Thats all we had, Michelle Weiss-Samaras, a spokesperson for the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, told Westword, a Denver-based publication, in 2015. At times that was really hard because you ask any player in college and all theyre thinking about is the NBA. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. When Im playing, usually when the starting big gets tired and the second big comes in, I know I can get a little active. 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. Powered by Capitol Presence & Olympus Cloud. Flo Thamba. His sister is in England now and working on getting her law degree. 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. 1 seed Baylor acro & tumbling wins eighth-straight national title, Mulkey wins 12th, Lariat TV News: Capital murder, sexual assault awareness and softball battling sirens. 17 West Virginia, drops series finale, 18-4, No. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. The plan was for Flo to move to the U.S. and live with Levi, his older brother watching over him as he went to high school and chased his own hoop dreams. On Monday, senior forward Flo Thamba announced he is returning for his final season as a Baylor Bear. Especially after the Villanova game where we just smacked them, I was like, Man, nothing can stop us now.. 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. Flo Thamba, Baylors anchor and all-time, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Flo Thamba, Baylors anchor and all-time winningest player, one of three African big men helping Bears title push, DUs Bill Tierney set to retire as sports most decorated coach, lacrosse icon, Grading the Week: Cale Makars big hit, Coach Primes roster overhaul and optics vs. reality, Joel Scott, D-II player of the year and Lewis-Palmer graduate, transfers to Colorado State. Thamba didnt necessarily need an explanation for why it happened. Cumulus and the Big 12 are not affiliated with this website. His favorite was during a tournament somewhere in the heart of Tennessee, stuck in a snow storm and late to a game. The tragedy that inspires Baylor center Flo Thamba 1Y; 0:22. 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. I sat out and could watch and learn, Gillespie says. He wants to observe and understand your motives. Because of his injury, Jon was able to spend a lot of time just working on his shot and his passing, Drew said. For them, it's just more like family environments, it's like having fun, like we enjoyed it. Even in the midst of that, that midst of him working hard, he was always happy. Tchamwa Tchatchoua was born in Cameroon and spent two years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, where he first played organized basketball. Flo Thamba - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Flo Thamba (Baylor) - Head2Head Sports The biggest reason for my decision was my academics. Thamba will give the Bears valuable experience down low, and the Bears are expected to bring back guard Adam Flagler, guard Dale Bonner, guard LJ Cryer, guard/forward Jordan Turner, and forward Zach Loveday. 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. C.J. Emmanual Thamba works in customs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and he sent his children all over the world to study. Before he injured his knee during Thambas freshman year, Clark had emerged as Baylors next star. Ojianwuna previously played for NBA Academy Africa as well as the NBA Global Academy before landing at Baylor. Those guys do a tremendous amount of things that go unnoticed on the stat sheet, Teague said. 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. Just be yourself, everything will take care of it. Devin Booker sulked. Drew says if Clark had been healthy, he probably would have played with two bigs more often, which would have meant Thamba would have been locked into that backup big man role and the minutes would have been there. 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. Flo Thamba, Baylor's "anchor" and all-time winningest player, leads That was about five years ago and far from the NCAA Final Four. Let's talk about Flo Thamba | SicEm365 I told the coaches Im not going to make my decision yet, Im going to spend time with my family. It was more like moments of happiness. @BaylorMBB @ALaForce pic.twitter.com/7HfIVbOtSI. Every day was a mystery. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Youd never see him sulk. Find Tickets. 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. 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. Follow CJ on Twitter @cjmoorehoops, Thamba is making his voice heard with the Bears. He made sure Thamba didnt use the circumstances as a crutch or an excuse. Baylor senior big man Flo Thamba announced Monday morning that he will return for his fifth year with the Bears in 2022-23. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Flo Thamba. He had written an essay to qualify for an international scholarship program. I was one of the first guys to go to the Academy. FORT WORTH, Texas It was business as usual for defending national champion Baylor Mens Basketball Thursday as the top-seeded Bears dispatched 16-seed Norfolk State in the NCAA Tournament, 85-49, to advance to the Round of 32. 