Who I Watched (8/9): Ngaba Yaya (FIBA Under-18 AfroBasket)

I watched Egypt vs. Chad on August 9, 2026. This game was part of the FIBA Under-18 AfroBasket.

Here are in-game and background notes on one prospect I scouted and will continue to keep a close eye on going forward:

• BIRTHDAY: March 19, 2008

• HEIGHT: ~6-foot-9

• BOX SCORE: 33 PTS (14/24, 11/18 2P, 3/6 3P, 2/4 FT), 19 REB (5o), 3 AST to 4 TOV, 2 STL, 7 BLK, 3 PF in 38 MIN

• PLAYS FOR: Espoir Basket Club (GAB)

• PREDICTION FOR FUTURE: Mid-major D-I commit in 2027 or 2028

Played a Giannis-type role in this game almost with how much he was on-ball while dominating the glass and shutting down the paint.

• Giant ball of energy. It wasn’t even that he made multiple efforts, it was like he made nonstop efforts. You could feel him on just about every possession

• Motor was obvious again immediately from tip-off with a big BLK, then sprinted back after a miss to coerce a travel (TOV), and followed that with another BLK that was a goaltend but showed off his length, pop, and motor again

• Later flipped his hips in a second and tried to block a dunk. Didn’t pay off but I loved the hustle and just his capacity to even try that

• When I’ve watched him, very intentional about recovering loose balls after blocks or scrambled rebounds. Wants to avoid the out-of-bounds call going to the other team

• Tried to reject everything and alter anything in his vicinity. Nothing easy near him

• Egypt didn’t really want to take shots around the basket with him on the floor

• Hand placement on his blocks was standing out again

• Crazy length. Blocked a shot right as it came down from its apex that was called a goaltend

• Can also get steals or produce events “on the ground,” so to speak, rather than vertically. Coerced a turnover with his length. Sturdy on-ball, then helped in the gap

• Length, pop, body control means he can access a lot of different angles on defense, including in transition

• Absolute monster on both sides of the glass. Walking double-double in this setting

• Secured contested defensive rebounds. Plays above-the-rim with ease

• At one point, galloped down the floor with huge strides, showing his really impressive positional end-to-end speed, and threw down the OREB tip dunk

• Brought the ball up, then got into a pick-and-pop, attacked off the catch, and finished

• Interesting flash early on with a self-created drive to his left. Long strides and some willingness to bump, but still green

• Distant takeoff point on that drive and later on a grab-and-go look

• Size-up, drive R, spin L, got blocked but interesting

• Efficiency won’t be there right now, but his confidence is relatively impressive

• In the 4Q, brought the ball up, received an entry pass, didn’t like the options he saw, so he just retreated into a pull-up three and cashed it. Takes balls to do this

• Made a stepback three at the end of the shotclock

• More deliberate pull-up three miss off the dribble looked stiff

• Confidently took and drilled a spot-up wing three

• Loves to give up the ball and sprint down the floor, effectively cutting by catching his defender off-guard or just beating him in a “race,” to attack the basket super aggressively

• A few finishes around the dunker, including a one-handed lob finish

Reportedly first spotted by Madjissem Hervé while playing for Amtock City in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. Chad coach Asnal Noubaramadje, a former point guard, has said Yaya was late to the game and is a rapid improver.

Debuted with Chad at the 2023 Under-16 AfroBasket. In 7 games, averaged 5.9 PTS, 6.6 REB (2.9o), 1.1 AST to 1.3 TOV, 0.7 STL, 0.6 BLK, and 3.6 PF on 29.6 FG% (16/54) / 40.5 2P% (15/37) / 5.9 3P% (1/17) / 53.3 FT% (8/15)

In 2024-25, played some sort of senior basketball in the N’Djamena league. Finished the regular season leading the league in scoring at 20.4 PTS per game. Was named MVP, Best Rebounder, and was on the All-Star Five. Still played with Amtock City in January 2026.

In February 2026, signed with Espoir Basket Club in Gabon. His advisor of sorts was listed as Baba Adoum, who is also the president of the Amtock City team. Had an 18 REB / 4 BLK game in February. Could feature in the next edition of the BAL, given that Espoir BC won the Gabonese Cup.

Broke out on a continental level during the Zone 4 qualifiers for the 2026 U-18 AfroBasket. In 5 games (35.5 MINS), averaged 24.2 PTS, 22.8 REB (8.6o), 1.4 AST to 5.2 TOV, 3.0 STL and 3.8 BLK on 52.7 FG% (48/91) / 62.3 2P% (43/69) / 22.7 3P% (5/22) / 57.1 FT% (20/35). Had five double-doubles in as many games, including 20 PTS / 24 REB / 6 BLK in the semifinal against Congo, followed by 27 PTS / 28 REB in the final against Gabon.