Gambian Basketball Player Gains ground in USA

Pa Amadou Sambou was born in The Gambia on the 19th of September, 1987 and was raised in Serrekunda, The Gambia. He attended the Serrekunda Primary then proceeded to Ice Junior and Senior Secondary Schools. This 6ft-10 Gambian weighing 250 pounds started playing basket ball at an early age.

“Even if it is not for my height, I just love the game. My friends used to encourage me telling me that I need to be a basket ball player in order to represent The Gambia one day”, Sambou said in an interview.

“Consistency and determination is what took me to this level" said Amadou Sambou, who came to the USA through a Basketball Scholarship to attend Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina in 2003.

At first, I was not taking them seriously but as the years go by and more people kept telling me the same thing, I decided to take it seriously and followed it as a career. I have been playing for the basket ball teams of all the schools I attended in the Gambia until I came to the USA; I also played for Gambega Basketball team where I served as a key player.

It all happened in 2003, when Coach Rolando of Laurinburg Institute came to the Gambia in search of Basketball players to bring to the USA. “I was amongst the 3 lucky ones to be chosen by Rolando because he felt we had most of the qualities he was looking for” explained Pa Amadou.

“Dugo”, as some call him, attended the Laurinburg Institute for one season, where he found it difficult playing because he was not used to the American basketball system.

The following year in 2004, this dark skinned African descendent transferred to John Paul Catholic High School in Tallahassee, Florida where he played for 2 years.

Dugo’s basketball career took a complete turn, when he got used to the American basketball system. He averaged 15 points-15 rebs, during his first year at John Paul and was awarded the “District Player of the year”. He was selected in the All-State-Team and won a trophy as the “Defensive Player of the year”.

In his 2nd year, he averaged 13 points/15 rebs, won the “Defensive player of the year” and was selected to represent the State of Florida in the All-American Tournament. He is gradually penetrating the American basketball scene as he is becoming a high demand amongst high schools and colleges, all of whom are inviting him for visits and work outs through their coaches.

He has later transferred to Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina which is one of the leading High schools in the USA as far as basketball is concerned. They also have one of the best coaches (Coach Anthony Fozard) who prep them up for the 2006/2007 basketball season.

Amadou was a Junior Student in High School and he is working out with a lot of Coaches from different Colleges and Universities, who are interested in recruiting him for the next year. These Schools include NC State University, Florida State University, Wake Forest University, Penn State University, Florida A&M etc.

“Frankly, I have learnt a lot during my 3 years stay in the USA.” said Amadou.

He has the privilege to participate in many National Basket ball Camps throughout the USA and also had the chance to interact and be trained by a lot of NBA players such as Shark O’Neal, Laman Odom, David Wesley, Dekembeh Mutombo, Hakim Olajuwon etc. He has also shared the same team with Shawn Williams who recently went to the NBA, Langa Langa who is playing for the University of Oklahoma and Libasse Saye who also recently transferred to The Southern Oklahoma State University

Dugo has also participated in the Next Level Camp, The Basketball without Borders Camp, David Wesley Training Camp, and Las Vegas NBA Camp all of which were held in different cities.

At different times, Amadou and his teams had traveled and played in the following cities where they either won or did very well. He has traveled to North Carolina, South Carolina, Atlanta, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Detroit, Boston, Ohio, Louisiana, California, and Hawaii.
Amadou’s slogan is “appreciate-don’t hate” which is gaining momentum among his fans as that is what he screams while playing. His goal is to be drafted into the NBA, where he shall fully represent The Gambia.

During his free time, he likes to listen to music, watch movies and hang out with his family and friends. Currently Amadou is a good basketball player at Carl Albert State College in Oklahoma State.