Ousmane Drame (’15) Hosts Basketball Camp in Guinea
9/23/2019 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Former Bobcats’ Forward "Grateful" for Time at QU
CONARKY, West Africa – Hosting a basketball camp was always something former Quinnipiac men's basketball forward Ousmane Drame ('15) had dreamed of – even back during his playing days with the Bobcats.
So Drame – who born in Guinea, West Africa – began to devise a way to make his dream become a reality. With the help of the Federation of basketball, he was able to set the guidelines for a single-day camp in Guinea's capital, Conakry, for about 50 local boys and girls.
Drame and the Federation of Basketball in Guinea devised a plan to cover the costs of shirts, food, and other necessities for the camp.
And before he knew it, the Bobcats' all-time career leader in blocks (217) had set a date for the Ousmane Drame Basketball Camp: June 30, 2019.
"The reason why I wanted to host something like this was to try and inspire those who simply just need a chance," Drame explained. "I'm from a place where people are less fortunate, and don't always get the same opportunities that I had growing up in America."
Drame wanted to give back to his community, he explained, and to do so through the game he loves.
"I'm someone who's from this place [Guinea] – and I've succeeded in basketball in the sense that I was able to get a scholarship and go to a four year college and earn a degree – and even eventually become a professional basketball player," he said. "I'm incredibly privileged, and the least I can do is to try to give back to my community."
Drame grew up in Guinea for the first 11 years of his life, then moved to the Dorchester and Roxbury sections of Boston. He played high school basketball at New Mission High School, then played a season at Marianapolis Prep before joining the Bobcats in 2011-12.
But even though he went on to finish his career at Quinnipiac with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, he never forgot about his roots in West Africa.
"In West Africa there are countries that have corruption and bad leadership, and there are many social, political and economical challenges," Drame explained. "To give kids a sense of hope and to empower them is an incredible thing. I wanted this [camp] to be something that could both teach and create opportunities.
Drame has played for four professional clubs outside of the United States since graduating from Quinnipiac in 2015. Most recently, the 6-foot-9 big man played for BK Ventspils in Latvia during the 2018-19 season – where he averaged 11.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
The forward has played for DS Joventut in Spain (2015-16), for Samsun in Turkey (2016-17), for Irooni Nahariya in Israel (2017-18), and most recently for BK Ventspils this past year. Drame also had a short stint with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA's G League in 2017-18.
Drame's days with Quinnipiac from 2011-15 were record-setting. He played in 124 career games with the program, which ranks tied for third all-time. Drame helped lead the Bobcats to 68 wins over his four years in Hamden.
And as an ambassador for the Quinnipiac men's basketball program, he says that he will always look back on his time in Hamden as a success.
"Going into my time at Quinnipiac, the idea of playing basketball professionally never crossed my mind," Drame said. "But the doors that [QU] opened for me, it's incredible. I became the best version of myself every day there."
"It's not just as a basketball player, either, it's as a person. The experiences I made at Quinnipiac are the reason I am playing professionally, and I'm very grateful for that."
Drame says that his previous knowledge about hosting camps from his time at Quinnipiac helped play a key roll in making his clinic in West Africa become real.
One thing he wanted to do most? Be able to provide the gift of competition.
"Being at Quinnipiac helped prepare me for the next stage of my life more than I knew at the time," Drame explained. "One way was just in the competition itself, playing in both the NEC and the MAAC. Growing from an NEC player to a MAAC player – and playing both against and alongside good players – that experience in itself is something that can't be replaced.
'I've learned so much through this game, and to be able to pass some of those things along through basketball is a special thing, really. It's deep in my heart, to be able to do something like this for these people."
So Drame – who born in Guinea, West Africa – began to devise a way to make his dream become a reality. With the help of the Federation of basketball, he was able to set the guidelines for a single-day camp in Guinea's capital, Conakry, for about 50 local boys and girls.
Drame and the Federation of Basketball in Guinea devised a plan to cover the costs of shirts, food, and other necessities for the camp.
And before he knew it, the Bobcats' all-time career leader in blocks (217) had set a date for the Ousmane Drame Basketball Camp: June 30, 2019.
"The reason why I wanted to host something like this was to try and inspire those who simply just need a chance," Drame explained. "I'm from a place where people are less fortunate, and don't always get the same opportunities that I had growing up in America."
Drame wanted to give back to his community, he explained, and to do so through the game he loves.
"I'm someone who's from this place [Guinea] – and I've succeeded in basketball in the sense that I was able to get a scholarship and go to a four year college and earn a degree – and even eventually become a professional basketball player," he said. "I'm incredibly privileged, and the least I can do is to try to give back to my community."
Drame grew up in Guinea for the first 11 years of his life, then moved to the Dorchester and Roxbury sections of Boston. He played high school basketball at New Mission High School, then played a season at Marianapolis Prep before joining the Bobcats in 2011-12.
But even though he went on to finish his career at Quinnipiac with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, he never forgot about his roots in West Africa.
"In West Africa there are countries that have corruption and bad leadership, and there are many social, political and economical challenges," Drame explained. "To give kids a sense of hope and to empower them is an incredible thing. I wanted this [camp] to be something that could both teach and create opportunities.
Drame has played for four professional clubs outside of the United States since graduating from Quinnipiac in 2015. Most recently, the 6-foot-9 big man played for BK Ventspils in Latvia during the 2018-19 season – where he averaged 11.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.
The forward has played for DS Joventut in Spain (2015-16), for Samsun in Turkey (2016-17), for Irooni Nahariya in Israel (2017-18), and most recently for BK Ventspils this past year. Drame also had a short stint with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA's G League in 2017-18.
Drame's days with Quinnipiac from 2011-15 were record-setting. He played in 124 career games with the program, which ranks tied for third all-time. Drame helped lead the Bobcats to 68 wins over his four years in Hamden.
And as an ambassador for the Quinnipiac men's basketball program, he says that he will always look back on his time in Hamden as a success.
"Going into my time at Quinnipiac, the idea of playing basketball professionally never crossed my mind," Drame said. "But the doors that [QU] opened for me, it's incredible. I became the best version of myself every day there.""It's not just as a basketball player, either, it's as a person. The experiences I made at Quinnipiac are the reason I am playing professionally, and I'm very grateful for that."
Drame says that his previous knowledge about hosting camps from his time at Quinnipiac helped play a key roll in making his clinic in West Africa become real.
One thing he wanted to do most? Be able to provide the gift of competition.
"Being at Quinnipiac helped prepare me for the next stage of my life more than I knew at the time," Drame explained. "One way was just in the competition itself, playing in both the NEC and the MAAC. Growing from an NEC player to a MAAC player – and playing both against and alongside good players – that experience in itself is something that can't be replaced.
'I've learned so much through this game, and to be able to pass some of those things along through basketball is a special thing, really. It's deep in my heart, to be able to do something like this for these people."
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