Issa Konare
Encyclopedia
Issa Konare is a Senegal
ese professional basketball
player currently with Niigata Albirex of the BJ League in Japan. A 6'8" (2.03 m) and 230 lb (104 kg) power forward
, he was formerly of Kouvot Kouvola of the Finnish League
, KFUM Jämtland Basket of the Basketligan Swedish League, as well as Aix-Maurienne Savoie Basket of the ProB League in France and the Vermont Frost Heaves
of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He is also a regular with the Senegal National Basketball Team, appearing in all of the FIBA Africa Championship
s, including 2003
, 2005 as well as at the 2007 event.
, and spent his formative years playing soccer
before he was urged to play basketball by his stepmother at age 17.
in the U.S.
but ultimately it did not work out. He eventually found a home, and his future wife, at High Point University
in High Point, North Carolina
.
on December 17, 2005. Other notable performances by Konare in 2005–06 include leading his team with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks in an 83–80 loss to Liberty
on January 3, 2006, and a 19-point, 10-rebound, 4-block effort in a 78–49 blowout of Liberty on February 25, 2006. Konare received the first-ever Big South Conference
defensive player of the year award in 2006, leading the league with 2.44 blocks per game. He recorded a blocked shot in 25 of 27 games, 18 of 25 having 2+ blocks, and 7 of 18 blocking 4 or more. His total for blocks was 66 and his steals total was 25.
), have a daughter, Shakeira.
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player currently with Niigata Albirex of the BJ League in Japan. A 6'8" (2.03 m) and 230 lb (104 kg) power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
, he was formerly of Kouvot Kouvola of the Finnish League
Korisliiga
Korisliiga is the top league of basketball in Finland, comprising the top 12 teams of the country. In current format each team plays all other teams twice in the regular season, both at home and away...
, KFUM Jämtland Basket of the Basketligan Swedish League, as well as Aix-Maurienne Savoie Basket of the ProB League in France and the Vermont Frost Heaves
Vermont Frost Heaves
The Vermont Frost Heaves were a professional basketball team in Vermont, United States that last played in the Premier Basketball League, last coached by Joe Salerno. The formation of the team was announced in December, 2005 by founding owner Alexander Wolff, a Cornwall, Vermont resident and...
of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He is also a regular with the Senegal National Basketball Team, appearing in all of the FIBA Africa Championship
FIBA Africa Championship
The FIBA Africa Championship is the men's basketball continental championship of Africa, played biennially under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof...
s, including 2003
FIBA Africa Championship 2003
The FIBA Africa Championship 2003 was hosted by Egypt from August 7 to August 16, 2003. The games were played in Alexandria. This FIBA Africa Championship was to earn the one berth allocated to Africa for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...
, 2005 as well as at the 2007 event.
Early year
Konare was born in DakarDakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, and spent his formative years playing soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
before he was urged to play basketball by his stepmother at age 17.
College career
In 2001 he was signed by the University of South CarolinaSouth Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but ultimately it did not work out. He eventually found a home, and his future wife, at High Point University
High Point University
High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :...
in High Point, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
.
2005-06 season
Konare had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks in an 88–72 High Point win over LongwoodLongwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
on December 17, 2005. Other notable performances by Konare in 2005–06 include leading his team with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks in an 83–80 loss to Liberty
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
on January 3, 2006, and a 19-point, 10-rebound, 4-block effort in a 78–49 blowout of Liberty on February 25, 2006. Konare received the first-ever Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
defensive player of the year award in 2006, leading the league with 2.44 blocks per game. He recorded a blocked shot in 25 of 27 games, 18 of 25 having 2+ blocks, and 7 of 18 blocking 4 or more. His total for blocks was 66 and his steals total was 25.
Personal
Konare has seven step-siblings, many who are over 6 feet tall. He and his American wife, Samantha (from Richmond, VermontRichmond, Vermont
Richmond is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The 2000 census revealed a population of 4,090.Local students attend Mount Mansfield Union High School, Camel's Hump Middle School, And Richmond Elementary School. Mount Mansfield Union High is in the neighboring town of Jericho...
), have a daughter, Shakeira.