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). On his other visit, Jakus didnt talk about basketball. The Los Angeles Chargers love themselves some TCU football. Team CONF GB OVR; Kansas . Just having that perspective, Ive seen a lot of kids not even have access to water in their household. 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. In some ways, this made the process more difficult for Thamba. He was the one who believed in my basketball dreams, Flo says. flo thamba brother https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty . He said he didnt start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13 years old, and knew little then about the NCAA Tournament. When [Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua] went down, how did that impact your mentality and the way you approached every game? He was the No. One day Tristan is in practice; the next day hes not. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. It was more seeing him go down, thats what ripped me apart.. 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. 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. The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and it was a good showing for the Big 12 Conference. 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. 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. Player Bio. Baylors coaches worried they were going to lose Thamba. 3 Bears, who take on No. Most players in that situation transfer. 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. And, yeah, just went out there and just played. A lot of teams, they play basketball and then go home and do their own things. 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. Flo's parents are mentioned in some places. . "More so for my mom, she's always supported me in a lot of ways, just seeing her and the fruits of labor after being away from each other is so special. 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. Find out more. 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. Flo knows his father probably had his moments alone when he allowed himself to grieve, but he never saw his dad cry. 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). Im proud to have a Baylor degree, Thamba writes, but there is more work to be done. But, I mean, when I saw them for the first time in the stands, it was kind of weird, Thamba said. Thamba, who has a 7-foot-5 wingspan, is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, grew up in South Africa and also lived in England and France before coming to the United States. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Thamba told reporters Wednesday ahead of the game, . Do you have a blog? Complementing Thamba is another talented forward, redshirt senior Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. It all depended on the availability of Tristan Clark, who was dealing with his own battles while returning from a knee injury. Can Baylor Bears Basketball Turn Season Around? Private Message. We cheer for each other every time. 34 center by 247Sports. In a way, he wasnt so guarded when he got to Baylor because of the way Jakus had recruited him. After last season, the process started to play out as it should. 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 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. And for his son Flo, this wasnt going to stop him from chasing his dreams. That still hurt on its own, but when we lost the second game to Oklahoma State that was when we were like, Okay, whats going on? A person watching the game might say these guards are really good, but actually our bigs make us really good.. 8. People tell stories about different places and different things. The first was after a heartbreaking loss to West Virginia in January 2018. Man, it actually worked for Freddie. Then coming in sophomore year and him getting all the minutes, I had no reason to be mad. 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. AST. Cumulus and the Big 12 are not affiliated with this website. He currently resides in Kansas City where he is a talk show host and program director at KCMO Talk Radio. Even more. FORT WORTH, Texas Baylor forward Flo Thamba's parents saw him play for the Bears for the first time on Thursday at the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Hes had lights on him and had to figure it out.. There's still time to enter your women's March Madness bracket on the CBS Sports App, and big prizes are on the line! 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. We have the ability.. Baylor vs Iowa State Cyclones Ferrell Center - Sat 3/4 Tickets as low as $9. 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. Flo Thamba announces return to Baylor for fifth season The Oklahoma Sooners are Big 12 softball champions, once again, after an 8-2 win over the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday. Allstate Mayhem basketball commercial: Inside the 'Overly Competitive Hey, get off your phone. Ignore User . 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. Thamba said he made many sacrifices along the way, but everything found its path and paid offI definitely want to add to (my own legacy), but most importantly I want to help bring us another championship. 1Y; 0:18. '". The 6-foot-8 Cameroon native sustained a serious knee injury last year. For me its a confidence booster, Thamba says. Hes different than a lot of kids now. As a sixth-grader in South Africa when just starting to learn how to dribble, Thamba had another older brother who would wait for hours after school to ride the bus home with him. 