The anchor for a young, but experienced Gonzaga team entering the 2026-27 season, Mbuymba has spent the spring/summer improving his body and conditioning. The results are pretty drastic and the production has followed with his steady numbers in E16 play for Team Takeover . The Eagles enter this season as one of the sneaky, dark horse type of teams who can muster a potential run in the WCAC. Mbuyamba quietly churned out double-doubles as a sophomore with his elite ability to establish and maintain leverage on the block. He cleans up misses on the offensive glass, hauls in defensive rebounds in bulk and poses as a score or passing threat in the post. What he lacks in positional size, he makes up for with high-level instincts, touch and motor.

Similar to MD, it isn’t often that a non-senior takes this award, but if I had to bet on one to be in the mix for it, it’s Mbuyamba. I think Gonzaga enters this season as a potential dark horse in the WCAC. While their roster is still filled with youth, that youth is experienced and showed some real promise last season in their first under head coach Keith Urgo. One of the consistent themes with the Eagles in 2025-26 was Mbuyamba’s production inside. While he’s slightly undersized as a big projecting to the next level, his instincts, ability create/maintain leverage and control the glass is something any high school program longs for in their 4/5 man. He has soft touch over either shoulder, can make plays from the high-post as a scorer or passer and provides the presence as an anchor defensively. He stacked double-doubles last season and now coming off a strong spring/summer on the E16 Circuit with Team Takeover , I fully expect Mbuyamba to take that next step and lead Gonzaga to contention.

For bigs who prefer to do their work on the block with their back to the basket, these events can sometimes be tricky to showcase the full arsenal given the tendency of guards to dominate the ball. Mbuyamba made the most out of his post touches both as a scorer and passer, but also created opportunities for himself to operate in short rolls out on ball screen actions. The 6’6″ forward is a high-level processor who understands how to use his sturdy, improved frame to command space and leverage in the paint. He can process cutters or defensive disguises quickly and was also a presence on the offensive glass, which was another way he generated points for himself without demanding the ball.

Mbuyamba makes the biggest jump in our top-10 and while there could be a lot of movement from this spot until about 11-12 throughout the next few updates, the production from the Gonzaga product is impossible to ignore. The 6’6″ Gonzaga product is coming off a great showing in Vegas during EYBL play for Takeover 16s where he averaged 14.5PPG and 9.7RPG on 78.3 percent shooting from the field. Mbuyamba does his damage around the rim where he brings high-level instincts when it comes to establishing and maintaining leverage on the block for post touches. The southpaw has textbook footwork, patience and soft touch to finish in ways that make it tough for the taller bigs to deflect. One aspect that he’ll need to improve on moving forward is his success at the charity stripe. Because he’s so effective at maintaining physicality, earns regular trips to the line and could’ve logged even more impressive numbers if he converted with efficiency. To no surprise, he’ll be the anchor for a Gonzaga team who has a change to make real noise in the WCAC this season

11p 3r 5a 1b vs Sidwell

-One of the most joyful teammates that I’ve evaluated over the years, Mbuyamba matches the intangibles with production as a high-IQ forward that keeps the game simple. Mbuyamba flashed his passing skill from both the elbows and from the low block as a willing passer that can execute designed reads to cutters or kick-outs to teammates before the double team arrives to create a high-percentage look. He uses his strength (also a 2 sport player, football) to carve out space around the rim to finish with his dominant left hand and has improved his touch from both the FT line and the low block. He came up with several key defensive stops to force TOs along the sideline or shot clock violations that gave Gonzaga some much-needed extra possessions late in the game.

-The big dog was super dynamic for a Purple Eagles group that exceeded expectations on I St this year under a first year head coach. Mbuyamba was especially productive down the stretch run of the season as he commanded double teams that freed up teammates on the perimeter or cutters on the opposite side of the key as a forward prospect that can both score and pass at a high level. Loved his unselfish play at both ends of the floor and thought that he improved his sprinting stamina to earn increased stretches of playing time over the course of the season.

Despite fouling out in the fourth quarter before the rollicking overtime festivities, Mbuyamba put together a double-double performance to help lead the Eagles. Fresh off being recognized as the only underclassman on All-WCAC First Team, the southpaw put in a workmanlike effort to the tune of 10 points and 11 rebounds. He was effective setting up shop on the block but also showed the ability to create his own opportunities with relentless effort and strong hands on the offensive glass. Mbuyamba also flashed his growing repertoire as a ballhandler and facilitator out of DHO or short roll actions. There remain questions to be answered on the defensive end but his heady, blue-collar approach and wide-ranging offensive skillset should give him a chance to be recruited at a high level in due time.

Dave size and strength showed to be aproblem for Bishop O’Connell all game standing at 6’7 and taking up a lot of space in the paint. He also cleans the glass on the defensive end and gets his fair share of offensive rebounds. He was arguably the best defender in the event. Offensively Dave gets it done scoring at a high percentage around the basket or in transition. Dave finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds fouling out in regulation.

The sophomore continues to stack valuable performances with his latest work coming in a win over Archbishop Carroll as the 6-foot-7 southpaw forward registered 14 points (4/8 FG), 12 rebounds and six assists. In a recent viewing of Mbuyamba, I mentioned how well he utilizes his leverage on the block and demands space despite being undersized for a five, but even against the length that Carroll can offer from the wing through their frontcourt positions, nobody could match his physicality down low. He’s also an above average passer for his position and did a great job of flashing up to the top of the key as Gonzaga broke Carroll’s press where he faced the basket and dissected cutters or teammates fading to the corners before delivering the ball on a string. His awareness as a rebounder and length comes into play tracking ones that are out of his area.

Mbuyamba showed why he’s going to be a force inside for the next two years in the WCAC. A 6-foot-7 forward who has made evident progressions with his body and mobility since the beginning of the season, the way that he establishes and maintains leverage makes up for any size mismatch that may come his way. Throughout the course of a game, that sort of constant physicality can wear down a lot of bigs at the high school level. Not to mention Mbuyamba’ plus wingspan that comes into play quickly snagging offensive boards for second chance points to add insult to injury. When he’s operating on the block with his back to the basket, Mbuyamba uses textbook footwork to create angles before softly lofting shots over his right shoulder. He’s a reliable defender who maintains verticality around the bucket to alter shots in the paint and tracks misses quickly. Despite the loss to Mount St. Joe, his impact was felt en route to a team-high 16 points.