Amar Sylla
{{short description|Senegalese basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Amar Sylla
| image = Amar Sylla (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Sylla in October 2019
| position = Power forward / center
| height_m = 2.05
| weight_kg = 86
| team = Bilbao Basket
| league = Liga ACB
| number = 43
| nationality = Senegalese
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2001|10|1}}
| birth_place = Dakar, Senegal
| draft_year = 2021
| career_start = 2017
| career_end =
| years1 = 2017–2019
| team1 = Real Madrid B
| years2 = 2019–2021
| team2 = Oostende
| years3 = 2021–2022
| team3 = Nevėžis
| years4 = 2022–2023
| team4 = Real Betis
| years5 = 2023–2024
| team5 = Löwen Braunschweig
| years6 = 2024–present
| team6 = Bilbao Basket
| highlights =
- FIBA Europe Cup champion (2025)
- Lithuanian League rebounding leader (2022)
- 2× PBL champion (2020, 2021)
- Belgian Cup champion (2021)
- Next Generation Tournament champion (2019)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|SEN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Africa U18 Championship}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 Mali|National team}}
}}
Amar Sylla (born 1 October 2001) is a Senegalese professional basketball player who plays for Bilbao Basket of the Liga ACB. He also plays for the Senegalese national under-18 team.
Early life and career
Sylla was born in Dakar, Senegal.{{cite web |title=Amar Sylla, el futuro del Real Madrid tiene nombre y apellidos |url=https://www.gigantes.com/cantera/amar-sylla-el-futuro-del-real-madrid-tiene-nombre-y-apellidos/ |publisher=Gigantes del Basket |access-date=3 June 2019 |language=Spanish |date=13 May 2018}}{{cite web |title=Sylla |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/baloncesto/cantera/junior/amar-sylla |publisher=Real Madrid Baloncesto |language=Spanish |access-date=3 June 2019}} Growing up, he preferred football but began playing basketball at the SEED Academy in Thiès because of his height.{{cite web |last1=Hein |first1=David |title=ANGT Finals: Madrid's Sylla aims to make Senegal proud |url=https://www.adidasngt.com/u18/news/latest/i/9jx3yu8oqg5vcxir/angt-finals-madrid-s-sylla-aims-to-make-senegal-proud |publisher=Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament |access-date=3 June 2019 |date=26 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=Overview |url=http://www.seedproject.org/seed-academy |publisher=SEED Project |access-date=3 June 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Senegal's Sylla: 'It's always remarkable playing for your country' |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/africa/u18/2018/news/senegal-s-sylla-it%E2%80%99s-always-remarkable-playing-for-your-country |publisher=FIBA |access-date=3 June 2019 |date=31 July 2018}}
At Munich qualifiers for the 2019 Adidas Next Generation Tournament, Sylla averaged 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and three blocks per game.{{cite web |title=Garuba named MVP of ANGT Munich |url=https://www.adidasngt.com/u18/news/latest/i/9fc8u53ovdvnsmd7/garuba-named-mvp-of-angt-munich |publisher=Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament |access-date=3 June 2019 |date=27 January 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Amar Sylla Player Profile |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Amar-Sylla/Summary/116752 |publisher=RealGM |access-date=3 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Real Madrid wins the ANGT 2019 |url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/880766/real-madrid-wins-the-angt-2019/ |publisher=EuroHoops |access-date=3 June 2019 |date=19 May 2019}}
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).{{cite web|url=https://www.bcoostende.be/nieuws/nba-prospect-amar-sylla17-tekent-voor-3-jaar-bij-filou-oostende/|title=NBA-prospect Amar Sylla(17) tekent voor 3 jaar bij FILOU Oostende – Filou Oostende|publisher=|access-date=15 July 2019}} He signed a three-year contract with an NBA opt-out clause.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27194973|title=Projected 1st-rounder Sylla signs with Oostende|date=15 July 2019|work=ESPN.com|access-date=15 July 2019}} He played for the Orlando Magic in the 2021 NBA Summer League.{{Cite web |title=El interior senegalés Amar Sylla firma por el Coosur Real Betis por una temporada |url=https://www.realbetisbalompie.es/noticias/baloncesto/el-interior-senegales-amar-sylla-firma-por-el-coosur-real-betis-por-una-temporada-27939 |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=realbetisbalompie |language=es-ES}}
In August 2021, Sylla signed with Lithuanian club Nevėžis.{{cite news |title=Amar Sylla van Filou krijgt een nieuwe kans in Litouwen |url=https://kw.be/sport/basketbal/amar-sylla-van-filou-krijgt-een-nieuwe-kans-in-litouwen/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=KW.be |date=27 August 2021 |language=nl}} 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.{{cite web |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Cavaliers Announce 2022 Summer League Roster |url=https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/releases-summer-league-roster-220701 |access-date=July 4, 2022 |publisher=NBA}}
On 4 August 2022, he signed a one-year contract with Real Betis of the Spanish Liga ACB.
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. In seven games, he averaged 13.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, leading Senegal to second place.{{cite web |title=Amar Sylla (SEN)'s profile |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/africa/u18/2018/player/Amar-Sylla |publisher=FIBA |access-date=3 June 2019}}
In February 2022, Sylla was selected for the Senegal national team to play in the qualifiers of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.{{cite web |title=Senegal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/african-qualifiers/team/Senegal#%7Ctab=roster |website=FIBA.basketball |access-date=25 February 2022 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.realmadrid.com/baloncesto/cantera/junior/amar-sylla Real Madrid profile]
{{Bilbao Basket current roster}}
{{Bilbao Basket 2024–25 FIBA Europe Cup champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sylla, Amar}}
Category:Basketball players from Dakar
Category:Bilbao Basket players
Category:Real Betis Baloncesto players
Category:Senegalese expatriate basketball people in Belgium
Category:Senegalese expatriate basketball people in Lithuania
Category:Senegalese expatriate basketball people in Spain