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. The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books and it was a good showing for the Big 12 Conference. He was leading the country in field-goal percentage, and the offense went through him. He is the coauthor of "Beyond the Streak," a behind-the-scenes look at Kansas basketball's record-setting Big 12 title run. 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. Try a week on us. But, overall, this is fun. Levi had a piece of a Sweet Grass Kitchen lemon poppy seed cookie, as instructed. 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. . Theres almost no explanation, assistant coach John Jakus says. That doesnt happen with 17, 18-year-olds who can request and then sit down and have a mature conversation about something bigger than themselves, Wilson says. He even considered it. The team starts off 15-0, youre at the top of the mountain. Thamba, who has a 7-foot-5 wingspan, is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, grew up in South Africa and also lived in England and France before coming to the United States. Thamba has started all 29 of Baylor's games this season. I mean, it gave me a lot of motivation, Thamba said. I could tell hes a strong man, Flo says. He was being the biggest cheerleader and leader.. 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. In January 2014, Levi moved to the United States to attend college. On Monday, senior forward Flo Thamba announced he is returning for his final season as a Baylor Bear. "He was the one who . 2,007 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by DanaDane. It was back when the two still-growing and raw players from different [] 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. Ever., He was confused. Do you have a sports website? Whats going through your head at that point? 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. Deuce Vaughn Selected No. Thamba, who has started all 28 games, and Tchamwa Tchatchoua combine to average 9.9 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. 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. Baylor forward Flo Thamba, HC Scott Drew await Big 12 play at ISU 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. Is there anything better than cold beer and baseball? 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. I never left boarding school, Flo says. 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. You can be down 20 or in a tie game, and Thamba's expression isn . [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. The coaching staff as a whole, but for me the most important thing was my teammates. WATCH: Gonzaga Bulldogs' Corey Kispert Falls Victim - EssentiallySports C.J. He wants to play in the NBA, and if he gets there he plans to wear the jersey No. It's just like 'man we get to celebrate this thing together. We got to get our stuff together. After that, injuries started piling in and that was definitely tough. [1] His older brother, Levy, fatally fell from a hotel balcony in 2014 after consuming a marijuana edible.[6]. "If we give him one more [award ball] we won't have anymore to practice with," Drew quipped. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Flo Thambas basketball career started like it does for a lot of Africans. (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today). Flo progressed quickly. He had expectations that I dont think his game had met yet, Wilson says. 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. CJ Moore 8 . Between Thamba, Tchamwa Tchatchoua and Ojianwuna, the Bears have versatile firepower in the paint. It was literally three athletes when we first started, and I was one of them. (I) kind of shot two air balls in the warmup. A former three-star prospect out of Grundy (Va.) Mountain Mission School, Thamba signed with Baylor as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite Player Rankings. In different circumstances, last season might have played out differently. NEWS BIO SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS GAME LOG. 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. 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. We also had LJ [Cryer] on the bench, and he was leading our team in scoring for the first half of the season. The reason I had that in mind is because growing up in Congo, we had limited access to water in general. It's just like 'man we get to celebrate this thing together.'". This ability to be steady no matter the situation is why Thamba is still at Baylor. To make a 28-to-something run against a team that made it to the national championship, it tells you a lot. Now you get a stretch big, someone who can shoot 40, 50 percent from three and that opens up the offense. The team starts off 15-0, you're at the top of the mountain. 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. For Baylor forward Flo Thamba, however, few games, if any, carry more weight than Thursdays NCAA opener. Thambas made 96 consecutive starts entering the tournament, and is averaging 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. Naturally, when you get on the court that translates over. When we had lost to [Texas] Tech at home, that was a blow as far as us being undefeated and being at home. [3] In his junior season, Thamba became a starter for one of the top teams in the nation. It's hard to gain trust with Flo Thamba. Let go get a third-straight Big 12 title and another national championship.. He didnt speak English at the time, only French and his mother tongue. 