Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Villanova
A transfer guard who averaged 10.1 points per game while starting 33 times for the Wildcats in 2023-24.. Earned All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention recognition for his work at Washington State in 2022-23.

2023-24 Overview
Averaged 28.0 minutes per game while starting every one of the 33 games he appeared in (was not in uniform on Feb. 27 vs. Georgetown after suffering a facial fractue at UConn on Feb. 24) ...Led the Wildcats in scoring five times, highlighted by a 24-point effort on Jan. 30 vs. Marquette.

2023-24 Postseason Highlights
Added 12 points and three rebounds in a 70-61 loss to VCU in an NIT opening round contest on March 20.... Contributed 12 points in Villanova's 71-65 loss to No. 10 Marquette on March 13 in a BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal.

2023-24 BIG EAST Regular Season Highlights
Added 11 points for the Wildcats in a 66-56 loss at Seton Hall on March 6 ... Returned to the court at Providence wearing a protective mask, adding six points and four rebounds to a 71-60 win ... Sidelined by a facial fracture on Feb. 27 as VU hosted Georgetown ... Led VU with 14 points and four steals in a 70-54 win Feb. 16 at Georgetown ... Chipped in to an 80-54 win over Seton Hall with 14 points ... Connected on 8-of-14 field goal attempts for a season-high 24 points on Jan. 30 vs. Marquette ... Contributed 12 of his 14 points after halftime for the ‘Cats at Butler on Jan. 27 ... Scored 12 points in his return to New York City on Jan. 24 at St. John’s ... Notched his 1,000th collegiate point as part of a 15-point, four rebound effort on Jan. 20 vs. Connecticut ... Scored a season-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds in an 81-71 loss to St. John’s on Jan. 6 ... Grabbed a season-high eight rebounds to go with 11 points and four assists in an 84-48 win at DePaul on Dec. 23 .

2023-24 Non-Conference Highlights
Added nine points and a season-high six rebounds to a 65-56 in over UCLA on Dec. 9 ... His 15 points at Kansas State on Dec. 5 matched a season-high ... Finished +29 and with 11 points in a 57-40 win over Maryland on Nov. 17 ... Added 15 points and five rebounds to an 83-57 win over LeMoyne ... Scored 13 points and collected five rebounds in his Villanova debut, a 90-63 win over American on Nov. 6.
 
2022-23 Overview
Averaged 32.2 minutes,15.8 points, 3.7 rebounds while starting all 31 games in his third season for the Cougars … Connected on .372 of his attempts beyond the 3-point arc … Following the season entered his name into the 2023 National Basketball Association Draft pool before later withdrawing and transferring to Villanova.
 
2021-22 Overview
In his second season, averaged 7.7 points (shooting 36.0% from deep) and 3.4 rebounds (doubling his production from the previous season) ... defensively established himself as the Cougs’ best perimeter defender with a defensive rating of 97.3 ... scored in double-figures 13 times on the year including a season-best 19 points against South Dakota State ... came up with a conference best 16 points against OSU,  hitting three from deep in the game ... finished the season strong scoring in double-figures in 6 of the final 9 games.

2020-21 Overview
Finished his first season playing in 23 games while earning four starts, the first coming against Cal, Feb. 18, 2021 ... Averaged 5.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game ... went for double-figures in four contests including each of the last two games in the desert leading the team against Arizona with 12 points while notching 14 at ASU, the most in a Pac-12 game for the year ... posted a season-best 15 points against Portland State, Dec. 13, 2020, including hitting 8-of-11 from the free throw line ... Showed his proficiency from the outside hitting 12-of-20 (60%) including going a perfect 5-for-5 combined in the final two games of the season.

Abraham Lincoln High School
Originally from the Bronx, NY, moved to Denver, Colo. to complete his high school career at Abraham Lincoln HS ... led the Lancers to a Great 8 run in the Colorado 4A State Tournament as a senior ... named First Team All-State by CHSAA and Basketball Colo. as well as All-Colorado by Basketball Colo. ... averaged nearly 24 ppg while grabbing 10 rpg as a senior ... as junior, averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists earning him First Team All-Denver Prep League honors ... graduated with honors.

Personal
Ahmed Tijani Bamba is the son of Sanah and Mahmoud Cisse ... has five siblings, Najat, Jibril, Idris, Jahan, and Suhailah