Syracuse basketball is among numerous college programs that have shown an interest in a big man who is originally from Africa and currently suits up for a professional team based in France, according to a media report.
In a post on X from top On3 national reporter Joe Tipton, he noted that schools including the Orange have expressed an interest in center Paul Mbiya.
The 6-11, 260-pound Mbiya is originally from the Congo in Africa. As Tipton said, Mbiya previously competed for the NBA Academy Africa and currently plays for LDLC ASVEL, a professional team located in Villeurbanne, France, that is a member of the EuroLeague.
Tony Parker, a long-time NBA star and champion with the San Antonio Spurs who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, is the president of LDLC ASVEL.
Syracuse basketball is displaying an interest in big man Paul Mbiya.
Mbiya, who is 19 years old, is considering the college route, Tipton reported on X, adding that Mbiya has been playing basketball for just three years.
African center Paul Mbiya is considering the college route, per source.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) February 24, 2025
The 6-11, 260-pound big man boasts a 7-4 wingspan. The soon-to-be 20-year-old has only been playing basketball for three years.
Originally from the Congo, Mbiya previously played with NBA Academy Africa… pic.twitter.com/uOv4IxNIjZ
According to Tipton, besides the 'Cuse, other college programs showing an interest in Mbiya include Washington, Texas Tech, Oregon, Georgetown, Seton Hall, LSU and Santa Clara.
According to a source, multiple schools have shown interest in 6-foot-11 French pro league big man Paul Mbiya, including Syracuse, Washington, Texas Tech, Oregon, Georgetown, Seton Hall, LSU, and Santa Clara.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) February 26, 2025
A visit to one of those programs is currently in the works (On3+):… https://t.co/qROr958itf pic.twitter.com/VnkM830OxV
I'll certainly keep tabs, as much as I can, on Mbiya's recruiting process moving forward. I'll be curious as to whether Syracuse basketball ends up offering a scholarship to him.
Over the past two recruiting cycles, the Orange coaching staff has dipped its collective toe into the European market. As part of the team's 2024 class, Petar Majstorovic is a freshman forward who was born in Serbia.
Before joining the 'Cuse, per SU Athletics, the 6-foot-9 Majstorovic played for the ASVEL Basket Lyon-Villeurbanne U-21 team in the French ProA U-21 league during the 2023-24 stanza.
In the current 2024-25 campaign for Syracuse basketball, according to ESPN statistics, Majstorovic is averaging 14.0 minutes, 2.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while he's connecting on 50.9 percent from the field.
The Orange staff has secured four commitments in its 2025 cycle, a class that ranks No. 10 around the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.
One of those Syracuse basketball signees is four-star combo guard and top-125 overall prospect Luke Fennell, who this season is playing the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the National Basketball League ("NBL"), a professional league with teams in Australia and New Zealand.