The man from Zaire (now Rep. of Congo) is more than ready it seems to play for the HOGS.

Earning his way: Long hours of work pay off for Mukubu
BY TERRY J. WOOD -Northwest Arkansas Times

If working for something makes it more valuable, then Wenbos Mukubu may cherish his athletic scholarship more than any other University of Arkansas student-athlete.

Mukubu, a 6-5, 210-pound freshman swingman, learned last Friday he had posted a NCAA qualifying score on the SAT. It was the final hurdle in a year-long struggle the young man had to clear before earning NCAA eligibility.

"I was so happy to hear the word," Mukubu said Tuesday night between pick-up games at Bud Walton Arena. "You don't know what it meant. So much time, so much work, so much study.

"But now it's over. I'm here in school and eligible and it feels great."

When the Arkansas Razorbacks first began to show interest in Mukubu last summer, the athletic wing player was as far away from NCAA eligibility as he was from his native country of Zaire.

"I was behind, way behind," Mukubu said. "I had so much work to do, but with the right plan it all worked out."

Though his SAT score was his final obstruction, last summer Mukubu was also behind in the number of core courses he needed to pass for NCAA eligibility.

"There were four extra classes I had to make up," he said. "I went to school from 7:30 a.m. in the morning until 9 p.m. at night. It was hard, but I was determined to get it done."

When Mukubu signed an early letter of intent with Arkansas in November, his eligibility remained an uncertainty.

Knowing his character and determination, former Razorback coach Nolan Richardson and his staff trusted Mukubu to get the job done.

And he did.

By the time Stan Heath had taken over the Razorbacks' reins from Richardson, Mukubu's academic house was in good enough order that Heath was willing to take a chance on the young man and not recruit another player.

Arkansas released another Razorback signee, Brandon Tobias of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., because his eligibility was not as certain.

Mukubu was a good student. His lack of core courses stemmed more from his many moves during his school years than anything else. From Zaire, he moved to Belgium and then to the U.S. He lived the last four years in Miami.

Once his core courses were in order, it was time to tackle the standardized tests.

Much like Dionisio Gomez, who earned a bachelor's degree in May, Mukubu, who speaks four languages, had a difficult time with the reading-intensive, timed, standardized tests.

"Basically, he's taking a timed test in a foreign language," Heath said in May. "He's fluent in English, but it takes him a little longer to read. The NCAA should make an allowance for situations like his and Dionisio's but they haven't."

Mukubu and the Razorbacks' other four freshmen -- Rashard Sullivan, Eric Ferguson, Kendrick Davis and Jonathan Modica -- are taking summer courses at the UA and working out and playing pick-up games with the rest of the Razorbacks.

This is the first year the NCAA has allowed freshman to go on scholarship prior to the fall semester.

"I'm so excited to be here, to be in school and to be working out with my new teammates," Mukubu said. "I'm learning a lot both places."

Making the transition to Fayetteville and the UA has been easier for Mukubu because of Sullivan, with whom he played AAU basketball the past three seasons.

"I've been treated great here by everyone, but it's always good to know somebody when you go somewhere new," Mukubu said.

Mukubu is slender but terribly quick. He is a leaper who cleared 7-feet in the high jump as a prepster and Tuesday night in the pick-up games, he showed off his leaping ability with a number of acrobatic moves and a couple of powerful dunks.

He averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds in high school and 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks last summer in AAU play.

However, it is his defensive play that has impressed his new teammates.

"Wen is tough and athletic," said senior guard Charles Tatum, who is recovering from a major knee injury. "He locks up guys on defense, and that's always a good sign for a young player. All the new freshmen hate to lose, but Wen really hates it. He busts his tail out there in the pick-up games. I think Arkansas fans are really going to enjoy watching him play."

<small>[ July 17, 2002, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: calling_the_hogs ]</small>