UB senior forward Josh Mballa has entered the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
Mballa, the 2020-21 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 13 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game this season.
After transferring to UB following just one year at Texas Tech, the Bordeaux, France native averaged 12.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in three seasons in the Queen City. He ranked 10th in the nation in rebounding (10.8 boards a contest) during the 2020-21 season and set the MAC Tournament record for rebounds with 50 over three games that same year.
Mballa is the fifth Bull to enter the portal since the conclusion of the season, with redshirt sophomore center David Skogman (Davidson) and graduate forward Tra’von Fagan (UMBC) announcing their transfers over the past week. Junior guard Ty Perry and junior forward Lucas Saleh are currently in the portal.
With some players in the portal and others looking to go pro, head coach Jim Whitesell will have to replenish the roster through the portal and recruiting. The Bulls recently signed JUCO standout Yazid Powell and Boston College transfer Kanye Jones.
Anthony DeCicco is the senior sports editor and can be reached at anthony.decicco@ubspectrum.com and @DeCicco42 on Twitter
Anthony DeCicco is the Editor-in-Chief of The Spectrum. His words have appeared in outlets such as SLAM Magazine andSyracuse.com. In 2020, he was awarded First Prize for Sports Column Writing at the Society of Professional Journalists' Region 1 Mark of Excellence Awards. In his free time, he can be found watching ‘90s Knicks games and reading NFL Mock Drafts at 3 a.m.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
