Mouhammadou Jaiteh


Mouhammadou Einstein Jaiteh, commonly known as Mam Jaiteh, is a French professional basketball player of Senegalese and Gambian descent. He plays for Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

Early life and career

In his youth, Jaiteh originally played soccer with friends, before beginning his basketball career at 13. After playing for INSEP for a few years, Jaiteh would participate at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, and then the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championships in 2011 and 2012. The 2012 championship had Jaiteh leading all competitors in rebounds per game.

Professional career

After being recruited by the Connecticut Huskies, Washington Huskies, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Virginia Tech Hokies, Jaiteh decided to sign a two year contract to play with the Stade Olympique Maritime Boulonnais of the LNB Pro B, where he would get more playing time. During that period, Jaiteh was considered as a finalist for France's Pro B MVP award, due to his performance of averaging 16.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, in 27.6 minutes of play per game. On May 3, 2013, Jaiteh ended up being declared the winner of the 2013 LNB Pro B French Player's MVP award, as well as the winner of the LNB Pro B Most Improved Player award.
In 2013, Jaiteh was selected to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit. During the competition, he would score 6 points and grab 9 rebounds, to help the World Team win the competition. Two days after performing in the competition on April 20, Jaiteh decided to officially declare for the 2013 NBA draft. He was projected to go between the late first round and the second round of the draft, but Jaiteh wanted to be convinced that he would be drafted in the first round by somebody. Ultimately, Jaiteh ended up withdrawing from the draft, because of that issue, and he ended up withdrawing alongside fellow Frenchmen Louis Labeyrie and Axel Toupane.
On July 28, 2013, Jaiteh signed a contract with the French team JSF Nanterre. Jaiteh would officially declare for the 2015 NBA draft, in April 2015, after trying to gain earlier recognition as a prospect in the 2014 NBA draft. A few weeks before the 2015 NBA draft took place, Nanterre would win the 2014–15 EuroChallenge championship, with Jaiteh helping the team by grabbing 7 timely rebounds in a close, buzzer-beating 64–63 victory over Trabzonspor Medical Park. As an early entrant in the 2015 NBA draft, he went undrafted.
On July 28, 2016, Jaiteh signed with SIG Strasbourg.
On November 8, 2018, Jaiteh signed a deal with Auxilium Torino.
On July 29, 2019, he has signed with Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League.
On June 30, 2020, he has signed with Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

Personal life

Jaiteh's father descended from Senegal, while his mother descended from the Gambia. Although he is of both Senegalese and Gambian descent, he does not officially hold any Senegalese or Gambian nationality.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

Honours