The “No Days Off” theme has been ingrained in Joel Ntambwe’s brain this off-season. The versatile 6-foot-8 guard/forward may be taking time off from the recruitment process.
Yet his commitment to becoming a dieseled-up threat
and developing a potent mid-range game is of highest-order. It’s an everyday
process for the underrated class of 2018 prospect, who has opted not to return
to Forest Trail Academy (N.C.) for his senior season. Ntambwe, who is from Africa and
speaks several languages, will pick a new hardwood home within the next month
or two.
“Right now I’m just chilling and working out and
trying to get my game better,” Ntambwe said.
“I’m trying to get my weight up
and get to 220 pounds. I’m developing a consistent jump shot. Because you know,
I want to go to college and be established right away. I don’t want to be a
five minutes a game guy as a freshman. That’s not in the plan.”
Ntambwe, who has entertained the lofty dream of
playing in the NBA since he left Africa for the United States, remains wide open.
The laid-back, soft spoken Ntambwe anticipates arriving at a decision in December of 2017.
A slew of
high-majors have jumped into the mix and inquired about the intriguing point
forward. Since electing to remain in the class of 2018, higher profile programs
have become involved.
Offers from Providence, Florida State, Wichita
State, and Wake Forest, among a bevy of others, are on the table. N.C. State, which
introduced Kevin Keatts as its new head coach in March, has expressed interest
but has not yet offered. Kansas and Cal have also been in discussions with
Ntambwe.
The key attribute that differentiates Ntambwe is his
passing ability.
Ed Cooley, among other coaches, have lauded his IQ and ability
to see the floor for a 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward. While playing a post grad
schedule at Forest Trails Academy, he was more adept at putting the ball on the
deck and attacking the rim.
“You feel the strength in how you finish when you
get stronger,” he said. “I realized coming into the year I was thin. I needed
to get stronger and get into the weight room so I could feel the difference and
get to the rim easier.”
Providence was the first to offer and has been
consistent from the very start, according to Ntambwe’s legal guardian, Dave
Caputo.
“The reason I like coach Cooley a lot, as I said
before, is because he’s not just a basketball guy,” Ntambwe said. “He’s more
than that to his players. He cares about Joel as a person and not just on the court.”
Despite speaking glowingly of Cooley, Ntambwe missed his scheduled visit. There were plans to tour the campus and meet with the entire coaching staff.
Ntambwe never showed. He’s said it was a simple mishap
and it was nothing personal, but he’s yet to anoint the Friars as a “leader” or
“favorite” in his recruitment.
“Once I have all my offers together, then I will
look through them and decide which is the bestfit for me,” Ntambwe said.
“I’m
playing with Team Loaded right now in AAU and I will see where that takes me
with recruiting, but the goal is to help the team win above all. It’s high
level competition and a lot of good dudes are on my squad.”
Ntambwe’s multi-layered presence, notably the fact
that he can guard multiple positions and rebound exceptionally well, has made
him comparable to former Friar Geoff McDermott.
Like McDermott, a highly-touted
recruit at quarterback out of New Rochelle (N.Y.) High before turning the
rudder over fully to hoops, Ntambwe is known for bullying smaller defenders to
the rim.
“The United States made sense to me because it was
the best possibility for me to make basketball my life and my future,” said
Ntambwe.
“Really, the opportunity to play college basketball at the highest
level is what I need. It is my aspiration. Playing at a high level and then
hopefully, when it’s all said and done putting on that fitted team cap and
shaking hands with the NBA commissioner in late June.”