The Los Angeles Chargers love themselves some TCU football. I knew it was a big thing, but I never like I traditionally watched the whole Final Four, or watched the whole thing, Thamba said. He wants to play in the NBA, and if he gets there he plans to wear the jersey No. I was, like, Hey, listen, just be yourself. Flo Thamba Game by Game Stats and Performance | ESPN 10 prospect among schools from the state of Virginia, regardless of position. His twin older brothers are engineers. You can be down 20 or in a tie game, and Thambas expression isnt going to change. Thamba loves Wilson likes a second father. 10 Baylor rallies to beat No. Or write about sports? Levi Thamba, who was five years older, would stay behind at school while Flo practiced, waiting to ride the late bus home and encouraging his brother to stick with it. His father left him with one message: I want you to reach your goals. But its not the same when you actually get to experience it, Thamba said. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound post player with the 7-5 wingspan had four points, four rebounds and a steal in Saturday's 78-59 semifinal win . Then he remembered Facebook. The sales clerk instructed him to cut each cookie into sixths with each piece containing approximately 10 milligrams of THC, which was the recommended serving size. After the hot start, there was a rough patch of injuries and losses, what was that stretch like for you? Ojianwuna previously played for NBA Academy Africa as well as the NBA Global Academy before landing at Baylor. The Avalanche championship dynasty crumbles less than a year after hoisting the Stanley Cup. But given the circumstances, the day was about far more than just basketball for Thamba and his family in the end a theme Thamba says has always rung true in his household. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Kevin Durant moped. Thamba said his father, who works in customs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, wanted his children to have the ability to experience and see different things. The national champion sat down with me to reflect on this past season, as well as give more insight on his decision to return for a fifth season. Thamba has started all 29 of Baylor's games this season. The highlight defensive play of the game so far came when Baylor Bears' big-man, Flo Thamba, rose up to swat Corey Kispert's shot away. Weve got this. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thamba lived in South Africa, France and England before making his way to the United States in 2014. From the NBA Global Academy, Tchamwa Tchatchoua played one season at UNLV before transferring to Baylor, where he redshirted as a sophomore and appeared off the bench in 29 games during the Bears title season. With the support of my coaches, Im excited to return for a fifth season and continue working on my masters degree. Im focused on, I belong and I can do this.. He talked to Flo about his testimony, talked to Flo about the loyalty that Baylor has to their players, talked to Flo about Coach Drews vision and how it was a program of faith, Wilson says. He was bad. He gradually earned that trust. But Teague said both posts carve out space in the lane with screens that make it easier for the guards to shoot, and there are times when Tchamwa Tchatchoua runs the floor with the smaller guys. Flo Thamba nails the buzzer-beater. We were able to face adversity and we still stuck together.. Thamba joined the Baylor program in 2018 after playing high school basketball in Virginia, but circumstances had prevented his parents from watching him take the court as a collegiate player until this week, as he revealed to Baylor Insider earlier in the week. From the outside, they always feel like its a one-man position, but in reality, were a two-headed snake.. We have the ability.. Family takes center stage for Baylor's Flo Thamba in NCAA - 247Sports He currently resides in Kansas City where he is a talk show host and program director at KCMO Talk Radio. Its a combination that is hard to beat during the season. But, overall, its just amazing having them around.. He said that older brother, Levy, later went to a community college in Wyoming to study engineering, but died in an accident after trying a legal marijuana edible during a spring break trip to Colorado in 2014. It was back when the two still-growing and raw players from different countries in Central Africa created a bond because they both spoke French. Sit Down With Baylor MBB Forward Flo Thamba - Our Daily Bears But, overall, it's just amazing having them around.. But those guards know they wouldnt be where they are without the interchangeable 245-pound post players: the 6-foot-10 junior Thamba and and 6-8 sophomore Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who earned the nickname Everyday Jon for his work ethic and nonstop energy since his arrival. Jon in transition, I think Ive got like four 3s specifically this year because of Jon sprinting the floor, and the guard had to drop down in the paint for him, Teague said. Were still waiting on a couple of guys decisions, but if they do decide to come back then most definitely. After last season, the process started to play out as it should. The 6-10 forward, originally from Kinshasa, Congo, is coming off of his best year to date, averaging 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. He didnt speak English at the time, only French and his mother tongue. It's just like 'man we get to celebrate this thing together.'". Something had happened. Its why Drew often redshirts his big men. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hometown: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo High School: Mountain Mission School School: Baylor (Men) More player info A lot of teams, they play basketball and then go home and do their own things. . He averaged 3.6 points and four rebounds per game, helping Baylor win its first NCAA tournament title. Moore, a staff writer for The Athletic, has been on the college basketball beat since 2011. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Rounding out Baylors trio of African big men is freshman Josh Ojianwuna, a 6-foot-10 forward from Nigeria. I was really emotional in that moment, he said. Eventually Baylor coaches figured out when hes quiet, then something is probably wrong, but it has taken years of observation to figure that out. Cumulus and the Big 12 are not affiliated with this website. Flo Thamba: Wiki, Bio, Age, Basketball Career, High School In a way, he wasnt so guarded when he got to Baylor because of the way Jakus had recruited him. And this was not a kid who was suicidal., Flo was heartbroken and unsure where he would go from there. Its usually pointed at them, but he wanted to have a conversation, not only for himself but all the other guys that were there.. It is the first Final Four for the Bears since 1950, when there were only eight teams in the NCAA Tournament, and also the last time they had won a conference title. Whats going through your head at that point? Definitely the teams chemistry, the fact that we have a bunch of guys that love each other. He said he didnt start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13 years old, and knew little then about the NCAA Tournament. After basketball, I have a lot of things that I want to do. Levi had traveled to Denver with some new friends for a spring break trip. Flo's parents are mentioned in some places. You can learn more about Pete by visiting his personal website: PeteMundo.com. He had written an essay to qualify for an international scholarship program. Because of his injury, Jon was able to spend a lot of time just working on his shot and his passing, Drew said. In some ways, this made the process more difficult for Thamba. I knew it was a big thing, but I never like I traditionally watched the whole Final Four, or watched the whole thing, Thamba said. The police report, which didnt name Levi, said he was marijuana-naive. The coroner listed marijuana intoxication as a significant condition contributing to his death. Flo Thamba drops in and-1 for Baylor. VividSeats. The fifth-year senior with a 7-foot-5 wingspan is Baylors heart-and-soul, and the programs all-time winningest player (115 in games played). "He was the one who . Youd never see him sulk. It would have been easy to resent his teammate, who two years ago was behind him in the pecking order. On Monday, senior forward Flo Thamba announced he is returning for his final season as a Baylor Bear. He was being the biggest cheerleader and leader.. The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 6-7 season in 2023, the first under new head coach Brent About us: HCS is owned and operated by Pete Mundo. WATCH: Gonzaga Bulldogs' Corey Kispert Falls Victim - EssentiallySports We got to get our stuff together. After that, injuries started piling in and that was definitely tough. I always play aggressive and go out there and play to the best of my ability. Let's talk about Flo Thamba. I could tell hes a strong man, Flo says. Levi Thamba, who was five years older, would stay behind at school while Flo practiced, waiting to ride the late bus home and encouraging his brother to stick with it. Flo Thamba Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Thamba is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and he grew up in South Africa, before he lived in England and France and emigrated to U.S. in 2014. 1Y; 0:16. Thamba said he found himself having a lot of motivation to play well, and he did, as he scored 14 points against Norfolk State. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. His best game of the 2021 season came against Kansas, ranked fifth at the time, when he dropped 18 points and nine rebounds en route to an 80-70 victory over the Jayhawks. Emmanual focused on what was next. Thats always been a goal of mine, Thamba says. Thamba would end Thursday as one of five Baylor players to reach double-figures in scoring, shooting 7-of-9 from the field for 14 points in the victory against the Spartans. Brittany Tankersley | Photo Editor. MORE: March Madness bracket 2023: Updated viewing details for Sweet 16, Elite Eight games Baylor does a pairs shooting competition, and since Tchamwa Tchatchoua transferred from UNLV to Baylor in 2019, theyve been paired together and call themselves the African Connection., Thamba starts, but the minutes are split almost evenly . Flo Thamba, 6-10, 245, PF, Jr. (Kinshasa, Congo) Committed: Jan. 15, 2018 Thamba came to the United States in 2015 after spending his freshman year in high school in Johannesburg, South Africa. For them, it's just more like family environments, it's like having fun, like we enjoyed it. You can learn more about Pete by visiting his personal website: PeteMundo.com. I know somebodys coming in who is going to bring the same amount of energy. He was fine, he was normal, he was an easy-going kid, and then he ate this cookie and went over the balcony. Getting real minutes as a freshman creates an expectation for any player that his sophomore season will result in increased playing time and production, but instead, Freddie Gillespie, a Division III transfer, had developed into one of the Big 12s best centers. Flo Thamba - Wikipedia It was back when the two still-growing and raw players from different countries in Central Africa created a bond because they both spoke French. Wilson found out years ago that Thamba wants the truth. Just keep going. Do you have a blog? Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 34 overall center prospect in his cycle and the No. [4] On 26 February 2022, Thamba scored a career-high 18 points in a 80-70 victory against Kansas. We both know how much work weve put in to be in the position that were in, so when he went down it wasnt me picking up this load, it was more like, Damn, my brother went down. Hes somebody who worked his butt off to be in the position hes in and now hes hurt, so it wasnt about my role because regardless Im still going to go out there and hoop. I just felt like it really meant something.. The fifth-year senior with a 7-foot-5 wingspan is Baylor's heart-and-soul, and the program's all-time winningest player (115 in games played). The team starts off 15-0, you're at the top of the mountain. But those guards know they wouldnt be where they are without the interchangeable 245-pound post players: the 6-foot-10 junior Thamba and and 6-8 sophomore Tchamwa Tchatchoua, who earned the nickname Everyday Jon for his work ethic and nonstop energy since his arrival. Here's the final tally on Russell Wilson trade between Broncos and Seahawks, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Later, he woke up again and left the fourth-floor room and then returned, telling his friends, This is a sign from God that this has happened, that I cant control myself. The 6-foot-10 senior saw his playing time shrink with reserve big man . Flo Thamba goes up strong for the and-1. Flo Thamba - Men's College Basketball Forward - News, Stats, Bio and Kyle Newman is a sportswriter for The Denver Post, a position hes held since 2016. own battles while returning from a knee injury. And that had nothing to do with what was at stake on the hardwood, but who was in the grandstands at Dickies Arena. He came into it with expectations that he was going to play and play a lot.. Joined: Aug 3, 2017 Posts: 14,065 User Profile. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Im proud to have a Baylor degree, Thamba writes, but there is more work to be done. Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Flo Thamba, the high-energy athletic bigs who do so much inside helping guard-oriented Baylor, first met at a Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg, South Africa. Flo Thamba. When Im playing, usually when the starting big gets tired and the second big comes in, I know I can get a little active. Baylor Bears forward Flo Thamba (0) shoots over North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of a second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at. Buy . As an athlete, saying big means championship, but thats just a little piece of metal. Wilson has countless examples of Thamba in this role. You just take with you a part of everything you see and everything you experience.. Thats what separates having a good season and having a great season. The next morning Jakus rented a two-wheel-drive vehicle and drove four hours in 12 inches of snow to visit Thamba, who had just returned from a visit to Nebraska. With Clark returning, Baylor coach Scott Drew was going to give him an opportunity in the hopes he at least could give a sliver of what he provided as a sophomore. He thinks about him often, and then he thinks about his father and the example he setthat you have to keep moving onto the next thing. 14 UC-Santa Barbara in Fridays first round, with tip at 11:30 a.m. MT. After Im done playing I want to open up a nonprofit thats going to have a partnership to give clean water to Africa. It was a moment of realization, he remembers. The process at Baylor, particularly for big men, sometimes takes time. Copyright 2017-22 Heartland College Sports. We knew we were going to lose eventually, no matter how much we were winning, there are going to be one or two games youre going to lose. He wants to observe and understand your motives. Flo Thamba - Baylor Basketball - RotoWire