Sitapha Savané

{{Short description|Senegalese basketball player}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Sitapha Savané

| image =CJB 14 15 SITAPHA SAVANE DGL0602.jpg

| caption = Sitapha in 2015

| number = 17

| position = Center

| height_m = 2.01

| weight = 103 kg

| league =

| team =

| nationality = Senegalese / Spanish

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|10|20}}

| birth_place = Dakar, Senegal

| highschool = UN International School
(New York City, New York)

| college = Navy (1997–2000)

| draft_year = 2000

| career_start = 2000

| career_end = 2018

| years1 = 2000–2001 | team1 = Menorca

| years2 = 2001–2004 | team2 = Tenerife

| years3 = 2004–2012 | team3 = Gran Canaria

| years4 = 2012–2015 | team4 = Joventut Badalona

| years5 = 2015–2016 | team5 = Gran Canaria

| years6 = 2016–2018 | team6 = Estudiantes

| highlights =

}}

Sitapha Alfred Savané Sagna (born 20 August 1978) is a Senegalese retired professional basketball player. He was a member of the Senegal national basketball team. He played his entire professional career in Spain, most of it in the ACB League.

Early life

Sitapha Alfred Savané was born on 20 October 1978 in Dakar, Senegal, son to Landing Savané and Marie-Angélique Savané (née Sagna);{{Cite web|url=https://www.gigantes.com/liga-endesa/homo-politicus-recuperamos-el-reportaje-de-quique-peinado-a-savane-nuevo-fichaje-del-estu/|website=Gigantes del Basket|title='Homo Politicus'. Recuperamos el reportaje de Quique Peinado a Savané, nuevo fichaje del Estu|date=9 August 2016|first=Quique|last=Peinado}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.acb.com/docs/reportajes/sitaphasavane.php|publisher=ACB.com|title=La teranga de Kéba: #GraciasSavané|date=16 May 2018}} his father (a Muslim) has been a key figure in the Senegalese left-wing, while his mother (a Catholic) is a noted feminist and has been a UN official. Savané lived for a while in Geneva (where his mother worked), moving to the United States at age fourteen. He attended the United Nations International School, where he caught the attention of the US Naval Academy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/02/07/for-savane-home-is-where-his-heart-is/b7ef5503-dcaf-4bf3-af0b-69ad71599de2/|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Rich|last=Scherr|date=7 February 1998|title=For Savane, home is where the heart is}}

College

Savané attended the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 2000.{{refn|group=n.|He was featured in the book The Last Amateurs.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}}} In his junior and senior seasons, Savané was first team all Patriot League. He also led Navy in scoring, rebounding, blocks, field goal percentage and steals. He originally planned to not attend Navy, but when his Service Time was shortened he reconsidered.

Professional

Savané went undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft (although he was drafted 13th in the second round of the USBL draft).{{Cite web|url=http://acb.eu/jugador.php?id=B3M|publisher=acb.com|title=Sitapha Alfred Savané Sagna

}} He spent however all his career in Spain, especially in CB Gran Canaria where he spent eight seasons.

With Tenerife CB he won a Copa Príncipe de Asturias and a LEB Oro, promoting to Liga ACB.

He announced his retirement in May 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.laprovincia.es/cb-gran-canaria/2018/05/16/sitapha-savane-anuncia-retirada/1058527.html|website=La Provincia|title=Sitapha Savané anuncia su retirada|date=16 May 2018}}

Activity after retirement

Savané became a sports commentator for Movistar+ after his retirement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/desalambre/Sitapha-Savane-gen-politico-baloncesto_0_927058027.html|website=eldiario.es|title=Sitapha Savané: el gen político del baloncesto|date=14 August 2019|first=Moha|last=Gerehou}}

Awards

  • Hijo Adoptivo ("adoptive son") of Las Palmas (6 June 2016).{{cite web|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=123332|date=7 June 2016|accessdate=8 June 2016|language=es|title=Distinciones para Juan Carlos Arteaga y Sitapha Savané en Las Palmas de GC}}

References

;Informational notes

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;Citations

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