With three scholarships open for the 2018-2019 basketball season, the Red Raiders needed to add another couple pieces. They especially needed a big man, with Zach Smith and Tommy Hamilton graduating, Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens with just one year left, and Malik Ondigo developing.
Luckily, Texas Tech received the commitment of Joshua Mballa on Monday afternoon. Mballa is an interesting prospect and we’ll get more into his recruitment him in a second. Here’s his measurables and a quick recap of his recruitment:
Joshua Mballa – Power Forward (Putnam Science Academy, Putnam, CT / Bordeaux, France)
Height Weight 6’8″ 205 lbs Ratings: 82 by 247 / NR by ESPN / NR by Rivals / NR by 247composite
Interest: Massachusetts, Ole Miss, Seton Hall, South Florida, UAB
Now y’all are probably wondering, who the heck is this guy? Let me explain. Some of this info I got from RedRaiderSports, which is linked later in the article. Go check out Brandon Soliz’ story, he was right on top of this.
Apparently Mballa was born in Detroit, but moved to France at the young age and grew up there. Much like Davide Moretti, he played for the his country’s FIBA team, and like Malik Ondigo, he played at Putnam Science Academy last season.
However, he found out that he eligible for the 2018 class late in the process and looked for a team who could take his talents. This is why you might not have heard of him before today. Mballa named a Top 3 before ultimately choosing the Red Raiders.
Now I can’t really find any film on Mballa, but here is a link from the Putnam Science Academy that describes who he is:
2018 Joshua Mballa is a 6’8 monster with a 7’1 Wing span. Motor, Athletic, Elite Rebounder. Defended best player for us all year SG through Center. Elite Defender! High Majors and MM+ Level schools should be all over him! pic.twitter.com/FSaKjs2B1d
— Putnam Science Acad. (@PSAhoops) March 22, 2018
Links: Bradon Soliz of RedRaiderSports was quick to put out a story on this. It reviews his background, who Mballa is as a prospect and what he addition means to the team. Haven’t seen one from InsideTheRedRaiders yet.