Mustapha Amzil

Mustapha Amzil
Amzil with New Mexico Lobos in 2024
No. 22 – New Mexico Lobos
PositionPower forward
LeagueMountain West Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-09-12) September 12, 2001 (age 23)
Kotka, Finland
NationalityFinnish / Moroccan
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight96 kg (212 lb)
Career information
High schoolHelsinki Basketball Academy,
(Helsinki, Finland)
College
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017KTP Basket
2017–2020HBA-Märsky
Career highlights and awards

Mustapha Amzil (born 12 September 2001) is a Finnish basketball player who plays for New Mexico Lobos in Mountain West Conference.

Early career

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Born in Kotka, Amzil started to play basketball in a youth team of local club KTP Basket.[1] He made his debut in Korisliiga, Finnish top-tier league, with KTP first team on 8 November 2016, becoming the youngest player ever to have played for the club's first team in the highest level.[2] Amzil attended the Jordan Brand Classic -talent camp in Barcelona, Spain, in March 2017.[3] He represented KTP until aged 15, when he joined Helsinki Basketball Academy team HBA-Märsky in 2017.[4] During 2017–2020, Amzil played in the second-tier Koripallon I-divisioona with HBA.

College career

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In 2020, Amzil committed to Dayton and moved to United States to start college.[5][6][7] In his rookie year in 2020–2021, Amzil was named three times the Rookie of the Week. At the end of the season, Amzil was named in the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team. As a junior, he averaged 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

After three seasons with Dayton, Amzil joined New Mexico in the summer 2023.[8][9][10][11] On 12 March 2024, after his first season with New Mexico, Amzil was named the Sixth Man of the Year in the Mountain West Conference.[12][13]

International career

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Amzil has made 86 appearances in total for Finland under-16 and under-18 youth national teams.

He represented Finland in the postponed 2021 Summer Universiade competitions in Chengdu in the summer 2023.[14][15] The team finished in 5th place, which is the best position in the nation's history.[16][17] Amzil has made 10 appearances for Finland B national team.[18]

Personal life

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Born and raised in Finland, Amzil is of Moroccan descent on his father's side. Growing up, he played football for seven years before switching to basketball.[19] His older sister Latifa Amzil is also a college basketball player for Detroit Mercy,[20][21][22] and his younger brother Abdullah Amzil has played for Finland U16 and U18 national teams.[23][24]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Dayton 19 15 29.9 .496 .382 .765 5.6 1.3 .7 .4 9.9
2021–22 Dayton 35 1 19.8 .399 .295 .725 4.1 .7 .2 .2 5.6
2022–23 Dayton 34 19 29.5 .442 .366 .795 4.8 1.7 .2 .3 9.3
2023–24 New Mexico 30 2 19.0 .409 .302 .821 3.5 .7 .5 .2 7.1
Career 118 37 24.0 .435 .336 .781 4.4 1.1 .4 .3 7.7

References

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  1. ^ KTP-kasvatti Mustapha Amzil aloitti jenkkiyliopistossa vakuuttavasti – kolmet harjoitukset, 22 pistettä ja heti koko konferenssin "Viikon tulokkaaksi", Kymen Sanomat, 5 January 2021
  2. ^ Mustapha Amzil teki KTP-historiaa nuorimpana pääsarjapelaajana — katso lista muista KTP-teineistä, Kymen Sanomat, 18 November 2016
  3. ^ KTP:n Amzil huippulupausten leirille Espanjaan — ”Helppo myydä valitsijoille”, Kymen Sanomat, 8 March 2017
  4. ^ KTP:n Mustapha Amzilia on revitty joka suuntaan — paras paketti löytyi Helsingistä, Kymen Sanomat, 5 May 2017
  5. ^ Mustapha Amzil sitoutui Daytonin yliopistoon, basket.fi, 17 November 2020
  6. ^ Video: Suomalaispelaajan ratkaisu sai kaikki sekoamaan Yhdysvalloissa – hämmästynyt selostaja toisti kolmea sanaa, Ilta-Sanomat, 27 November 2021
  7. ^ VIDEO: SUOMALAISJUNNU MUSTAPHA AMZIL RATKAISI COLLEGE-PELIN HUIKEALLA PÄÄTÖSSUMMERIN HEITOLLA, pallomeri.net, 27 November 2021
  8. ^ Mustapha Amzil siirtyy New Mexicoon, basket.fi, 22 April 2023
  9. ^ Versatile 6-9 Dayton forward Mustapha Amzil transferring to UNM Lobos, abqjournal.com, 30 June 2023
  10. ^ Dayton transfer PF Mustapha Amzil breaks down Miami ahead of visit, 247sports.com, 14 April 2023
  11. ^ South Carolina Hosts Former Dayton Forward Mustapha Amzil, si.com, 24 March 2023
  12. ^ House, Amzil and Toppin snag Mountain West Basketball Postseason honors, yahoo.com, 12 March 2024
  13. ^ Mustapha Amzil vaihtopenkin pistelinkona NCAA:ssa, susijengi.com, 15 January 2024
  14. ^ Chengdun kesäuniversiadien joukkuetta täydennettiin, Finnish Olympic Committee, 11 July 2023
  15. ^ Kotkalaislähtöisellä koripalloilijalla Mustapha Amzililla, 21, on kovat piipussa – Lähiajan tavoitteena on yltää MM-kisoihin ja saada himoittu varaus NBA:han, Kymen Sanomat, 18 July 2023
  16. ^ Rakkisudet historialliselle viidennelle sijalle universiadeissa, basket.fi, 6 August 2023
  17. ^ Lobo forward Mustapha Amzil, again, leads Finland to win in World University Games, abqjournal.com, 30 July 2023
  18. ^ Mustapha Amzil, basket.fi
  19. ^ 22 Mustapha Amzil
  20. ^ Latifa Amzil, basket.fi
  21. ^ Latifa Amzil Detroit Mercyyn, NCAA:n ykköstasolle, basket.fi, 5 May 2023
  22. ^ The Flight: A Presence On The Court And Around The World, daytonflyers.com, 8 April 2021
  23. ^ Abdullah Amzil, basket.fi
  24. ^ A.Amzil, scoutbasketball.com
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