Kabantu Receives First Scholarship Offer

Amanda Kabantu has been on a long and difficult journey all the way from the Republic of Congo with a stop in California with her sister (Davina) and cousin (Gemima Motema) before finding a second home in Portland Maine. In Congo all her basketball experience was on outdoor courts with temperatures sometimes reaching over 100 degrees. Yesterday her journey reached a new destination when she was offered a scholarship by division 2 New York Institute of Technology.

Kabantu burst onto the Maine Basketball scene as a freshman playing for Coach Jerry Corcoran at Portland High School and word quickly spread about her unusual athleticism. She was recognized with a selection to the SMAA All Rookie team and after her sophomore campaign (14 pts, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals per game), she was named second team All-SMAA.

At just 5’8”, Kabantu is the Firecrackers leading rebounder and according to Head Coach Brian Clement, “Is the best offensive rebounding guard in the history of our program and she is also one of the top 3 on-ball defenders we’ve ever had. Her athleticism and effort are a terrific combination along with her being so coachable. We’ve had over thirty players receive scholarship offers so that is a high bar but she is that good.”

Last year Kabantu played on the Firecracker National B Team but was moved to the top squad this season and she has made the most of her opportunities. Though she is one of the most outgoing and friendly members of the program with the energy and enthusiasm of a Golden Retriever puppy, she becomes a fierce and intense competitor when she steps on the basketball court.

Amanda also plays volleyball and is a high academic student. Other schools recruiting her are Colgate, Stonehill, BU, High Point, Maine, UNH, Columbia, Florida Gulf Coast, NJIT, and UMass, to name a few.