Gonzaga University Athletics

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2020-21): Played in 24 games, recording 151 minutes … Scored a season-high 17 points and recorded season-high five rebounds against Dixie State … Recorded 60 points on the year, having a field goal percentage of 62.9% … Contributed 37 rebounds, of which 22 were defensively … five steals … six blocks … Had a .552 free throw percentage. 

FRESHMAN (2019-20): Redshirted.

PRIOR TO GONZAGA: Ballo was labeled the top international prospect by ESPN's Jonathan Givony in 2019 ... He was listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports ... At the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, Ballo led Mali to its best-ever finish, placing second in the event ... He was named to the tournament's All-Star Five ... Mali fell to the United States in the tournament championship game, but Ballo finished with 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots ... It was the highest-ever finish by a team from Africa, and no team from the continent had ever placed higher than 11th ... Ballo played in five games and led the tournament in rebounds (11.8 rpg) and blocks (3.8). He averaged 17.6 points and made 52.4 percent of his shots from the field, which both ranked seventh in the tournament ... Ballo led the tournament in efficiency (27.0 EFFPG) ... He was one of only six players that recorded three double-doubles in the event ... He grabbed 17 boards in two games, including a 21-point and 17-rebound performance in a quarterfinal win over Puerto Rico. Ballo, who has measured with a 7-6 wingspan, averaged 21 points and 17 rebounds at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Argentina in 2018 ... In pool play against the Dominican Republic, he scored 32 points and grabbed 32 rebounds ... Ballo helped Mali clinch their first-ever title at the FIBA U18 African Championship in 2018 at home, booking their third ticket to the U19 World Cup and second straight ... In addition to helping Mali win the U18 African crown, Ballo also was named to the All-Star Five as Mali claimed the title at the FIBA U16 African Championship 2017 - the country's first trophy at that age group which gave them back-to-back appearances at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup ... Ballo played at the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City, and was one of the youngest participants in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, N.C. ... He stood out at the Next Generation Showcase during the Final Four in Minneapolis ... Ballo had a breakout performance at the FIBA U16 African Championship. He averaged 14 points and 13 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game in the tournament.