Boubacar Toure Explained

Boubacar Toure
Position:Center
Height Ft:7
Height In:0
Weight Lb:240
Team:Free agent
Birth Date:31 December 1995
Birth Place:Dakar, Senegal
Nationality:Senegalese
High School:Phase One Academy
(Mesa, Arizona)
College:
Draft Year:2020
Career Start:2020
Years1:2020–2022
Team1:Chorale Roanne
Years2:2022–2023
Team2:Tofaş
Years3:2023–2024
Team3:Valencia
Highlights:
  • MAC All-Defensive Team (2020)

Boubacar Toure (born 31 December 1995) is a Senegalese professional basketball player who last played for Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Grand Canyon Antelopes and Eastern Michigan Eagles.

Early life and high school career

Toure was born and grew up in Dakar. The first time he began playing basketball, he decided he wanted to become a professional player. Toure's volleyball coach attempted to get him to give up basketball, but he refused. He attended a prestigious basketball camp in Johannesburg, with NBA coaches in attendance. Toure moved to the United States in 2013 to play basketball.[1] He attended Phase One Academy in Mesa, Arizona, and committed to Grand Canyon University.[2]

College career

Toure was forced to redshirt his first year at Grand Canyon due to not qualifying academically.[2] He averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 rebounds over the course of eight games as a freshman, and posted 14 points against Black Hills State University. Toure missed the remainder of the season with an injury, and was also sidelined during the 2016-17 season after tearing his ACL in practice in the preseason.[3] He transferred to Eastern Michigan. He became the first Eagles player to have back-to-back double-doubles to start his career since 1971. Toure averaged 8.6 points and 7.8 rebounds a game as a junior. He had a season-high 16 rebounds along with 12 points against Northern Illinois on March 2, 2019.[4] As a senior at Eastern Michigan, Toure averaged 10.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He was named to the MAC All-Defensive Team as well as Honorable Mention All-MAC.[5] Toure had 13 double-doubles during his senior season, with his last coming in the first round of the MAC Tournament against Kent State with 14 points and 13 rebounds. He finished his career first in Eastern Michigan history with a 65.3 career field-goal percentage, and his 86 blocks rank ninth in program history.[6]

Professional career

On June 17, 2020, Toure signed with Chorale Roanne Basket of the LNB Pro A. He averaged 10 points and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 70.7% from the field, in his rookie season.[7] On July 4, 2022, he signed with Tofaş of the Turkish BSL.[8] He averaged 11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in the domestic league, as well as 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in the Basketball Champions League.

On July 4, 2023, Toure signed a two-year contract with Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB. On June 30, 2024, he was released from the Spanish club.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| style="text-align:left;"| Valencia| 21 || 8 || 13.7 || .565 || || .542 || 4.1 || .2 || .3 || .6 || 4.0 || 5.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 21 || 8 || 13.7 || .565 || || .542 || 4.1 || .2 || .3 || .6 || 4.0 || 5.5

Personal life

Toure has one brother and four sisters. Toure is an avid soccer fan, with his favorite team being FC Barcelona. He speaks three languages: English, French, and Wolof.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gremban . Luke . Boubacar Toure discusses his life in Senegal and expectations for his senior year . June 27, 2020 . The Eastern Echo . November 26, 2019.
  2. News: Obert . Richard . GCU's Boubacar Toure ready to make instant impact . June 27, 2020 . . November 12, 2015.
  3. News: Obert . Richard . GCU loses big man Boubacar Toure for season with injury . June 27, 2020 . . October 28, 2016.
  4. News: Allen . Tiauna . Post . Charles . Boubacar Toure is set to make an impact for the Eagles after major improvements . June 27, 2020 . The Eastern Echo . November 29, 2019.
  5. Web site: Roanne signs rookie Boubacar Toure in his first year in pro basketball . Eurobasket . June 27, 2020 . June 17, 2020.
  6. Web site: Boubacar Toure Signs Contact with Chorale Roanne Basketball . . June 27, 2020 . June 18, 2020.
  7. Web site: Boubacar Toure, Basketball Player . Proballers . 26 September 2021 . en.
  8. News: Boubacar Toure signs with Tofas. July 4, 2022. Sportando. En. July 4, 2022 . Maggi . Alessandro .