Adama Sanogo to fill last scholarship for 2020". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ Amore, Dom (4 March 2021). "From the start, Adama Sanogo was a special find for UConn men and other takeaways from the Seton Hall win". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  5. ^ Borges, David (29 March 2021). "For UConn's Adama Sanogo, the future is bright - and outside the paint: 'It will enhance his career'". New Haven Register. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ^ "No. 22 UConn survives, beats No. 19 Auburn 115-109 in 2OT". ESPN. Associated Press. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. ^ Ostrout, Neill (1 December 2021). "Ostrout: Mounting injuries nearly lead to insult for UConn". Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. ^ Borges, David (6 March 2022). "UConn men's basketball team's R.J. Cole, Adama Sanogo, Jordan Hawkins honored by Big East". CT Insider. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ Beard, Aaron (4 April 2023). "Sanogo snags ball, MOP honors for UConn in NCAA title win". AP News. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Adama Sanogo - First Africa-born player since Olajuwon to win the NCAA MOP award". FIBA.basketball. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Bulls sign Adama Sanogo to two-way contract". NBA.com. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Adama Sanogo (MLI)'s profile – FIBA U16 African Championship 2017". FIBA. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Adama Sanogo (MLI)'s profile – FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  14. ^ Borzello, Jeff (2023-03-31). "Fasting 'definitely hard,' says UConn's Sanogo". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.

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