His father is Emmanuel Thamba and his mother's name is Flarentine Soko-Pongi. 5 Kansas 80-70 in Big 12", "The tragedy that inspires Baylor center Flo Thamba", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flo_Thamba&oldid=1143412984, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 15:26. And for his son Flo, this wasnt going to stop him from chasing his dreams. That was about five years ago and far from the NCAA Final Four. Theres almost no explanation, assistant coach John Jakus says. Or write about sports? For them, it's just more like family environments, it's like having fun, like we enjoyed it. He could never do that with Thamba, because his freshman year was sort of a transition season for the Bears, who needed depth. He is a beat reporter covering the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos in addition to covering other professional, college and high school athletics around the state. 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. In a way, he wasnt so guarded when he got to Baylor because of the way Jakus had recruited him. He was tall, and the middle school coach suggested he play basketball. He was fine, he was normal, he was an easy-going kid, and then he ate this cookie and went over the balcony. In some ways, this made the process more difficult for Thamba. What were the biggest factors? 1Y; 0:18. Tchamwa Tchatchoua has even played more but theres not a hint of jealousy between the two. [1] His older brother, Levy, fatally fell from a hotel balcony in 2014 after consuming a marijuana edible.[6]. 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., If you sit down with both of them at same time, Jakus says, you see theyre really willing to serve each other and us. That was about five years ago and far from the NCAA Final Four. 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. Playing (for the NBA Global Academy) allowed me to dream and see myself in these shoes, Tchamwa Tchatchoua said. Its why Drew often redshirts his big men. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Check out this pick and roll between Adam Flagler and Flo Thamba. 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. After the last game happened, everybody kind of went home and just spent time with family. Find Tickets. Its hard to gain trust with Flo Thamba. How was he so steady? NEWS BIO SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS GAME LOG. The Oklahoma Sooners are Big 12 softball champions, once again, after an 8-2 win over the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday. It would have been easy to resent his teammate, who two years ago was behind him in the pecking order. Making it accessible, creating more wells and giving awareness to people who have an opportunity to make a difference to other kids and other nations. It was a moment of realization, he remembers. He was like I feel like I know you from somewhere, said Thamba, who was already at Baylor when Tchamwa Tchatchoua (pronounced CHAWM-wuh CHAT-chew-wuh) transferred there following a freshman season at UNLV. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [3] In his junior season, Thamba became a starter for one of the top teams in the nation. 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. 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. But, I mean, obviously the hardest part, too, is like the fact that they don't really speak English, so my brother always has to be there to translate. Wilson was driving a 15-passenger bus, took a wrong turn and tried to turn around but got stuck in a ditch in the muddy snow. 1Y; 2:02. He ran out of the room, tumbling over the railing in a hallway that overlooked the lobby, falling four floors to his death. I really didnt know what the Final Four meant before I even came to Baylor, he said. 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. Dec 21, 2020. So anytime hes locked in and hes flying around out there, everybody is going to feel it. 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. It's just like 'man we get to celebrate this thing together. It was early Tuesday in Cameroon when Baylor beat Arkansas in the South Region final and Tchamwa Tchatchoua got his parents on a FaceTime call while he was on the ladder cutting off a piece of the net. Youd never see him sulk. He said he didnt start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13 years old, and knew little then about the NCAA Tournament. When he got to Baylor, he had to pay dues, playing his first 52 games off the bench before becoming a starter as a junior and helping lead the Bears to the programs first national title. We already have the chemistry, weve been together for some time. For me, my mentality never really changed. The coaching staff as a whole, but for me the most important thing was my teammates. [1] At age 16, he moved to the United States to attend Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, where he played basketball for three seasons. Kispert is presumed to be a first-round draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, since he was one of the best players for the Bulldogs all season. He was the guy who actually was dedicated to me more than anybody else, because everybody else just thought it was more of an intramural thing I was just doing for fun. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. ANALYSIS. It's hard to gain trust with Flo Thamba. Player Bio. Its usually pointed at them, but he wanted to have a conversation, not only for himself but all the other guys that were there.. 10 prospect among schools from the state of Virginia, regardless of position. I was really emotional in that moment, he said. He wants to observe and understand your motives. By CJ Moore. But its not the same when you actually get to experience it, Thamba said. Complementing Thamba is another talented forward, redshirt senior Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. Posted on March 17, 2022. (23-11, 3rd place in conference (Big 12), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:49AM. Thamba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lived in England and France during his childhood before settling in South Africa. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But, overall, this is fun. It went to the guy who wants to take care of the team. Let's talk about Flo Thamba. "It's just a good feeling," Thamba told reporters Wednesday ahead of the game. Then he remembered Facebook. Cumulus and the Big 12 are not affiliated with this website. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. As he copes with the 2014 death of his brother, Thamba is splitting minutes at center for the second-ranked Bears. The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and it was a good showing for the Big 12 Conference. 212 by Dallas Cowboys in NFL Draft, Eric Gray Selected No. When we had lost to [Texas] Tech at home, that was a blow as far as us being undefeated and being at home. A person watching the game might say these guards are really good, but actually our bigs make us really good.. Yall ended the season rolling, how did you guys keep going and rally to win another Big 12 regular season championship? 2,007 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by DanaDane. Flo Thamba (0) Forward - Senior with 7-foot-5 wingspan, originally from Kinshasa, Congo; splits time with Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua at 5-spot Holds the program 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). Is there anything better than cold beer and baseball? [4] On 26 February 2022, Thamba scored a career-high 18 points in a 80-70 victory against Kansas. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Do you have a blog? Baylor vs Iowa State Cyclones Ferrell Center - Sat 3/4 Tickets as low as $9. Currently Thamba is an American Athlete playing basketball for Gonzaga. In times of distress, Flo says, you always panic and make wrong decisions.. . 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. 
