Whose Got Next?????
The University Sports of South Africa (USSA) basketball tournament took place from 21-27 September at the Nelson Mandela University at Gqeberha. It was the first USSA basketball competition since 2019, after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid-19. The USSA tournament has historically featured some of South Africa’s most prominent players. In the past individuals such as Quinitin Dennysen, Neo Mothiba, Thabang Banda and Nhlahlna Dlamini amongst others, were parachuted into senior national team squads after stellar USSA performances. More recently, players including Lebesa Selepe, Miguel Ferrao, Thabo Sithole and Kyle Maclean, also saw senior national action on the basis of their participation at the nation’s foremost basketball jamboree. This article will profile the current university players who have the potential to replicate the accolades of the above mentioned players and take SA basketball by storm, in the next couple years.
Lehlongolo Mhlongo (University of KwaZulu Natal)
Mhlongo or “TJ” as he is fondly referred to by his teammates is probably the South African player who has made the most personal progress over the past couple years. During his first USSA in 2018, Mhlongo was a prototype big man, whose role was to utilize his 6’9 height and giant wing span to get blocks and rebounds. However, Mhlongo has subsequently developed into a multidimensional player two way player who has the potential to become the best player in SA, in next three to four years. Mhlongo ended USSA 2021 as the second highest tournament scorer, averaging 19.7 points per game (ppg), with 61.3% field goal (FG) percentage from two and added 8.3 rebounds per game (rpg) Mhlongo has mastered the art of drawing fouls, as he shot 37 free throws, the second most at USSA 2021. For his size Mhlongo is deceptively athletic and his footwork in the paint is second to none. These attributes have contributed to Mhlongo mastering the art of drawing fouls, as he shot 37 free throws, the second most at USSA 2021. There are certainly aspects of his game, such as three point shooting, quickness and defense he can improve upon, regardless, Mhlongo who also features for SA club giants Jozi Nuggets is a player who the country’s basketball community needs to keep an eye on.
Thabo Sithole (University of KwaZulu Natal)
The USSA 2017 most valuable player, made it to his third consecutive USSA All Star team, despite UKZN’s disappointing quarterfinals exit at the hands of Tshwane University of Technology. Sithole is one of the most experienced young players in the country, having played basketball in Lithuania, the Basketball National League (BNL) and Jozi Nuggets. Sithole also participated at the 2017 Afrobasket tournament for SA senior men’s team. Sithole has been UKZN’s best player since 2017 and lived up to this reputation, after opening USSA 2021 with a 28 point effort against the University of Cape Town. Sithole ended the tournament averaging 16.5 ppg. In addition to his scoring prowess, Sithole is arguably the best guard in the country, a status which saw him get signed by the 2021 SA national club champions, Cape Town Tigers, for whom he will play for at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers in October. If Sithole performs well at this stage and subsequently participates in the BAL, these opportunities could definitely give Sithole the chance to become SA’s best basketball player.
The rest of the lot……..
Olebogeng Matabane (Walter Sisulu University): At first glance, the diminutive guard doesn’t look like a major threat on the court, however Matabane was the revelation of USSA 2021, ending the tournament with 26.5 ppg. Matabane, who featured on the SA U-16 team, can hit shots from outside and the midrange, which is evidenced by his USSA high 10.5 field goals per game and 2.5 three’s per game. Matabane is also great at slashing to the basket and drew a tournament high 39 fouls. WSU Bulldogs head coach Sibussiso Williams who also serves as the SA U-17 men’s coach, believes that despite Matabane’s breakthrough USSA performance, he is still to reach his full potential. Williams blamed the Covid-19 imposed stoppages and the lack of competition in the Eastern cape province as the biggest obstacles to the player’s development. Nevertheless, if Matabane continues on this trajectory, we are likely to see him get a chance to shine at different basketball competitions.
Scelo Dzingwa (University of Western Cape): UWC finished USSA 2021 fifth place, not only securing a place at the Varsity Basketball 2022, but also gaining bragging rights as the best team in the Mother Province. These achievement’s were attained in large part to the efforts of former Durban High School (DHS) standout and SA U-16 product (another one) Scelo Dzingwa. Dzingwa is a serial scorer, ending the tournament averaging 19 ppg. Dzingwa is a reliable three point shooter, averaging over 30%, which he partly owes to his ability to move off the ball and get into favourable socoring positions. Dzingwa can also play well in this post, which allows him to get second chance points as well as to the free throw line, where he was 25/33 throughout six games. Nevertheless, Dzingwa has the tendency of being trigger happy with shots, but as the old adage goes….shooters shoot, so that’s not an aspect of his game we should expect to change anytime soon.
