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Trevor Mbakwe to lend maturity, muscle to Minnesota Gophers
Junior college transfer shows his stuff in the Howard Pulley summer league
By Marcus R. Fuller
Updated: 07/01/2009 12:21:30 AM CDT
After snatching the ball off the rim, Trevor Mbakwe landed in a swarm of defenders who hacked at him.
In the end, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Mbakwe was the bully.
He lowered his shoulder, took a power dribble and muscled in a layup against two players while being fouled.
The sequence was repeated all night during Mbakwe's Howard Pulley Pro City League debut last week in St. Paul — demonstrating how the junior college transfer should help the University of Minnesota's big men compete in the rugged Big Ten Conference next season.
Mbakwe's maturity isn't limited to basketball. The 20-year-old St. Paul native and former high school standout at Henry Sibley and St. Bernard's is learning to be a student-athlete and father. His son, Makhi (pronounced Ma-KAI), is 18 months old.
"It's been an enjoyable experience," said Mbakwe, who scored 25 points in that Howard Pulley game June 23 and had 24 points the next night. "At first, I didn't know what to expect, but it's nice. He's been motivational for me."
After coming back from a knee injury to play 11 games for Marquette as a freshman, Mbakwe transferred to Miami Dade College last season before returning home to play for the Gophers.
Establishing himself as one of the nation's top junior college power forwards was a lot easier than trying to stay connected to his son, who lived 1,700 miles away in Minnesota.
"They came down to a couple games and visited me," he said about his son and girlfriend.
Since May, Mbakwe, who lives off campus, has been home. His son has been able to attend more of his games, roaming the stands and sidelines at the Brother's Keeper men's basketball league in Minneapolis, and now at Howard Pulley.
Makhi has been around his dad playing basketball so much now that "his first word was 'ball,' " said Mbakwe, who transferred to the Gophers partly to be closer to his family.
It also didn't hurt to have so many familiar faces on Minnesota's roster. He grew up playing with junior guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, as well as incoming freshmen Royce White and Rodney Williams Jr., and the chemistry started building in team pickup games this summer.
"It's been really good knowing how each other plays," Mbakwe said "It's been a smooth transition, and I can't wait for the season. I'm glad to be back."
The Gophers are happy that he might provide the toughness and explosiveness they had lacked in the post game. Mbakwe, who has a 36-inch vertical leap, averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks a game at Miami Dade.
How does that translate to the Big Ten? ESPN.com predicted Mbakwe would be the conference's newcomer of the year.
"I think I fit in real good as the physical presence down low that they've been missing," he said. "I feel like me, Royce and Rodney can come in and compete and help them get to the next level. They got to the (NCAA) first round. Hopefully, we can go to the second round or even further."
Gophers sophomore guard Devoe Joseph called playing on Mbakwe's summer league team "real fun."
"You can see how athletic he is," Joseph said. "He's always entertaining. He can give you a powerful dunk. He's going to make plays this year."
He has made an impression off the court, as well.
"He's been coming out a lot to our open gyms and working out with our guys," Sibley High School coach Tom Dasovich said. "He's always been a good kid and exciting player. But I think he's just matured a ton. Having had a kid and being a couple years out of high school will do it."
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12727876
Go Gophers!!
Junior college transfer shows his stuff in the Howard Pulley summer league
By Marcus R. Fuller
Updated: 07/01/2009 12:21:30 AM CDT
After snatching the ball off the rim, Trevor Mbakwe landed in a swarm of defenders who hacked at him.
In the end, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound Mbakwe was the bully.
He lowered his shoulder, took a power dribble and muscled in a layup against two players while being fouled.
The sequence was repeated all night during Mbakwe's Howard Pulley Pro City League debut last week in St. Paul — demonstrating how the junior college transfer should help the University of Minnesota's big men compete in the rugged Big Ten Conference next season.
Mbakwe's maturity isn't limited to basketball. The 20-year-old St. Paul native and former high school standout at Henry Sibley and St. Bernard's is learning to be a student-athlete and father. His son, Makhi (pronounced Ma-KAI), is 18 months old.
"It's been an enjoyable experience," said Mbakwe, who scored 25 points in that Howard Pulley game June 23 and had 24 points the next night. "At first, I didn't know what to expect, but it's nice. He's been motivational for me."
After coming back from a knee injury to play 11 games for Marquette as a freshman, Mbakwe transferred to Miami Dade College last season before returning home to play for the Gophers.
Establishing himself as one of the nation's top junior college power forwards was a lot easier than trying to stay connected to his son, who lived 1,700 miles away in Minnesota.
"They came down to a couple games and visited me," he said about his son and girlfriend.
Since May, Mbakwe, who lives off campus, has been home. His son has been able to attend more of his games, roaming the stands and sidelines at the Brother's Keeper men's basketball league in Minneapolis, and now at Howard Pulley.
Makhi has been around his dad playing basketball so much now that "his first word was 'ball,' " said Mbakwe, who transferred to the Gophers partly to be closer to his family.
It also didn't hurt to have so many familiar faces on Minnesota's roster. He grew up playing with junior guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, as well as incoming freshmen Royce White and Rodney Williams Jr., and the chemistry started building in team pickup games this summer.
"It's been really good knowing how each other plays," Mbakwe said "It's been a smooth transition, and I can't wait for the season. I'm glad to be back."
The Gophers are happy that he might provide the toughness and explosiveness they had lacked in the post game. Mbakwe, who has a 36-inch vertical leap, averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks a game at Miami Dade.
How does that translate to the Big Ten? ESPN.com predicted Mbakwe would be the conference's newcomer of the year.
"I think I fit in real good as the physical presence down low that they've been missing," he said. "I feel like me, Royce and Rodney can come in and compete and help them get to the next level. They got to the (NCAA) first round. Hopefully, we can go to the second round or even further."
Gophers sophomore guard Devoe Joseph called playing on Mbakwe's summer league team "real fun."
"You can see how athletic he is," Joseph said. "He's always entertaining. He can give you a powerful dunk. He's going to make plays this year."
He has made an impression off the court, as well.
"He's been coming out a lot to our open gyms and working out with our guys," Sibley High School coach Tom Dasovich said. "He's always been a good kid and exciting player. But I think he's just matured a ton. Having had a kid and being a couple years out of high school will do it."
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12727876
Go Gophers!!
