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Texas Tech basketball: These six newcomers will be critical in 2018-19

By Matthew Conner

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Raider Red is seen before the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Butler Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 17, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Raider Red is seen before the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Butler Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 17, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Josh Mballa: Forward 6-foot-7, 215-pounds

Adding some physicality to the roster is forward Josh Mballa.  The native of Bordeaux, France is not they typical European player as he is known more for his athleticism, energy and defense than for his offensive game.

A product of Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, the same school that produced sophomore forward Malik Ondigo, Mballa represented France in the FIBA U17 World Championships in 2016 and the FIBA U18 European Championships in 2017.

This seems like the type of player that Chris Beard will love.  The first thing mentioned on virtually every scouting report is his toughness, which will serve him well in the rugged Big 12.

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"“Josh is one of the toughest players that has come through our program,” said his high school coach Tom Espinosa. “His combination of strength, athleticism, and versatility makes him extremely unique. This is a late steal and a great fit for both Josh and Texas Tech.”"

Don’t expect Mballa to be much in the way of a scorer.  In that regard, he is certainly a project.  However, he should see action this year as a defensive stopper and defender capable of checking bigger forwards, of which there is always plenty in the Big 12.

In some ways, Mballa is a throw-back type of forward.  He likes to get into the post and bang around using his strength to his advantage.

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Mballa could be looked at as the future replacement for senior forward Norense Odiase who also arrived as a bit of a project known for his defense and physicality.  Odiase and Mballa may be the duo that Chris Beard throws at some of the more physical big men in the Big 12 like Sag Konate of West Virginia or Cam Lard of Iowa State.

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