New Canes: Naomi Mbandu

Rising junior Naomi Mbandu may hail from across the Atlantic Ocean, but she’ll join the Miami women’s basketball team from just up Alligator Alley, having spent the past two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast State College.

Following her two seasons at the junior college level, Mbandu chose Miami as the place to continue her basketball career because of the people.

“I really wanted to work with Coach Meier and I really liked the staff. I’m looking forward to playing with my teammates and I really loved everything about [the program].”

On the collegiate level, Mbandu was an instrumental part of Gulf Coast State’s 2019 NJCAA National Championship team, recording 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals in the Lady Commodores’ 68-62 victory over New Mexico in the National Championship game.

The No. 2 junior college prospect in the nation according to ASGR Basketball, Mbandu averaged 14.6 points and shot 41.2 percent from the field during the 2019-20 season. A self-proclaimed “shooter,” Mbandu loves the offensive part of the game.

“I am the kind of player that shoots threes because ‘shooters shoot,’ so I am going to shoot,” Mbandu said. “I like to play hard and work hard, and just have fun on the court.”

Head coach Katie Meier describes Naomi as a “confident shooter” who uses her size on the perimeter to hunt shots. Standing tall at 6-feet-2-inches, Mbandu will add length to the swing position.

“I’m so excited to come and play for the Hurricanes and I’m looking forward to  meeting all the fans.”