Buy or Sell Tickets. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. CJ Moore 8 . Tchamwa Tchatchoua was born and raised in Cameroon, but moved at age 16 to Canberra, Australia, to enroll at the then-brand-new NBA Global Academy. Most players in that situation transfer. C.J. But, I mean, when I saw them for the first time in the stands, it was kind of weird. Sometimes all it takes is one persons encouragement to stick with it, and for Thamba, that was his older brother. Flos been playing since he was a freshman. I just felt like it really meant something.. Then coming in sophomore year and him getting all the minutes, I had no reason to be mad. The 24-year-old spent parts of his childhood in Congo, England, France and South Africa, moving around before emigrating to the United States at age 16. Copyright 2017-22 Heartland College Sports. Flo Thamba goes up strong for the and-1. Jeremy [Sochan] is like a swiss army knife, he can shoot the three, he could play the four and he could play the five. Thamba has the most Big 12 wins in program history (55) and is Baylor's all-time leader in both games played (114) and career wins (123). At Mountain Mission, he picked the No. When the time came, I sat down with my family and said, Here are the possible outcomes and possible decisions, and I made my decision based on conversations I had with my parents and with the coaches. And, yeah, just went out there and just played. It all depended on the availability of Tristan Clark, who was dealing with his own battles while returning from a knee injury. After last season, the process started to play out as it should. The 24-year-old spent parts of his childhood in Congo, England, France and South Africa, moving around before emigrating to the United States at age 16. He said he didnt start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13 years old, and knew little then about the NCAA Tournament. 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. own battles while returning from a knee injury. In different circumstances, last season might have played out differently. 3M; 0:17. When you look at the overall picture, why not? Because of his injury, Jon was able to spend a lot of time just working on his shot and his passing, Drew said. One of the cooler moments of this years tournament was when Flo Thamba got to play in front of his parents for the first time in his collegiate career, helping Baylor defeat Norfolk State in the opening round with 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block, and two steals. Im focused on, I belong and I can do this.. Powered by Capitol Presence & Olympus Cloud. The team starts off 15-0, youre at the top of the mountain. The two, who met in 2016 in Africa at a Basketball without Borders camp, share a special bond. It was more seeing him go down, thats what ripped me apart.. So why is he still here, starting now on one of the best teams in college basketball? But that truth, and those circumstances, were difficult. Let go get a third-straight Big 12 title and another national championship.. And it was overall fun to see and stuff.". I could tell hes a strong man, Flo says. Thamba was a good soldier and performed when called upon You never had to worry that hed be too nervous or how he would respond, Drew says but he struggled internally. Subscribe Now. FORT WORTH, Texas Baylor forward Flo Thambas parents saw him play for the Bears for the first time on Thursday at the first round of the NCAA Tournament. All-American junior Jared Butler and his backcourt mates Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague pretty much get all of the attention for top-seeded Baylor (26-2), which plays former Southwest Conference rival Houston in the first national semifinal game Saturday. Tchamwa Tchatchoua said at times he just sits down and thanks God for an amazing journey, and how things worked out to get him here. Thats always been a goal of mine, Thamba says. But for us, Im starting and then youre thinking, Okay the bench guy is coming in, but the bench guy is Jon and hes coming to dunk on you. Denae Fritz Announces Transfer from Iowa State to Baylor, Baylor Bears Womens Basketball 2023-24 Offseason Roster Tracker, Baylor Bears mens basketball 2023-24 offseason roster tracker, Baylor to Face Brady Manek, Tar Heels in NCAA Second Round, Saint Peters Overtime Win over Kentucky Upsets East Region. It was more like moments of happiness. Flo spent time in England as a child and eventually moved to South Africa, where he started playing basketball. While Emma was in attendance for that game, travel issues prevented Emmanual and Florentine from being on hand at Ferrell Center, according to team officials. There are no statistics for this selected season available for this player. Flo Thamba drops in and-1 for Baylor. 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. [3], Thamba came off the bench during his first two years at Baylor. @BaylorMBB @ALaForce pic.twitter.com/7HfIVbOtSI. We have everybody healthy, everyone is hooping, I felt like nobody could stop us. 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. As an athlete, saying big means championship, but thats just a little piece of metal. According to a police report, over the next two hours, he exhibited erratic speech and hostile behavior. Admittedly raw, he played at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va. for three seasons. The whole experience of filling out the brackets and the anticipation of the first game, all of that stuff, I never really knew it until I actually experienced it.. Even more. But after that camp, they didnt see each other again until a pickup game two summers ago, more than 9,000 miles away in Waco, Texas. He would definitely be proud, especially the level Ive attained and the stage Im at., More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. You just take with you a part of everything you see and everything you experience.. I definitely feel like we have an opportunity to be better. 