The Weber State men’s basketball team has officially announced the signing of a former Tennessee center. According to a post on Tuesday, Handje Tamba is heading to play for newly promoted head coach Eric Duft at Weber State.
Tamba emigrated to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017 and then began playing for Knoxville Catholic High School, where he was eventually named an All-State player. Tamba then went on to reclassify during his recruitment to the 2021 class, setting him up to graduate high school early and quickly begin his collegiate career.
After taking one redshirt year in Knoxville last season, Tamba entered the transfer portal in April and is now officially on his way to Ogden, Utah to continue his collegiate career with Weber State.
Signed. ✍️
Welcome to the family Tamba! pic.twitter.com/91Ohdrb1lO
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) June 1, 2022
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In a recent interview with the Standard-Examiner, Tamba gave some insight into his decision to leave Tennessee.
“The coach understood,” Tamba said in the interview with Brett Hein, presumably talking about Tennessee’s Rick Barnes. “All my friends and family knew I didn’t do it just randomly. It was a decision based on just how much I love the game.”
In his one season with the Volunteers, Tamba did not see any time on the court during the season. However, the redshirt freshman did give the SEC Tournament champions plenty of quality competition with his role on the scout team.
While participating in the interview with Hein, Tamba also spoke about the “vibe” and “energy” that felt right around Weber State and led him to his decision.
“I just felt like that was the place I needed to be, from the head coach to the assistants, they all have the same ideas about me,” Tamba said in the interview with the Standard-Examiner. “They showed me they are interested in the player I am right now and they really think I can help the team, and that’s all I was asking for.”
During his sophomore high school season, prior to the pandemic in 2020, Tamba helped lead Knox Catholic to the TSSAA Division II-AA state championship, according to UT Sports. Tamba also played for former Vol Bobby Maze’s AAU BMaze Elite program before entering the college scene.
Tamba/Tampa pic.twitter.com/W7WUjycOcP
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 10, 2022
