PULLMAN, Wash. – After officially receiving signed National Letters of Intent, Washington State men's basketball head coach Kyle Smith announced the additions of Efe Abogidi (Delta State, Nigeria) and TJ Bamba (Bronx, NY) to his first full recruiting class. The two new Cougs will come to the Palouse in 2020.

"We are thrilled to have TJ and Efe enter our program," said Smith. "On the court, they add length, skill, and athleticism to our team."
 
EFE ABOGIDI | FORWARD
Standing at 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan, Abogidi will join the Cougars out of the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia. Nicknamed The Klaw by his teammates due to his long arms and enormous hands, Abogidi's other-worldly athleticism has separated him from his peers at the Academy. Originally from Nigeria, the high-flying big man moved to Australia to train at the Basketball Australia's Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute. Abogidi got his start with The NBA Academy Africa, the first of its kind on the continent. The NBA Academy exposes elite prospects to NBA-level coaching and facilities, while providing a global framework for them to maximize their success. As part of the program, Abogidi plays against top competition throughout the year while having the opportunity to travel teams and play in international tournaments and exhibition games.

"Efe hails from Nigeria but he has been playing in Australia at the NBA Academy in Canberra," said Smith. "His coach, Marty Clarke, should be familiar to loyal Coug fans. Marty coached former Cougs Brock Motum and Aron Baynes at the institute of Sport. Efe is committed to being the best he can be. He possesses an insatiable work ethic to compliment his elite athleticism. Amazingly for us, Efe has family that lives in Pullman. Hopefully he has 'found his way home!'"
 
TJ BAMBA | GUARD
A 6-5 guard originally from the Bronx, NY, Bamba will come to the Cougs from Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver, Colo. where he will graduate in 2020. As junior, the athletic wing averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for the Lancers earning him First Team All-Denver Prep League honors. Bamba has done much of his damage in the open court and in transition where he can use his athleticism to break down defenses and get to the rim. Bamba began high school at KIPP NYC Prep School before transferring to Lincoln HS in 2017 as a sophomore. Outside of high school, Bamba plays for the Colorado Hawks on the AAU circuit.
Academically, Bamba has maintained a 3.9 GPA and intends to major in sports management at WSU.

"TJ is coming to us from Denver, Colorado where he is finishing high school," said Smith. "TJ is a six-tool player. He can dribble, pass, drive, shoot, defend and rebound. This gives him the ability to play all three perimeter spots on offense and he can guard 1-4 as an interchangeable defender. In addition, TJ is a high academic achiever who received interest from the Ivy League."