Next Stop For Brentwood's Cissé Will Be Missouri Baptist

When 2011 Brentwood graduate Amadou Cissé begins college this fall at Missouri Baptist University, he is likely to encounter a variety of students with fascinating backgrounds.

But, it is likely that his story will still stand out as extraordinarily distinctive.

Cissé is officially headed to Missouri Baptist on a basketball scholarship after signing his papers. It is obvious to pinpoint the 6-foot-11 Cissé as a typical basketball center, yet he was introduced to the sport just over one year ago. His rapid progress has been remarkable.

Cissé averaged 9.8 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a senior this past season for the Eagles. He arrived in Brentwood via New York from Senegal, in Western Africa. Previous to that, his family lived in Mauritania, where a multitude of social problems led his family to seek asylum in Senegal.

By March of last year, Cissé and his two sisters had joined their mother, who came earlier to find work, in Brentwood. He still has his father and one brother back in Senegal. Cissé speaks English rather fluently already.

Brentwood basketball head coach Brad Kern earlier this spring that Cissé has an incredible work ethic.

"Although the game was somewhat new to him," Kern said, "he just continued to want to learn, and just worked his tail off. Probably during last summer he was in the gym seven days a week.

"He's come so far since we first saw him step on the court," Kern said. "He has been able to pick up things quickly and implement them into his game."

Brentwood lost to Carnahan, 65-51, in the Class 3 District 5 Tournament to finish with a 9-15 record.