"Can anyone on twitter say anything about Targuy Ngombo from Qatar? Legit NBA draft prospect?"
"Hearing this Targuy Ngombo guy might get drafted. Tweeps on my timeline don't sound overly impressed."
I was shocked. I know the name (because I spend everyday reading about Asian hoops) but had never heard a mention of him as an NBA prospect. So there went my evening plans and the internet stalking . . . I mean research began. It needs to be noted that he is also referred to as Tanguy Ngombo at times, he is such a mystery that there is no way to confirm which is the real spelling.
6'6" - 204 - SF - born in the Congo (birthplace of a certain Serge Ibaka) - arrived in Qatar sometime around 2007 - supposedly he is 21 years old - plays in the Qatari 1st Division for powerhouse Al Rayyan - began playing with the Qatari National Team in 2009. Check out his profile with his agency, Court Side. How do we take it that his own agency barely has any information on him?
For those of you not familiar with the rivalries and politics of Asian basketball, the Qatari squad are like the Miami Heat - everyone hates them. Qatar is famous for naturalizing players left and right, particularly very tall African young men. The Lebanese and Filipino fans particularly seem to take offense at this development strategy. But I digress.
I scoured Youtube and some FIBA sites and was able to come up with 5 minutes of film for everyone to watch. I could have also included some clips from the Qatar vs. India game, but does it really help anyone to watch him play against a rec league team? Please note that I did not skip over his misses in these clips. In the first game he really was shooting the lights out.
Strengths
-Athletic
-6'6" and 205 is big enough for a wing in the NBA
-Very good outside shooter
Weaknesses
-Ball-handling
-Creating his own shot. It seems that his offense is either at the three point arc or at the rim. While he has a solid first step he seems to be lost after he gets the step.
-Experience: Too easy? But it has to be the biggest knock to a guy who has played in a mid-level league in the Middle East. Does he know how to play hard every night? What is his basketball IQ?
The biggest question about him is how NBA people would have come to know about him. My guess is that it goes back to the November 2010 Asian Games. Ngombo scored 24 and grabbed 9 rebounds against China, a game NBA scouts were surely watching.
One last question: If Minnesota is so in love with Ngombo why would they even tip their hand as they could have brought him in as a free agent to camp without anyone knowing who he is?
I love the week before the NBA Draft!
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