Kuhle Bophela (University of Cape Town): The UCT forward, had a positive USSA 2021 outing, averaging 14.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.5 steals per match, each team highs. Although UCT fell in the quarterfinals to the eventual champions, the University of Witswatersrand, Bophela played a significant role in UCT attaining the sixth place, their best USSA performance since 2017. As a result, the former SA U-16 and Kearsney College player earned his third straight selection to the USSA men’s national team, following prior call ups in 2018 and 2019. This accolade was complemented by his selection on the All USSA Team. Bophela’s trademark’s are his ability to rebounds and great open court dribbling which allows him to get easy coast to coast and transition points, while he’s also not shy to look for shots around the baskets. However, Bophela’s achille’s heal is his lack of outside shooting and poor free throw conversion rate. If he can improve on these two facets, the 22 year old could see himself playing for the senior national team in the coming years.
Kyle Maclean (University of Cape Town): The UCT forward is one of the most experienced players in the SA varsity set up, having played for the senior men’s team during the 2017 Afrobasket qualifiers. Maclean, whose currently doing his masters degree at UCT, was set for a stellar tournament, after finishing the UCT’s opening fixture against Rhodes with a team high 17 points. However, Maclean was clearly slowed down after dislocating his finger during UCT’s second game against the Univiersity of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), failing to hit double figures in his ensuing four matches. When he isn’t injured Maclean is a sharp shooting forward, who plays great off the ball and can create his own shot. His high basketball also allows him to draw significant fouls and on the defensive end, Maclean is a decent rebounder. Defense has been usually been his achilles heal, but is an aspect, whereby he has shown recent improvement.
Thamsanqa Nyawo (University of Witswatersrand): The veteran Wits guard, was an essential piece in Wits winning their first USSA title since 2017. Nyawo, who was part of the Wits squad that won the 2018 Varsity Basketball tournament, had a slow start to USSA 2021, sparingly playing during in two group fixtures. However Nyawo came to life during the knockout stage it counted the most. Nyawo’s signature mid-range touch was clinical during Wits quarterfinals over a feisty University of Cape Town, in which he scored 17 points. Nyamo subsequently had 11 and 13 points respectively in the semifinals and final matches. Overall, he averaged 13.6 ppg during the elimination games, which clearly shows he saved his best efforts for last. Beyond the stats, Nyawo was without a doubt the best perimeter defender during the tournament, which is a by-product of the player’s quickness and natural athleticism.
Lwazi Mapitiza (Nelson Mandela University): Although the tournament hosts failed to qualify for the knockout stages at USSA 2021, Mapitiza was one of the few bright spots for NMU Madibaz, averaging 15.3 ppg and 9 rpg. Over the past two years, Mapitiza has evolved from an essentially defense oriented big man, to a player who can contribute significantly on the offensive end as the above stated statistics indicate. This improvement has largely been due to Mapitiza’s ability to use his immense strength to score second chance points. If you wondering where this strength comes from, Mapitiza is a one of the best judoka’s in SA and has won medal’s representing the country in several continental competitions. Despite Mapitiza’s progress, his high foul rate and low free throw percentage (26%) despite his ability to get to the line, are domains he needs to work on, in order to take his game to the next level.
Clinton Mosibudi Meela (University of Witswatersrand): Mosibudi formed part of the core consisting of Evaristo Pasmapire and Thamsanqa Nyawo which propelled Wits to the USSA 2021. Looking at the stats, Meela, another SA U-16 team alumni, did not have a stellar tournament, averaging 7.1 ppg, however, his 14 point outing in the quarterfinals against the University of Cape Town and his five assists during the finals against University of Johannesburg, contributed significantly to Wits victory in both matches. Meela, who can play at the guard and two forward positions. In addition to his good ball handling and shooting skills on the offensive end, he is one of the top defenders in the SA college game.
