Michigan State NIL Fundraiser Reunites Brothers Over 5,000 Miles Apart
Senior Michigan State center Mady Sissoko’s journey to playing Big Ten basketball was far different than his teammates. Currently the only foreign-born player on the Spartan roster, Sissoko grew up in the rural West African village of Tangafoya, Mali. In his community, education was considered a luxury, Sissoko would walk over an hour each way to just to attend school, sometimes without shoes.
His legal guardian in the U.S., Mike Clayton, described his upbring and character: “he lived in a village eight hours away from civilization where they had no running water or electricity. He would help plow the fields with an ox. He would pull the weeds and harvest the corn. He grew up a very hard worker, a very humble person, very respectful of his father and parents, and the village chief.”
Sissoko met Clayton through a chance encounter. Getting wind of Americans on a mission trip to provide ophthalmological care, Mady’s brother Souleymane convinced Mady to showcase his basketball talents to them so he could find opportunity in the United States. At this point in time Mady was fifteen and had first touched a basketball only six months prior.
The brothers rode for hours on the same motorcycle to visit compound where the Americans were staying. It was there that Souleymane pleaded with Mike Clayton and business partner Paul Olson to film his brother playing basketball and find him an opportunity in the U.S – they obliged.
The duo had little trouble finding Sissoko an opportunity to play due to his size and sheer athleticism. After an impressive prep career at Wasatach Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, Sissoko enrolled at Michigan State in 2020 to play under Tom Izzo. Now, thanks to an NIL backed fundraiser, Souleymane will be able to watch Mady play in America for the first time, eight years after he facilitated his brothers showcase in Mali.
This is not the first time that Sissoko has leveraged his Name, Image, and Likeness. International players are unable to participate in the NIL economy in the same way as their American teammates, due to restrictions on employment opportunities for people on student-visas, the ways in which foreign athletes can earn money are limited. However, in compliance with NIL regulations, the Spartan center was able to create a charitable foundation in his name: the Maddy Sissoko Foundation. Using his charisma and on-court abilities, Sissoko initially raised $50,000 and was able to change the lives of those in his home village by building a school and a well to provide the communities first access to both education and a clean water supply. Full story.
Hearing about Sissoko’s philanthropy and character, Spartan alumni Jim Gray was so moved that he launched his own campaign to further the impact of Mady’s foundation. Gray launched a GoFundMe campaign in January with a goal of raising $200,000 in efforts to help Mady continue expansion of critical educational needs and further develop infrastructure in Tangafoya. So far, Gray’s effort has raised over $25,000.
A separate part of the vision of the fundraiser was to provide a trip of compassion for Souleymane so he could finally see his brother play basketball. With great pleasure, Gray was recently able to announce that this goal has become a reality! Souleymane reached East Lansing yesterday and has a packed agenda for the upcoming weeks. This will be the first time anyone in Mady’s family has seen him play a game in person.
The Michigan State Athletic Department graciously covered the cost of Souleymane’s flights and further accommodations will be provided for by the Jim Gray fundraiser. After reuniting with his brother, he will attend the Spartan home finale against Northwestern on Wednesday. Then a friend of Mady from MSU will take him on a trip to New York City before heading to Minneapolis for the Big Ten Championship where he once again will be able to see his brother compete. The final leg of his trip before will be to Provo, Utah, for a visit with Mady’s guardian Mike Clayton.
Over the next weeks, Souleymane is sure to make memories and have wonderful stories to share, according to Gray, “Souleymane will find his visit amazing. He’ll bring back much inspiration for the kids and families back in Tangafoya, as they learn even more about Mady’s successes in the US and his continued efforts to provide teachers for their school and more.” The character of these two brothers is nothing short of inspiring.
Eight years ago, Souleymane made the sacrifice not only to drive and advocate for his brother but to lose Mady so that he could chase opportunity 5,000 miles away. Now, he will be thanked with the trip of a lifetime. You may not love Michigan State, but it is impossible not to root for Mady Sissoko, and all of those who have helped make his dreams a reality.
