Adama Bal Explained

Adama Bal
Number:4
Team:Santa Clara Broncos
Position:Point guard / shooting guard
League:West Coast Conference
Birth Date:18 December 2003
Birth Place:Le Mans, France
Height Ft:6
Height In:7
Weight Lb:190
College:
Career Start:2020
Years1:2020–2021
Team1:Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball
Highlights:
  • First-team All-WCC (2024)

Adama-Alpha Bal (born 18 December 2003) is a French college basketball player for the Santa Clara Broncos of the West Coast Conference. He previously played for the Arizona Wildcats.

Early life

Bal was born on 18 December 2003, and grew up in Le Mans, France.[1] He played basketball for the third-tier Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball (CFBB) team in Paris, averaging 9.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while playing 27 minutes per game in the 2020–21 season.[2] He was ranked one of the top European college basketball prospects and committed to play for the Arizona Wildcats.[3] [4]

College career

As a freshman at Arizona in the 2021–22 season, Bal played 23 games and averaged 4.5 minutes per game, scoring 34 total points with 1.5 per game.[5] The following season, he played 26 games and averaged 2.5 points and shot 35.4% in 3-point range.[6] After having played just 104 minutes as a freshman and 214 as a sophomore, Bal entered the NCAA transfer portal in 2023.[7] [8]

Bal ultimately transferred to the Santa Clara Broncos for his junior year.[9] He quickly became a top player for the team in the West Coast Conference.[10]

International career

Bal was a member of the France national under-16 basketball team and competed at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship, where he averaged 6.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist in seven games while helping France win second place.[5] [11] He has also been a member of the national under-20 team, playing for them at the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship.[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adama Bal. NBADraft.net.
  2. News: Bear Down, rouge et bleu: Arizona's latest commitment gives Cats a French accent. Arizona Daily Star. subscription. May 12, 2021. Pascoe, Bruce.
  3. Web site: Adama Bal, top international prospect, commits to Arizona Wildcats. ESPN. Givony, Jonathan. May 11, 2021.
  4. News: French-speaking teammates help freshman Adama Bal adapt to Arizona Wildcats. Arizona Daily Star. October 6, 2021. Pascoe, Bruce.
  5. Web site: Adama Bal. Arizona Wildcats.
  6. News: Changes underway for Wildcats as Kerr Kriisa, Adama Bal enter transfer portal. Arizona Daily Star. March 22, 2023. Pascoe, Bruce. subscription.
  7. Web site: NBA Draft Scouting Report: Santa Clara’s Adama Bal. Sports Illustrated. July 26, 2023.
  8. Web site: Adama Bal to transfer from Arizona. 247Sports. Scheer, Jason. May 22, 2023.
  9. News: Former Arizona Wildcat Adama Bal transfers to Santa Clara. Arizona Daily Star. April 16, 2023.
  10. News: Key matchup: Once a Gonzaga recruit, Adama Bal thriving at Santa Clara after two seasons at Arizona. The Spokesman-Review. subscription. January 10, 2024. Lawson, Theo.
  11. Web site: French guard Adama Bal considering college, offers roll in. 247Sports. June 16, 2020. Daniels, Evan.
  12. News: Arizona's Adama Bal and his 'obscene wingspan' stand out for France in U20 European Championship. Arizona Daily Star. July 26, 2022. Pascoe, Bruce.
  13. News: Still just 18, Arizona's Adama Bal expected to have bigger role as a sophomore. Arizona Daily Star. October 12, 2022. Pascoe, Bruce.