Yves Mekongo
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 25, 1987 Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| Nationality | Cameroonian / American |
| Listed height | 201 cm (6 ft 7 in) |
| Listed weight | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
St. Patrick (Elizabeth, New Jersey) |
| College | La Salle (2006–2010) |
| NBA draft | 2010 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2010–2012 |
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 2010–2011 | Factum Sport Debrecen (Hungary) |
| 2011 | Basket Navarra Club (Spain) |
| 2012 | Amicale Steinsel (Luxembourg) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Yves Lionel Mekongo Mbala (born July 25, 1987) is an Cameroonian basketball player who has played collegiately and professionally.
After leading St. Patrick high school to the state title in their category and earning individual awards, including being on the honor roll, Mekongo Mbala committed in October 2005 to La Salle University to play in the Atlantic 10 Conference of the Division I (NCAA). He was one of the many freshmen in coach John Giannini's recruiting class including St Patrick teammate and friend Ruben Guillandeaux.
The squad was a young team with few returning starters and Mekongo Mbala acquired significant gametime, with solid stats, especially in rebounding where he was second best of the team. In his sophomore season, as a starter, he posted nearly identical stats, again second best rebounder of his team. He earned the first of many individual awards, a selection to the All-Atlantic 10 Academic Team for 2008.
His junior year proved to be a breakthrough season, still a starter, he was his team's best rebounder and third best scorer. More so he was recognised for his academic capabilities with an array of awards including a selection to the 2009 Academic All-American Second Team and the All-A-10 Academic Team.
His senior season saw him continue as a starter and a valuable contributor for his team, however a pinkie finger injury suffered in a 14 February 2010 game saw him miss all but 1 of the Explorers last 9 games, playing his final college game with his ring finger and pinkie taped together.
In contrast it proved to be his most successful season off the court as his 3.81 GPA and athletic prowess amongst other qualities earned him numerous personal awards including selections to the Academic All-American First Team and the All-A-10 Academic Team in which he was also named Student-Athlete of the Year. He also was awarded the NACDA Division I-AAA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year award after having also made the Scholar-Athlete Team in 2008 and 2009.
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