Bobcats Ink JC Standouts
4/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bobcat coach Brad Huse said the addition of Hennessy and Mbunga continues to add to MSU’s talent base. "James and Divaldo are both talented players," MSU’s second-year head coach said. "Both guys take the word ‘student’ as seriously as they do the word ‘athlete’, and that’s very important to me as we continue to establish the identity of this program."
North Dakota’s Mr. Basketball for Williston High in 2005, Hennessy posted stellar numbers as the only freshman starter on Williston State’s NJCAA Division I Tournament team in ‘06. The hometown product averaged 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals a game that year. A knee injury prevented him from playing this season, but he has returned to competition as a pitcher of Williston State’s baseball team this spring.
"James fits us academically and will help us out front immediately," Huse said. "He gives us depth in that he brings a different element than Casey with his size. I’m excited that he has three years in our program. He’s a great all-around athlete that has had success in a lot of different areas, not the least of which is leading his team to the national (junior college) tournament as a freshman. He is a great fit for Montana State athletically and academically."
"James was a big reason for our run to the national tournament (in 2006)," said Williston State coach Terry Olson. "There is very little doubt in my mind that had he played this year he would have been an All-America candidate."
Olson indicated that Hennessy brings a complete package of skills to the Bobcat program. "James is a very good athlete, he was a starting quarterback in high school and is a very good pitcher in baseball," he said. "From an athletic standpoint he’s very capable. He’s a tremendous player, he had offers from several Division I schools based on his freshman season. He has great size for a point guard, he’s strong, he sees the floor very, very well. Players will love playing with him, because if they get open he will get them the ball."
Hennessy’s personality also contributes to his success, Olson said. "James is very unselfish. He is a strong student who is pursuing engineering at Montana State, he was an honors student in high school, and he has a high grade point average here at Williston State. I know Brad Huse from his days at Jamestown College, and I’m very comfortable with James going to Montana State, and I know Brad will build that program into a contender during James’ time there."
Mbunga earned all-conference honors at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash. as a freshman and sophomore. This season, he averaged 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, shooting 63% from the field and 75% from the line. The native of Luanda, Angola in Africa blocked 37 shots, among the most in his league at just over two per game, playing in only 18 games in spite of fighting an illness most of the season. "He dominated early," said Peninsula coach Peter Stewart, "he was an intimidating factor. He had a very good off-season, came back weighing 245 lbs, he was in very good shape. Then, right around Christmas, he just got sick. We lost him, in reality, for the rest of the year. I looked at him with his shirt off in the gym the other day, and he looks like he's back in shape. He's put weight back on and looks strong again."
Huse said Mbunga helps shore up a Bobcat front line that loses its starter at center and power forward. "We expect Divaldo to step right in and help," Huse said. "He has great hands, great vision, is a very good passer, finishes well around the basket and has a good shooting touch. Divaldo has a great feel for the game. He brings a lot of skill to our interior game. He, too, is an excellent student, and he's excited about our academic program here."
Stewart said Mbunga's game translates well to Division I. "He's a very skilled big man," he said. "He played in a league that doesn’t support big men play very well. Traditionally the NWAACC is a very guard-oriented league, with a lot of contact offensively and defensively (inside). He played very well and kept his composure. He's a very good shooter out to 15 feet, capable of putting the ball out on the floor, and he's tough to handle big-to-big. He's a world-class kid." Stewart indicated that Mbunga will receive Peninsula's Art Ferrell Award this spring, presented to the student-athlete who most embodies the school's ideals.
North Dakota’s Mr. Basketball for Williston High in 2005, Hennessy posted stellar numbers as the only freshman starter on Williston State’s NJCAA Division I Tournament team in ‘06. The hometown product averaged 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals a game that year. A knee injury prevented him from playing this season, but he has returned to competition as a pitcher of Williston State’s baseball team this spring.
"James fits us academically and will help us out front immediately," Huse said. "He gives us depth in that he brings a different element than Casey with his size. I’m excited that he has three years in our program. He’s a great all-around athlete that has had success in a lot of different areas, not the least of which is leading his team to the national (junior college) tournament as a freshman. He is a great fit for Montana State athletically and academically."
"James was a big reason for our run to the national tournament (in 2006)," said Williston State coach Terry Olson. "There is very little doubt in my mind that had he played this year he would have been an All-America candidate."
Olson indicated that Hennessy brings a complete package of skills to the Bobcat program. "James is a very good athlete, he was a starting quarterback in high school and is a very good pitcher in baseball," he said. "From an athletic standpoint he’s very capable. He’s a tremendous player, he had offers from several Division I schools based on his freshman season. He has great size for a point guard, he’s strong, he sees the floor very, very well. Players will love playing with him, because if they get open he will get them the ball."
Hennessy’s personality also contributes to his success, Olson said. "James is very unselfish. He is a strong student who is pursuing engineering at Montana State, he was an honors student in high school, and he has a high grade point average here at Williston State. I know Brad Huse from his days at Jamestown College, and I’m very comfortable with James going to Montana State, and I know Brad will build that program into a contender during James’ time there."
Mbunga earned all-conference honors at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash. as a freshman and sophomore. This season, he averaged 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, shooting 63% from the field and 75% from the line. The native of Luanda, Angola in Africa blocked 37 shots, among the most in his league at just over two per game, playing in only 18 games in spite of fighting an illness most of the season. "He dominated early," said Peninsula coach Peter Stewart, "he was an intimidating factor. He had a very good off-season, came back weighing 245 lbs, he was in very good shape. Then, right around Christmas, he just got sick. We lost him, in reality, for the rest of the year. I looked at him with his shirt off in the gym the other day, and he looks like he's back in shape. He's put weight back on and looks strong again."
Huse said Mbunga helps shore up a Bobcat front line that loses its starter at center and power forward. "We expect Divaldo to step right in and help," Huse said. "He has great hands, great vision, is a very good passer, finishes well around the basket and has a good shooting touch. Divaldo has a great feel for the game. He brings a lot of skill to our interior game. He, too, is an excellent student, and he's excited about our academic program here."
Stewart said Mbunga's game translates well to Division I. "He's a very skilled big man," he said. "He played in a league that doesn’t support big men play very well. Traditionally the NWAACC is a very guard-oriented league, with a lot of contact offensively and defensively (inside). He played very well and kept his composure. He's a very good shooter out to 15 feet, capable of putting the ball out on the floor, and he's tough to handle big-to-big. He's a world-class kid." Stewart indicated that Mbunga will receive Peninsula's Art Ferrell Award this spring, presented to the student-athlete who most embodies the school's ideals.
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