SAN MATEO, Calif. – BYU’s Fousseyni Traore was rewarded his performance at last week’s Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic as he claimed both West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week and WCC Freshman of the Week honors.
Troare becomes the second Cougar this season to be named the Player of the Week and first to earn freshman of the week honors since Caleb Lohner on Feb. 22, 2021.
Traore was instrumental in helping the Cougars finish third at the Diamond Head Classic with wins over South Florida and Liberty. The 6-foot-6 forward from Bamako, Mali earned all-tournament honors after averaging a double-double, 13 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
He opened the tournament with a team-high 11 points and nine rebounds in a 54-39 victory over South Florida followed up with a career-high 15 rebounds against Vanderbilt in the semifinal.
In his first career start against Liberty, Traore recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. He went 6-of-7 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line as the Cougars defeated the Flames 80-75 and avoided losing back-to-back regular season games for the first time under head coach Mark Pope.
2021-22 WCC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
12/27 - Fousseyni Traore, BYU
12/20 – Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga
12/13 – Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco
12/6 – Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco
11/29 - Dan Fotu, San Francisco
11/22 – Alex Barcello, BYU
11/15 – Drew Timme, Gonzaga
2021-22 WCC Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Week
12/27 - Fousseyni Traore, BYU
12/20 – Mike Mitchell Jr., Pepperdine
12/13 - Houston Mallette, Pepperdine
12/6 – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
11/29 – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
11/22 – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
11/15 – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga