Isaiah Mbeng has been a pleasant surprise in his debut season for William and Mary men’s basketball. The 6’1” freshman guard from Potomac, Maryland has had no problem making an impact early in his college athletic career.
Mbeng attended Winston Churchill High School, followed by a year of schooling at Prolific Prep. During his season of postgraduate basketball, Mbeng averaged just under 18 points per game, six assists, and five rebounds per game. He was named first-team all-county and was ranked No. 13 for players in the DMV area.
Coming from a dominant year before his start with the Tribe, Mbeng still had the lofty task of translating his talent to the Division 1 level.
“It was pretty smooth,” Mbeng said of his transition to playing at the college level. “I always played with college guys during the summers when I was in high school, so I kind of got a feel for it.”
Mbeng was introduced to the sport by his older siblings.
“I grew up with five older brothers, and they were playing before I was even born, so I was always around [the game],” Mbeng said.
Mbeng’s older brother, Bez, is currently a senior playing at Yale, where he has been named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year two years in a row. Bez currently has 143 career steals as a Bulldog and was third in school history for steals entering the 2024-25 season.
Mbeng made his Tribe debut in its first game against D-III opponent Dickinson at Kaplan Arena. He notched 11 points, three steals and only one turnover in his 16 minutes off the bench. The game was the beginning of a successful debut season for Mbeng. He has played in all of the Tribe’s games up to this point, averaging 19.7 minutes per game and recording totals of 177 points, 43 steals and 105 assists.
His game highs include 15 points versus Stony Brook, four steals versus Monmouth and seven assists against North Carolina Wilmington. Mbeng was also named the Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Week twice this season, the first time in the week of Jan. 6 following his performances against Hofstra and Stony Brook and the second time the week of Jan. 27 after games against UNCW and Hampton.
Mbeng’s successful season has come during an exciting time for Tribe basketball. The Tribe is currently 17-14 (11-7 CAA) and is hoping to further their success as the CAA tournament approaches next week. The team will enjoy a two-round bye and begin the grueling slate of games with a free pass into the quarterfinals. Winning the tournament would grant the Green and Gold an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, a feat that has escaped the Tribe for the team’s entire history.
Mbeng expressed his excitement about the possibility of playing in March Madness, arguably the most prestigious competition in college athletics.
“I think it’s crazy! It’s something I’ve dreamed about for so long and now that it’s very possible, it feels great. And to do it with William and Mary, who have never been to it, makes it even better,” he said.
Mbeng’s enthusiasm is echoed by the entire team, as well as William and Mary’s fans. Game attendances have soared, with Feb. 15 home matchup against Drexel attracting 5,103 people to Kaplan Arena, the largest announced home attendance since February 2020.
With all the excitement surrounding the team, having a strong support system is of the utmost importance. Aside from his family members, Mbeng has leaned on teammates, including freshman guard Luke Kinkade.
“He gives me some pretty good advice and I think with both of us being freshmen, we’ve been able to figure a lot of stuff out together,” Mbeng said of the guard from Naperville, Illinois.
Mbeng also commented on the strength of the Tribe’s coaching staff.
“The coaching staff has been great. Since the summer they’ve helped me learn a lot and have instilled confidence in me throughout the year,” he said.
Mbeng’s Tribe career has started off with a bang. The freshman has been a bright spot in a successful season for the Green and Gold, providing an offensive spark with his playmaking off the bench. With the postseason looming, there is still plenty of time for Mbeng to make more impact.
