EL PASO, Texas – Talented big man and 2024 U18 AfroBasket MVP Youssouf Traore (Casademont Zaragoza in Spain's Liga Endesa) has signed with the UTEP men's basketball team, head coach
Joe Golding announced Saturday. Traore has played three years in Spain while also starring for Mali's U18 and U19 national teams on the international level.
A brief profile on Traore and a quote from Golding follows below.
Youssouf Traore
Forward
6-10
Casademont Zaragoza
Bamako, Mali
PREP
Standout for Mali on the national team level … named Tournament MVP after averaging a double-double (12.8 ppg, 16.2 rpg) to lead Mali's U18 team to the U18 AfroBasket title in 2024 … also credited with 2.7 apg during the championship run … tallied 15 points to go along with 14 rebounds in the title-clinching win vs. Cameroon (9/14/24) … it marked his sixth double-double in as many contests at the tournament … put up 12 points while grabbing a whopping 20 boards (12 offensive) in the group phase vs. Cameroon (9/7/24) … scored 12 points and registered 18 rebounds (nine offensive) in a semifinals triumph vs. Senegal (9/13/24) … tallied 17 points and secured 14 caroms (eight offensive) in the quarterfinals victory against Nigeria (9/12/24) … started the event in group play with an 11-point, 15-board showing vs. Senegal (9/4/24) … recorded 10 points and snagged 16 boards (nine offensive) vs. the Ivory Coast (9/10/24) … was a standout for the U19 squad at the U19 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Switzerland in 2025 … paced Team Mali in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg) and assists (2.6 apg) during the event … shot 57.5 percent (46-80) from the field … recorded four double-doubles in seven total contests during the tournament … nearly half (28 of 65) of his rebounds came at the offensive end during the tourney … torched Argentina (7/6/25) for 27 points (11-18 FG, 5-6 FT) to go along with 12 rebounds (seven offensive) … went off for 25 points (10-17 FG, 5-8 FT) and snagged nine boards (six offensive) vs. Canada (7/2/25) … notched a double-double (11 points, 10 caroms) against New Zealand (6/29/25) … finished with 19 points (8-14 FG, 3-5 FT) and 12 rebounds vs. France (7/5/25) … competed with Casademont Zaragoza in both 2023-24 and 2025-26, playing in Spain's Liga Endesa, which is considered one of the top-five leagues in the world … averaged a double-double (11.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg) with the U18 FC Barcelona squad in 2022-23, connecting on 44.1 percent of his shots.
"We are ecstatic to be able to bring Youssouf Traore to UTEP, especially this late in the process. He brings an element to the game that we need. He has excelled in multiple overseas leagues, as well as for his national team. His size, length and athleticism should all translate very well to the Mountain West Conference."
Head coach Joe Golding
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