Gorgui Dieng, SEED Alum, signs long-term extension with Timberwolves

Gorgui Dieng grew up playing soccer in his hometown, Kebemer, Senegal.  He, of course, had friends that played basketball but the sport never interested him -- he dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player.  In fact, Gorgui really stumbled upon the game because of his height (he now stands at 6'11 and intimidates NBA players on a nightly basis as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves).  When scouts from SEED Academy noticed his elegant footwork and competitive demeanor, they offered him an opportunity to attend the academy in 2008 to hone his skills.

Fast forward to October 31st, 2016, and Gorgui signed the largest deal (4-year $64M) ever for a Senegalese player.  This was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance (even after departing Louisville early for the NBA Draft, Gorgui completed his degree online the following year while playing in the NBA).  

Today, Gorgui gives back to Senegal by returning home every summer to pay it forward.  Gorgui routinely participates in SEED's annual Hoop Forum event (pictures below) and runs the annual Gorgui Dieng Summer Basketball Camp in Kebemer, Senegal (pictures below.

For a more in-depth look at Gorgui's origin story, check out this article.

Gorgui over the years in Senegal

SEED Gives: Talibe Day

On Sunday January 29th, SEED GIVES (in partnership with a group called English Challenge), hosted a day of fun activities for the Talibes at the CNEPS center in Thies.

The purpose was to work closely with SEED youth and show them the importance of giving back to their communities and those less fortunate.  

English Challenge is an organization that aims to eradicate poverty and ameliorate the living conditions of Talibes in Dahiraas (a kind of boarding school where children learn the Qur’an).

45 Talibes from two different Daahiras attended the event. The Daara of Serigne Gallass Ndiaye in Medina Fall brought 30 Talibes ages 9-15. And the Daahira of Ndione Ciss brought 15 teenagers.

SEED youth took charge, mentoring children, leading trainings and helping the kids improve their basketball skills. One group even headed to the soccer field to play a few games and show off their talent! The day helped SEED youth work together with the talibes and forge new relationships through games, snacks and fun.

The Day was successful thanks to everybody’s involvement and great teamwork from SEED staff, parents, friends, and youth.

At the end of the day, SEED gave out collected donations to help the Talibes and their smiles were priceless.

 

Baye Samba Fall, SEED Alum, joins JP Morgan

Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, Baye Samba Fall (pictured left) always had a passion for school.  It wasn’t until he picked up the game of basketball at 13 that he realized he could combine these two passions.  He attended SEED Academy from 2008-10 and earned a scholarship to attend Wilson High School (Texas) where he went on to secure a scholarship to attend York College.  After injuries cut short his collegiate career, Baye re-dedicated himself to his studies with a focus on finance and accounting.

It was in the summer of 2015 while interning for SEED in NYC that Baye met SEED Professional Board Member and former Syracuse basketball player, Todd Burach, through SEED’s professional mentoring program. They quickly formed a bond, and Todd helped Baye over the course of the next year navigate his network and eventually land a Summer Analyst position at JP Morgan.  

After a successful summer, Baye was rewarded with a full-time offer at JP Morgan upon his graduation from SUNY Brockport University in June ’17.  

Please read below for a personal reflection from Baye.

From Senegal to JP Morgan by Baye Samba Fall

“I recall heading to the NY Offices of JP Morgan, for my first day at my summer internship the same way I remember coming to the United States six years ago; I was anxious, excited, and felt unseemly out of place, as if I didn’t deserve to be there. Growing up in Senegal, people don’t frequently have the chance to intern on Wall Street, let alone a major firm like JP Morgan.
 
From the very first day with JP Morgan, I was embraced as a member of the team and legitimately expected to make a contribution. I immediately hit the ground running, working on high-level material for senior management.
 
This internship may not have been possible without the incredible help and mentoring from Todd Burach. Todd went above and beyond to help me secure an internship — from resume and cover letter writing to tips on interview etiquette, his advice played a crucial role in me securing this internship.

I am really excited about my future.”

Fatou Diagne, first SEED Girl to attend U.S. University, signs with Purdue

Standing at 6’5, Fatou Diagne was never comfortable with her height until she discovered basketball at the age of 14.

Having grown up near the SEED Academy facility in Thies, Senegal, she aspired to one day be a member of the prestigious prep school (the first basketball student-athlete academy in Africa).  However, without a SEED girls team and limited opportunities for girls to play basketball in Senegal, she did not know if her dreams would ever come true.  When SEED Girls launched in 2013, Fatou was one of the first girls to attend the tryout, and impressed the coaches with her work ethic and drive to succeed.

Fatou entered SEED Academy’s inaugural girls class as a senior in high school - an extremely challenging year for Senegalese students.  Seniors are required to pass the daunting BAC exam (31% national pass rate) to move on to college.  Despite attracting interest from top universities in the U.S. to attend school on a basketball scholarship, Fatou failed the exam and was forced to repeat her senior year.

Fatou returned to SEED in 2014 and, to her surprise, was elected captain of the team.  She fought through adversity and had an outstanding year that culminated with her passing the BAC and earning a scholarship to attend Florida Gulf Coast Junior College in the U.S -- Fatou is the first SEED Girl to attend university in the U.S.

In her first year (2015-16) at Florida Gulf Coast she helped lead her team to a #1 National Ranking and a NJCAA National Championship.  And just this past month, Fatou announced that she will be signing with the Purdue Boilermakers, one of the top teams in the country, where she will compete for the next three years.

While basketball has played a significant role in her life, it does not define her.  Fatou wishes to return to Senegal after university and invest in her country’s development.  Specifically, she wants to create more opportunities for young women to succeed in her country and to make sure that all young Senegalese girls have the same opportunity to play sports and go to school like her male classmates.

Fatou over the years

Showdown in Miami: 3v3 Tournament

On October 15th, we teamed-up with Assist NYC and Fast Twitch to host Showdown in Miami, a 3v3 basketball tournament to raise funds for SEED programs.  Set in Little Haiti, Miami at Fast Twitch's beautiful facility, 8 teams competed in a competitive tournament that saw Team SEED take down Team Fast Twitch in the finals.

Later in the evening, the party continued at The Anderson where drink specials benefited SEED.

A huge thank you to all of our teams, attendees and sponsors for helping us raise $4,500 for SEED programs in Senegal and The Gambia.

If you couldn't attend, and would like to donate, please do so below!

Sponsors

ASSIST NYC         FAST TWITCH          THE ANDERSON         THE GALE          VISTA WORLDLINK

 

Event Gallery