Forward Ntambwe signs with men’s basketball Wednesday

The UNLV men’s basketball program received a signed national letter of intent from Joel Ntambwe on the first day of the spring signing period, head coach Marvin Menzies announced Wednesday. Ntambwe plans to enroll at UNLV this summer and will be a freshman for the 2018-19 season.

The 6-foot-9-inch, 215-pound forward was born and raised in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has spent the last four years in the United States. He is currently a senior at Aspire Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, where he averaged 13.3 points per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field during the 2017-18 season. He also averaged 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.

“Joel will be a great addition to our program,” Menzies said. “He is long, athletic, a great passer, and is capable of creating his own shot. He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played — unselfishly and with an old-school mentality. He is very versatile at 6-9 and comes from a successful program where he has played with elite talent.”

Ntambwe joins Bryce Hamilton and Clark product Trey Woodbury, who signed with the Rebels during the early signing period in the fall, as members of the 2018 recruiting class.

Volleyball: UNLV will host a spring tournament at the Cox Practice Gym on Saturday, April 21. Joining the Rebels at the one-day event will be CSN and Southern

Utah as well as a squad comprised of UNLV alumnae.