Hoops visitor gives high marks

Colorado State hoops hosted a pair of visitors over the weekend in Goodland (Kan.) Northwest Technical College guard Gian Luis Clavell and Terrell (Tex.) Southwestern Christian College's Daniel Mulamba.

Clavell, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard originally from Puerto Rico, was in Fort Collins on an unofficial visit to watch the Ram football game. The class of 2014 junior college standout has a CSU offer and currently holds CSU in high esteem with Boise State and UTEP.

Mulamba, however, came to CSU over the weekend on an official visit paid for by the basketball program. The 6-foot-9 big man was the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman last season and hopes to sign after graduating this December.

His trip to Colorado State was his first official visit and the Rams are the only school to extend him a scholarship offer so far. Mulamba, a native of South Africa, told GoldandGreenNews.com that he enjoyed his time in Fort Collins.

"The visit was pretty good. I just visited the school," said Mulamba, who spoke very clear and concise considering his brief stay in the States. "What can I say about the school? The school is really big, it's a good school… I'm going to make up my mind by the end of this year if I'm going to that school or not."

Mulamba further explained that Southern, Houston and Colorado are three other schools that have shown him some form of recruiting interest.

The athletic power forward said he needs to talk things over with his father, who still resides in Africa, as well as his current coaching staff before he reaches any kind of decision on a college destination.

While he is taking the recruiting process with a conservative approach, there is no denying that Colorado State made strong recruiting pitches to the big post man while he was on campus.

"They said they need me in the worst way," he said of CSU head coach Larry Eustachy and assistant Ross Hodge. "They really need me because they need a big guy who can rebound and block shots."

In 11 games as a freshman with SWCC, Mulamba averaged 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He considers his strengths to be his defensive prowess and athleticism, but he reiterated that he believes he has solid offensive moves in the low block.

"I rebound and block shots; that's my strength. I can score now, too. In the paint, I can really score. I've got moves."

Mulamba grew up in South Africa and came to America because his brother, who played in Florida, suggested to his coach that he look at Daniel.

"That coach knew (Southwestern Christian College) Coach (Herb) Evans, who was looking for a big guy. That's how I got here."

With his first official visit in the books, Mulamba is hesitant to say whether CSU is the favorite or not for his signature.

"Like I said, I need to talk to my father. It's a pretty good school. I just need to talk to him (to see) if he wants me to go to Colorado (State) or not."