Moussa Cisse

Moussa Cissé Bio

Moussa Cissé (born 10 September 2002) is a Guinean basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Cissé was a consensus five-star recruit and is recognized as one of the best centers in the 2020 class.

Early Life and Background

Cissé was born in Conakry, Guinea, and lived there until the age of 14, when he moved to New York. Growing up, he initially played soccer before transitioning to basketball. He began his high school basketball career at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, where he played alongside Precious Achiuwa. After two years, he transferred to Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, New York, where he was teammates with Kofi Cockburn. During his sophomore year, Cissé led his team to the Class AA state title game. For his junior season, he moved to Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee. On November 25, 2019, Cissé recorded an impressive 31 points, 22 rebounds, and 21 blocks, breaking the Shelby County single-game blocks record that had stood since 1976-77. He led Lausanne to the Division II-A state championship, earning the title of most valuable player after a standout performance in the final. His junior year statistics included an average of 18.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 9.2 blocks per game, which earned him the Division II-A Tennessee Mr. Basketball honors.

Path to Basketball

Cissé was recognized as a consensus five-star recruit by major recruiting services and was ranked among the top 10 players in the 2021 recruiting class. On May 27, 2020, he announced his decision to graduate from high school a year early and reclassify to the 2020 class while maintaining his five-star status. He committed to play college basketball for the University of Memphis on July 15, 2020, drawn to the program by head coach Penny Hardaway and former high school teammate Precious Achiuwa, who had played for Memphis the previous season.

Moussa Cissé Career

Early Career (2020–2021)

At Memphis, Cissé made an immediate impact, posting his first double-double on December 2, 2020, with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a victory over Arkansas State. In his freshman year, he averaged 6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, which earned him the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors. On April 6, 2021, Cissé declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility but later withdrew and entered the transfer portal.

Breakthrough (2021–2023)

After transferring to Oklahoma State on July 15, 2021, Cissé continued to develop his skills. In his sophomore year, he was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the honor with two other players. He averaged 7.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game during this season. Cissé’s junior year saw him named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, further solidifying his reputation as a defensive powerhouse. After the 2022-23 season, he entered the transfer portal again and committed to play for Ole Miss, before eventually returning to Memphis for the 2024-25 season.

Notable Works and Milestones

Cissé’s career highlights include winning the NIT championship in 2021, being named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, and earning spots on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team in both 2022 and 2023. He was also recognized as the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and received the Tennessee Mr. Basketball award in 2020.

Moussa Cissé Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Moussa Cissé has received several nominations and honors, including recognition as a consensus five-star recruit and various conference awards during his college career.

Moussa Cissé Awards Won

Cissé has achieved notable accolades including the NIT championship in 2021 and multiple defensive player honors during his time in college basketball. His accomplishments reflect his skill and dedication to the sport.