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. He ended up at Northwest College, a junior college in Powell, Wyo. Entering his final postseason, Thamba and the Bears earned a top-three seed for the third-consecutive NCAA . I wanted to wear it in college, but they dont allow that. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Flo knows his father probably had his moments alone when he allowed himself to grieve, but he never saw his dad cry. 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. He was the one who believed in my basketball dreams, Flo says. He played his prep basketball at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, before signing with Baylor in 2018. Were still waiting on a couple of guys decisions, but if they do decide to come back then most definitely. Even after this game, when I see them again, it's not going to be, like, I'm the superstar who plays basketball. "Baylor bigs: Flo, 'Everyday Jon' help make Bear guards great", "NCAA Final Four: Baylor's Thamba honed his skills at Grundy's Mountain Mission", "Flo Thamba's Path to Waco / How Baylor Was Built", "Men's College Basketball: Baylor's Flo Thamba takes to the big stage", "No. But this game looks like a rough one for all the players with . There's still time to enter your women's March Madness bracket on the CBS Sports App, and big prizes are on the line! A lot of teams, they play basketball and then go home and do their own things. 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. People tell stories about different places and different things. You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard. He currently resides in Kansas City where he is a talk show host and program director at KCMO Talk Radio. Hes averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while splitting time with Thamba at the five-spot. 34 center by 247Sports. Flo Thamba throws down big slam dunk vs. Mcneese St Cowboys. Flo progressed quickly. Flo Thamba nails the buzzer-beater. Do you have a sports website? Flo's parents are mentioned in some places. 1Y; 0:18. Find out more. Thamba didnt necessarily need an explanation for why it happened. My dad always tells me, Hey man, you have that degree and you have all these accolades to go along with it, nothing can stop you, so for me it was just seeing the bigger picture. He was the No. 0.6. I took full advantage of that; I hadnt seen my parents in a long time so I was focused on them. Naturally, when you get on the court that translates over. @BaylorMBB @ALaForce pic.twitter.com/7HfIVbOtSI. The NBA hopeful has twin older brothers who are engineers, another brother who is in finance and a sister working toward a law degree in England. He made sure Thamba didnt use the circumstances as a crutch or an excuse. The Los Angeles Chargers love themselves some TCU football. For the first time in his life, Thamba's mother and father, Emmanual Thamba and Florentine Soko-Pongi, watched their son in a Bears uniform in person as Baylor looks to become the first repeat . Flo Thamba goes up strong for the and-1. If you go back through, like a Cory Jefferson, youve got to get really high-character kids that want to love Baylor and not rent us.. All-American junior Jared Butler and his backcourt mates Davion Mitchell and MaCio Teague pretty much get all of the attention for the top-seeded Bears (26-2), who play a former Southwest Conference rival in the first national semifinal game Saturday. His skill level is really improved. Other days he was a third-stringer. 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. Lets not forget about the five-star All-American coming in, so theres an opportunity to do something great.. 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. 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. 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. I just had to swallow that tough pill and lockdown right now and focus on school.. In four seasons, Thamba has appeared in 116 games with the Bears, averaging 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game. On Monday, senior forward Flo Thamba announced he is returning for his final season as a Baylor Bear. This ability to be steady no matter the situation is why Thamba is still at Baylor. Florent Thamba (born 25 February 1999) is a Congolese college basketball player for the Baylor Bears of the Big 12 Conference. 19 the age of his brother when he left this world. 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 is a member of the BBWAA and PFWA. About 30 to 60 minutes after eating the first piece, he told his friends he didnt feel anything, so he ate the rest of the cookie, which contained 65 milligrams of THC 6 times the recommended serving amount. It started last season when he began to study Gillespie closely. 0:18; See All. A CDC article in July 2015 notes that Levi had 7.2 ng/mL of THC; the legal limit to operate a vehicle in Colorado is 5.0 ng/mL. Try a week on us. Thamba had another older brother who would wait for hours after school to ride the bus home with him.
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