Cougar men's basketball alum Selom Mawugbe ('17-'20) was drafted as the 21^st pick in the second round by the Santa Cruz Warriors on Monday in the 2021 NBA G League Draft, signaling the first step in his career as a professional basketball player.
 
When he found out that he had been selected, it was a surreal moment for the 6-10 forward out of Canyon Country, California. "I had a mix of so many emotions when I heard the news," said Mawugbe, "I was excited, in disbelief, overcome with gratitude, and just reflected on how far I had come in my career to be able to experience that moment. I have been very blessed and I am fortunate to have so much support from family, friends, coaches and teammates."
 
While his basketball journey began before his arrival to Azusa Pacific, it was during his four years with the Cougars that he transformed from a young, athletic player with a high ceiling, to one of the nation's top players in his junior and senior seasons. "Selom was a raw talent when he joined the program as a freshman, but we knew quickly that he would grow into a great player," said Azusa Pacific head coach Peter Bond, "From day one, Selom showed an eagerness and commitment to development and growth in the most basic fundamentals of the game, which is very unique from most players in today's age of basketball. Few would have the determination and patience to engage daily in the mundane work that he did, and it allowed him to turn into one of the most dominant players in the country by the end of his time with us."
 
Mawugbe certainly did commit to the fundamentals, as he turned in one of the most decorated careers in Azusa Pacific program history and has become a promising prospect at the professional level. He wrapped up his time with the Cougars as the program and PacWest conference all-time leading shot blocker (327), and he was distinguished as an All-American (2020 NABC All-America First Team, 2020 D2CCA All-America Third Team) and All-Region (D2CCA All-Region First Team) performer. Mawugbe was also named the 2020 PacWest Player of the Year and the 2019 PacWest Defender of the Year.
 
"There are few that I have seen in this game who have truly earned every step of their development," said Justin Leslie, former Cougar head coach ('07-'19) and current head coach at Midwestern State (Texas), "Selom has worked for every skill and accomplishment while always putting his teammates first." Leslie, who played for the Cougars from 1997-2001, held the program records for career blocked shots and blocks in a single season, both records that Mawugbe broke during his career. "When I was recruiting Selom, I told him that it was specifically to break those records, and he did just that," said Leslie.

In his final collegiate season this past year, Mawugbe lead all of Division II in field goal percentage (71.80%) and was second in total blocks (91) and blocks per game (3.14). He averaged a double-double with 16.9 points per game and 10.4 rebounds, and he recorded four or more blocks in 12 games, including an eight block performance against Cal State Los Angeles which tied the single-game program record for blocks (Dele Aribigbola vs. Christ-Irvine - 2/15/92). Offensively, he scored in double-figures in all but one of Azusa Pacific's games, reaching 20 or more points in six games.
 
Not only did Mawugbe shine on the court at Azusa Pacific, but he also excelled academically as a biochemistry major. He was named to the NABC Honors Court twice, and was a four-time Academic All-PacWest honoree. "While Selom is currently pursuing basketball, it is clear that he is going to succeed in whatever he does post basketball as well," said Bond, "Rarely is your best player also your best student, but that is what myself and the program was fortunate enough to have in Selom."
 
For Mawugbe, he believes his time at Azusa Pacific has prepared him for whatever the future now holds. "I was very fortunate to be at Azusa Pacific because of the people I had around me," said Mawugbe, "First and foremost, my coaches and teammates invested so much into me both on the court and off, and they taught me lessons that I will carry forward into this next phase of my career. Also, I had great relationships with professors and classmates, who cared for me and also pushed me academically. Azusa Pacific is a unique place, and I am grateful for all I have learned there."
 
While Mawugbe certainly recognizes the significance of being drafted, he knows that the work has only begun as a professional basketball player, "Just a few hours after I received the news, I had already started shifting my focus to how I can develop and grow into the player that the organization needs me to be and the work it will take for me to advance in my career and reach goals that I have already set for myself," said Mawugbe.
 
Mawugbe will join the Warriors soon for the upcoming season, as the 2020-21 NBA G League tips off on February 8 in Orlando, Florida. The G League will follow a similar structure as the one which the NBA utilized for the end of the 2019-20 regular season and playoffs, as all teams will be in a bubble at the Walt Disney World Resorts. The playoffs will be held March 5-9.