By ADAM ZAGORIA
St. John’s has officially signed big man Handje Tamba.
A 6-foot-11 center, Tamba was named the 2024-25 Appalachian Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after averaging near a double-double at Milligan College. Tamba previously played two seasons at Weber State after beginning his collegiate career at Tennessee.
Tamba averaged 10.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in his lone season at Milligan, an NAIA school located in Tennessee. Prior to his time at Milligan, the Congo native appeared in 56 games over two seasons at Weber State from 2022-24 and redshirted his one season with the Volunteers during the 2021-22 campaign.
“Excited to have Hanje Tamba join our team. He’s a hard worker and terrific defensive player,” said 2024-25 National Coach of the Year Rick Pitino. “I always wanted to have a Bobby Maze player. Incredible young man with an awesome work ethic.”
Tamba was dominant at the NAIA level starting in 30 of 32 contests for Milligan, guiding the Buffaloes to a 22-10 overall record. An all-league first team selection, the big man broke the school record in blocks per game (1.7 bpg) and ranked second in the conference in rebounding (8.9 rpg).
A College Sports Communicators All-District Team honoree, Tamba finished with a 4.0 grade point average in the MBA program at Milligan.
Prior to arriving at Milligan, Tamba spent two seasons at Weber State competing in the Big Sky Conference. During the 2023-24 season, he appeared in 25 games, averaging 1.8 points on 55 percent shooting from the field and 1.5 boards per outing.
As a redshirt freshman with the Wildcats, Tamba appeared in 31 contests, making three starts. He shot 62.5 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Tamba spent one season under the mentorship of Rick Barnes at Tennessee, where he redshirted during the 2021-22 season and was a valued member of the practice squad. He was named to the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Tamba reclassified to enter the college ranks a year early in 2021, graduating from Knoxville Catholic High School in three years. The DII-AA All-State selection by the Tennessee Sports Writers’ Association averaged 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 swats per game. As a sophomore, he led the Irish to a 2020 TSAA Division II-AA Championship.
On the AAU circuit, he played for B. Maze Elite founded by former Volunteers point guard Bobby Maze.
St. John’s has the No. 1 transfer portal in the nation with Hopkins, Joson Sanon, Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, Dylan Darling and Dillon Mitchell. Sanon has declared for the NBA Draft, but is expected to play for St. John’s next season.
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