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Texas Tech basketball: What the addition of Joel Ntambwe means for the program

By Matthew Conner

RENO, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 27: Tre'Shawn Thurman #0 of the Nevada Wolf Pack watches as Joel Ntambwe #24 of the UNLV Rebels takes a jump shot during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the UNLV Rebels at Lawlor Events Center on February 27, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images)
RENO, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 27: Tre'Shawn Thurman #0 of the Nevada Wolf Pack watches as Joel Ntambwe #24 of the UNLV Rebels takes a jump shot during the game between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the UNLV Rebels at Lawlor Events Center on February 27, 2019 in Reno, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Texas Tech basketball program has added transfer Joel Ntambwe, a traditional transfer from UNLV.  Here is an in-depth look at how this development could impact the program for years to come.

It is becoming more and more exciting to follow the Texas Tech basketball program, even almost two months into the offseason.  That’s because Chris Beard and his staff continue to revamp their roster in preparation to defend their Big 12 regular season title and make another run at the national championship that eluded them in April.

Having lost four seniors (Brandone Francis, Matt Mooney, Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens), an NBA early entrant (Jarrett Culver) and three transfers (Khavon Moore, Malik Ondigo and Josh Mballa) Beard has had plenty of scholarships to work with as he’s put together the next installment of Red Raider basketball.  And now, he may finally have completed the construction of the 2019-20 roster.

That’s because Sunday, the Red Raiders picked up a commitment from Joel Ntambwe, a 6-foot-9 forward who is transferring to Lubbock after playing his true freshman season at UNLV.  The native of The Congo, who grew up in Belgium, was a bright sport for the Rebels last year averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game starting at both the small and power forward positions in Vegas.  (To learn more about him as a prospect, check out our write up from Saturday.)

Though Ntambwe will have to sit out next year, his addition is a significant piece of the roster puzzle because he claims the 13th and final available scholarship the Red Raiders have to hand out.  And that puzzle has been rapidly coming together in the weeks since the end of the season.

Tech has added two other transfers, forward T.J. Holyfield from Stephen F. Austin and forward/guard Chris Clarke from Virginia Tech, both of whom will be eligible this season as grad transfers.  In addition, high school prospects Terence Shannon Jr., Clarence Nadolny and Tyreek Smith have also signed with the Red Raiders in the past month.

In all, nine new faces are expected to see the court next season for the Red Raiders including two redshirt freshmen (Andrei Savrasov and Kevin McCullar) and two other true freshman (Jahmius Ramsey and Russell Tchewa) who signed with the program in the early signing period.

Of course, the world of college athletics is unpredictable and more roster moves could take place in Lubbock this summer but the picture of the next Texas Tech basketball roster is coming into focus.  Now that it appears that the Red Raiders have put the finishing touches on their roster for next year, it seems like a good time to look at the potential short and long-term implications of the addition of Joel Ntambwe.

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