<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Hddsp_0w3YW6Sm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Hddsp_0w3YW6Sm00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: © Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure><a href="https://247sports.com/Player/andrej-stojakovic-46117544/">Andrej Stojakovic</a> wasn't the only newcomer representing the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/california/">California Golden Bears</a> at Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days this week.Head coach <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/mark-madsen-5306/">Mark Madsen</a> also brought out one more prized transfer in former <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/">Michigan State Spartans</a> center <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/mady-sissoko-46051902/">Mady Sissoko</a> – making the former MSU four-star signing and the Ex-Stanford Cardinal as the Cal player representatives in Charlotte. But for the 6-foot-9 Sissoko, he got asked immediately what drew him to Berkeley for his final season of eligibility. "The coach is the reason, and the transition to going to the ACC and how we're going to be competing every single night with the high-level teams," Sissoko said. Turns out Sissoko had two reasons for wanting to put on the Golden Bears uniform. But one more reason involves getting Cal to rise against what's expected to be an even more stout lineup of nightly challenges in the ACC with <a href="https://247sports.com/college/duke/">Duke</a>, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/">North Carolina</a>, Notre Dame, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/miami/">Miami</a> among the obstacles on the horizon. "I want to be part of that goal. I feel like we all have the same goal," Sissoko said. Even as a four-year letterman, Sissoko has one more motivation ahead of 2024-25. "To grow as a player too. I feel like I haven't seen the ceiling of me yet. I'm going to definitely grow as a player," he said. Sissoko first arrived at East Lansing (Mich.) as the state of Utah's No. 1 overall prospect for the 2020 class by 247Sports composite. He was also the nation's ninth-ranked center for his graduating class. However, he averaged only 2.8 points per game and collected 3.7 rebounds in his four seasons with MSU. He also didn't get a chance to start until his third season in college. Now, he'll aim for more minutes and provide new leadership for a Cal team entering a new conference. Sissoko is additionally aware that he's not entering Haas Pavilion as the youngest in the room. He's the eldest – meaning he knows he's got to set a strong example every time he's inside the building. "Just to understand you have to be every guy every single day, you have to bring it to practice every single day. The practice is something you can improve, and it's a chance for you to improve every single day, which our coaching staff and Coach Madsen are doing a very good job to help us, even though we have a lot of new faces, to help us to play together every single day," Sissoko said. Sissoko Shares Personal Foundation The former Spartan even used his new platform to dive into his personal foundation. He became known nationally for creating the Mady Sissoko Foundation on Jan. 5, 2024, which was created to help kids with their education in his native homeland of Mali. "I created a foundation three years ago with my guardian Mike Clayton, and the reason was because when NIL came, I wasn't able to make money for myself due to my visa. I was able to create a foundation," Sissoko said. "That way, I can give back to my family and which lead to build a school and run waters for my village."Sissoko updated where the vision currently stands. "The progress I have has been, just, help those kids to go to school because when I grow up, I have to walk a long way to go to school. I want to see them wake up to go to school and just like walk five minutes, which is going to help them, and their learning ability," Sissoko said. Outside of improving the educational aspect, he wants to see improvement in water. "Cleaner water is very, very important over there because there's not much clean water," he said. "For them to have the fresh running water, that was a very, very big-time for them."Sissoko had a goal of raising more than $50,000 through his foundation. He launched the campaign during a time he was still with the Spartans. More information <a href="https://madysissokofoundation.org/">on the foundation can be found at madysissokofoundation.org/.</a></div></body>

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New Golden Bear Mady Sissoko breaks down move from Michigan State to Cal

Andrej Stojakovic wasn't the only newcomer representing the California Golden Bears at Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days this week. Head coach Mark Madsen also brought out one more prized transfer in former Michigan State Spartans center Mady Sissoko – making the former MSU four-star signing and the Ex-Stanford Cardinal as the Cal player representatives in Charlotte.

New Golden Bear Mady Sissoko breaks down move from Michigan State to Cal

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