Point guard Nginyu Ngala is joining KU. Here’s what his former coach has to say
Laurentian University men’s basketball coach Brandon Edwards told the Sudbury Star newspaper on Tuesday that his team’s former point guard, Nginyu “Gee” Ngala, “is ready for his next challenge,” at NCAA Division-I blue blood Kansas.
Ngala, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound, 26-year-old Montreal native, on Friday announced plans to play his final season of college hoops at KU.
Ngala spent the 2024-25 season at Laurentian in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and before that three seasons at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Nginyu is getting an opportunity to continue his university career in the U.S.,” Laurentian head coach Edwards told the Sudbury Star. ”We spoke at the end of the season about where he was at, mentally and physically, and what goals he had for himself. When he came to Laurentian, the challenge he faced and something we spoke about often was, ‘Can you lead a team as the No. 1 option?’ So all of last season, we helped him grow and adjust to a new conference, opponents and role as a veteran leader with a lot of attention geared towards him. I believe that elevated his game.
“I knew he wanted to play professionally or explore other opportunities,” Edwards added. “He already has a degree in hand. He has played four years of University Sports (in Canada). He has accomplished some great things. His time at Laurentian is over, but he is ready for his next challenge. I am happy for Gee and his family.”
Ngala, who was recently named the school’s 2024-25 male athlete of the year, averaged 14.9 points per game on 40.4% shooting (111 of 275) last season at Laurentian. He hit 60 of 153 3-pointers for 39.2%. Also, he cashed 45 of 59 free throws for 76.3%.
Ngala grabbed 4.6 rebounds and dished 3.1 assists per contest. He led the team to an 11-11 record, including its first playoff victory in five seasons. The team finished .500 or better for the first time since 2019-20.
“I use Nginyu Ngala as the measuring stick: an accomplished career in a different conference, achieved success on nationally ranked teams that were vying for national championships, and he could have come here and shot the ball 30 times a game if he really wanted to,” Edwards told the Sudbury Star “I think he played a team-oriented game and a style of basketball that was about winning, and I think if you have people in your locker room who look at the collection of guys in that room and say we’re good enough to go out there and win and we should expect to win, I think that speaks volumes about the type of culture we’re trying to create and the quality of person we’re trying to bring into our program.”
Ngala is a 2024 graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2023-24 he started 16 of 19 games played, averaging 15.1 points per game on 40.3% shooting. He hit 31.1% of his 3s. Ngala averaged 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest. He hit 88.6% of his free throws.
In 2022-23, he averaged 17.5 points a game while starting 16 of 18 contests. He was 43 of 108 from 3 that season for 39.8%.
KU coach Bill Self last week spoke to the signing of Ngala.
“We had one roster spot remaining and we thought we addressed a need in that now we have a backup point guard who we feel is very capable with his maturity and skillset to play minutes on our team,” Self said. “Nginyu is quick, he can shoot, and he should be a great example, not only on the court how to play, but also in the locker room.”
The Sudbury Star’s Ben Leeson described Ngala as a “skilled, savvy point guard.” Leeson said Ngala had “fleet feet and sharp shooting.”
KU currently has 13 scholarship players on the roster: freshmen Ngala, Paul Mbiya, Kohl Rosario, Darryn Peterson, Samis Calderon, Bryson Tiller and Corbin Allen; incoming NCAA portal transfers Melvin Council Jr., Jayden Dawson and Tre White and returnees Flory Bidunga, Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell.
KU has one scholarship left to give in recruiting. Teams are now allowed 15 scholarship players, however KU is limited to 14 this year as a self-imposed NCAA sanction is completed. Freshman scholarship football player Jaden Nickens, who has said he wants to play football and basketball at KU, would count against the limit of 14 if he does indeed play hoops. He is not currently on the basketball roster for 2025-26.
Players on the roster who can play the point include: Ngala, Peterson, Jackson, McDowell and Allen.
