Amar Sylla
Sylla in October 2019
No. 43 – Coosur Real Betis
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueLiga ACB
Personal information
Born (2001-10-01) 1 October 2001
Dakar, Senegal
NationalitySenegalese
Listed height2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight86 kg (190 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2019Real Madrid B
2019–2021Oostende
2021–2022Nevėžis
2022–presentReal Betis
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Senegal
FIBA Africa U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place2018 MaliNational team

Amar Sylla (born 1 October 2001) is a Senegalese professional basketball player who plays for Real Betis of the Liga ACB. He also plays for the Senegalese national under-18 team.

Early life and career

Sylla was born in Dakar, Senegal.[1][2] Growing up, he preferred football but began playing basketball at the SEED Academy in Thiès because of his height.[3][4] In 2015, after taking part in a basketball camp in Kébémer organized by NBA player Gorgui Dieng, Sylla moved to Spain to pursue the sport.[5]

At Munich qualifiers for the 2019 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, Sylla averaged 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and three blocks per game.[6] He led the event in blocked shots and was named to the All-Tournament Team. In four games at the final tournament in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, Sylla averaged 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. He helped the Real Madrid junior team win the championship.[7][8]

Professional career

On 15 July 2019, Sylla signed with Filou Oostende of the Belgian Pro Basketball League (PBL) and European competition Basketball Champions League (BCL).[9] He signed a three-year contract with an NBA opt-out clause.[10] He played for the Orlando Magic in the 2021 NBA Summer League.[11]

In August 2021, Sylla signed with Lithuanian club Nevėžis.[12] He averaged 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds over 30 games in the season. He played in the 2022 NBA Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers.[13]

On 4 August 2022, he signed a one-year contract with Real Betis of the Spanish Liga ACB.[11]

National team career

Sylla played for the Senegalese national under-18 team at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 African Championship in Bamako, Mali, including in the qualifiers.[5] In seven games, he averaged 13.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, leading Senegal to second place.[14]

In February 2022, Sylla was selected for the Senegal national team to play in the qualifiers of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Amar Sylla, el futuro del Real Madrid tiene nombre y apellidos" (in Spanish). Gigantes del Basket. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sylla" (in Spanish). Real Madrid Baloncesto. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  3. ↑ Hein, David (26 March 2019). "ANGT Finals: Madrid's Sylla aims to make Senegal proud". Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. ↑ "Overview". SEED Project. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Senegal's Sylla: 'It's always remarkable playing for your country'". FIBA. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "Garuba named MVP of ANGT Munich". Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Amar Sylla Player Profile". RealGM. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "Real Madrid wins the ANGT 2019". EuroHoops. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "NBA-prospect Amar Sylla(17) tekent voor 3 jaar bij FILOU Oostende – Filou Oostende". Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "Projected 1st-rounder Sylla signs with Oostende". ESPN.com. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  11. 1 2 "El interior senegalés Amar Sylla firma por el Coosur Real Betis por una temporada". realbetisbalompie (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  12. ↑ "Amar Sylla van Filou krijgt een nieuwe kans in Litouwen". KW.be (in Dutch). 27 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Cavaliers Announce 2022 Summer League Roster". NBA. July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Amar Sylla (SEN)'s profile". FIBA. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "Senegal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
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