Head coach Fran McCaffery announced on Tuesday that Seydou Traore (SAY-Doo Tray-Orrie), a transfer from Manhattan College, has signed a scholarship tender with the University of Iowa men’s basketball team. Traore will be able to play for the Hawkeyes for three years.
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward was named to the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie Team during his rookie campaign with the Jaspers, where he averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 62 assists, and 34 blocks. In 32.4 minutes per game, he shot.433 from the field and 80% from the free throw line.
Among the players in the MAAC, Traore was the only one with at least 300 points, 200 rebounds, 60 assists, 40 steals, and 30 blocks. In addition to ranking second in the conference in rebounds, seventh in thefts, and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio, his 1.3 blocks per game led the league.
For the majority of the season, Traore led all freshmen in the country in rebounds, and with 8.2 rebounds per game, he finished third.
“We are thrilled to have Seydou join the Iowa basketball team,” McCaffery stated. “His general athleticism gives him a full skill set. He is a talented player who will give our squad tenacity, defence, and rebounding.
“I felt right at home on campus.” COACH McCaffery is aware of my goals, therefore it was a perfect fit for me to advance in my basketball career. PARTICIPATING IN THE IOWA SYSTEM WILL BE AMAZING FOR ME TO SHOWCASES MY ATHLETICISM. I can’t wait to demonstrate my whole skill set, win games, and play in any conference.
For the Jaspers, Traore made 28 appearances, 27 of which were starts. He scored in double digits in eighteen games and had ten games with ten or more rebounds, for a total of six double-doubles, which was good for third place in the MAAC.
The native of New York, New York, began his career with five straight games in double digits, including his collegiate debut with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. He concluded with a 13-point, eight-rebound performance against No. 5 UConn and a 16-point, eight-rebound performance against No. 1 Kansas.
He posted a career-high 20 points vs Iona and scored 15 or more points ten times. Against Farleigh Dickinson, Traore ended with nine points, seventeen rebounds, four blocks, and four assists. In 14 games, he recorded three or more assists, and in seven, he recorded three or more steals.
When Traore visited the school, “it felt right.” It was a perfect fit for me to advance my basketball career because Coach McCaffery is aware of my goals. It will be fantastic to participate in the Iowa system and show off my athletic abilities. I can’t wait to prove that I can compete in any conference, win, and use all of my skills.
Traore, who attended Our Saviour Lutheran School in New York, was originally from Mali. He played for the AAU teams of the New York Lightning and the New York Dragon.
