The Cobras walk-on connection

After a tough start to the season, the Parkland Cobras men's basketball team has improved to a record of 12-8. The team is refocused and ready to accomplish great things, and energetic walk-on Geordy Mulumba has been one of the biggest factors in this turnaround. His contributions have not gone unnoticed by another former walk-on, head coach Nate Mast.

Mulumba, a transfer student from Brussels, Belgium, immediately faced challenges because of the language barrier. With this being his first year in the states, the transition from speaking French to English had to be made almost immediately. This was admittedly something he was nervous about entering tryouts among other things. "I wasn't in the gym and didn't make the tryouts in Belgium," Mulumba said. Despite those odds, the 6'7 forward impressed the coaching staff by earning a spot on the team.

Mast, a rather impressive walk-on player in his playing days, was a member of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team from 1997-2000. Mast, like Mulumba, was not recruited. "I may have got a letter or two, but no school offers, no visits," he said. He did not let this deter him. "I decided I would go to U of I as a student and do everything I could to walk-on." His determination earned Mast a scholarship in the spring semester of 1999, quite the achievement for an un-recruited walk-on.

Mulumba and Mast, though coming from two completely different backgrounds, share similar characteristics. "He didn't expect anything to happen but to have an opportunity. He practices full speed every day," Mast says of Mulumba. "He wants to learn. It makes me respect him even more."

That earned respect is something Mast knows well. "That first year (at the University of Illinois) there were a lot of seniors, so I tried to play as hard as I can to prove people wrong," said Mast of his playing days."I earned respect because I went hard every day."

The similar work ethic provided a similar reaction in both of the athletes careers. "By my second year I earned a scholarship and even started four games. I felt like a teammate," Mast said.

When Mulumba was asked how his teammates received him, he replied, "they feel like brothers, like family."

Mast's walk-on experience has had a great influence on his life. Being a walk-on places a person in an underdog role; a role Mast fully embraces. "It's very true about how I go about my life, how I parent, how I coach," he explained. "I like challenges. That's why I schedule hard." It's a message he wants to pass on to his players. "In this world, there's adversity. You have to fight, scratch, and claw."

Mulumba is one of those players who is currently fighting, scratching and clawing, making an appearance in every game this season and even starting a few of those games. Mulumba is averaging 6.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg and is looking to bring his contributions, energy and hard work to the Cobras lineup for the rest of the season.

Both Mast and Mulumba are very grateful of the opportunity given to them. Mulumba has used this as a tool to acclimate himself to the American game and culture. "It's my first year in the states, it's a new experience," he said. "I'm meeting new people and new athletes. I'm having a really good time." Mast shared similar sentiments as an Illini."I got to travel to countries and states I never would have. I got to play on big stages I never would have like March Madness. I am very thankful."

This walk-on connection, along with the rest of the Cobras, hope to keep the wins coming as conference play gets under way.