Prior to both of his first two seasons with the Colorado State men’s basketball program, Rams big man Rashaan Mbemba was either getting over an injury or rehabbing from one.
That is not the case this season as CSU puts in final preparations this week for its season and home opener Monday against Incarnate Word.
The 6-foot-7 junior forward from Austria is healthy, in better shape and ready to be a vocal leader for the Rams this season.
“It’s a blessing,” Mbemba said. “I’ve been here two years, I’ve had two rough summers with my groin stuff, so it’s not saying I wasn’t involved in the team, but like just as an individual, it’s hard to see your whole team practice every day throughout the summer getting better.
“People understand that you are hurt, but self-respect, you’re just thinking you can’t help the team. So having a first summer to really get to know the guys off the court, but really on the court, play with them, get the chemistry — I’m just glad and thankful to be able to do that.”
Mbemba is the most tenured player on this year’s CSU roster. Last season as a sophomore, he averaged seven points and 3.6 rebounds for the Rams. When he was healthy, he started most of the games he appeared in.
New head coach Ali Farokhmanesh believes having a healthy offseason in which he was able to play with his teammates, both new and old, has Mbemba in a good position as the season opener nears.
“He’s really ready to go as the season begins,” Farokhmanesh said. “He’s a junior, but he hasn’t had a spring, he hasn’t had a summer really where he’s had consistency. Even this fall, he’s missed one day since the spring, and I think you can see it in his game. It’s changed completely, his body’s changed, he can play for longer stints. Usually, he’d go up and down twice and he’d have to come out of the game, and I think that’s the biggest change. …
“Eventually they have to buy into it. You can see it as a coach, but I think he’s started feeling it now, and now he appreciates it. He talks about it. I think he also is very excited that he has changed his body and he’s proud of himself for it.”
Colorado State’s Rashaan Mbemba reacts to a call against Utah State on March 1 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. (Nathan Wright/Loveland Reporter-Herald)The change in his body has come from being able to spend time in the weight room as well without having to recover or rehab from an injury.
Farokhmanesh has also noticed a change in his mentality.
“His body’s changed, obviously, but his mentality of how he approaches his business and how he goes about his business, showing up and doing ball handling drills before practice starts,” Farokhmanesh said. “It’s those small details that really changed for Rashaan and it’s why he is where he is right now.”
After two years with the program, Mbemba is the veteran on the team and will be looked at to be a leader on and off the court.
It is a role he is looking forward to on a team that consists of more newcomers than returners. CSU has six transfers and two freshmen on this year’s roster.
“Being here two years is obviously an advantage where I can have them with certain movements, with certain players, little details like Patrick Cartier and Nique (Clifford) helped me,” Mbemba said. “I’m just trying to step in that role a little bit and get out of my comfort zone.”
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The coaching staff has challenged him to be more vocal, and he has accepted that challenge.
It hasn’t always been easy for Mbemba, who arrived in Fort Collins from Austria in 2023, but the staff has watched him grow and develop. Now they feel like he is ready for the new role he is embarking on.
In his first months with the program, he was homesick. Mbemba was on FaceTime with his girlfriend every day, Farokhmanesh said. Mbemba has even had opportunities to transfer out but has remained loyal to the team and the program.
“He was homesick,” Farokhmanesh said. “The first three months he was here were tough. He didn’t hang out with anybody. He probably still is, but now I think he feels like this is home. He feels comfortable, and that’s generally when you take that next step.
“Had he left and gone somewhere else, I don’t know if he’d be in the position he’s in and be willing to be challenged the way he was with different people. That’s the beauty of it. I think he’s ready to take that next jump.”
Colorado State’s Rashaan Mbemba works in the paint against Nevada on Feb. 18 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins. (Nathan Wright/Loveland Reporter-Herald)Hence then, the article about healthy rashaan mbemba ready to be a leader for csu rams basketball was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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