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. 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. 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. The 6-foot-10 Congo native is the lone starter left from Baylors 2021 title team and is one of three impact forwards who hail from Africa. One stop at a time. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, City of Tyler to host Summer childrens programs, APEC holds 3rd annual block party fundraiser, Texas baseball player hit by gunfire during game, Tyler and Longview Bed Bath and Beyond stores are, Severe Weather Special 2023: Before, during and after the storm, CHRISTUS Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week, Draft Day Preview Sponsored by Mission Golf Cars Tyler, Texas A&M Texarkana baseball player shot during game, Arps Demarvion Overshown heads to the Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys draft former Arp Tiger DeMarvion Overshown, Saints draft Mt. Thamba was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lived in England and France during his childhood before settling in South Africa. 0.6. But its not the same when you actually get to experience it, Thamba said. Thamba requested a meeting with Wilson to make sure the program was positioned to continue and to check on his coach. 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. 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. MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Baylor's Flo Thamba takes to the big stage Flo Thamba - COLLEGE-BASKETBALL News & Rumors | FOX Sports I have an opportunity to see those same guys as well as the talent coming in who are all willing to buy in. Thamba said he found himself having a lot of motivation to play well, and he did, as he scored 14 points against Norfolk State. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? Before he could process what was going on, the principal was at his desk. Fully healthy, theres no team that stood a chance.. Flo Thamba's Parents Watch Him Play for First Time: Look 4.9. Thats pretty unique.. Angry CU Buffs parents, confused kids who felt forced into transfer portal. 1Y; 0:16. A person watching the game might say these guards are really good, but actually our bigs make us really good.. Flo Thamba - Wikipedia We have guys that bought into the whole program, we just would have been different. flo thamba brother The other player who has not been the horse we expected defensively is Flo Thamba. Flo Thamba Biography | ESPN After basketball, I have a lot of things that I want to do. From the outside, they always feel like its a one-man position, but in reality, were a two-headed snake.. Something bad has gone on.. As a sixth-grader in South Africa when just starting to learn how to dribble, Thamba had another older brother who would wait for hours after school to ride the bus home with him. Is there anything better than cold beer and baseball? 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 . But he saw a bigger picture, Thamba said. He is a member of the BBWAA and PFWA. Check out this pick and roll between Adam Flagler and Flo Thamba. [2] He committed to playing college basketball for Baylor over offers from Illinois, Virginia Tech and Nebraska. 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.. Flos been playing since he was a freshman. It was just his composure and how he kept his head down and kept working, Thamba says. His father is Emmanuel Thamba and his mother's name is Flarentine Soko-Pongi. From watching his father, he says. 0:18; See All. Family takes center stage for Baylor's Flo Thamba in NCAA - 247Sports 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. Learning that lesson of staying composed, facing all your battles. How did you make the decision to return? 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. @BaylorMBB @ALaForce pic.twitter.com/7HfIVbOtSI. Subscribe Now. FLO THAMBA NEWS. He began smashing room furniture, lamps and the television. Thamba doesnt try to look too far ahead, but he does have one big hoop dream that would allow him to honor his brother. But he kept waking up and was incoherent, at one point talking to a room lamp. 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. Flo Thamba Personal Life. He currently resides in Kansas City where he is a talk show host and program director at KCMO Talk Radio. Education was always the biggest priority in the Thamba household. Just be yourself, everything will take care of it. And, yeah, (I) just went out there and just played. Flo Thamba - Baylor Basketball - RotoWire Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Flo Thamba's parents are getting to watch him play in person for the first time in his college career. He was tall, and the middle school coach suggested he play basketball. Baylor bigs: Flo, `Everyday Jon' help make Bear guards great But the thing that sticks with us the most was the togetherness we had. Thamba had another older brother who would wait for hours after school to ride the bus home with him. 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.