Cal Poly Lands Three-Star Recruit Nathan Yambayamba

The 6-foot-7 Canadian forward from Edmonton, Alberta chose the Mustangs over Seton Hall.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball

Cal Poly Lands Three-Star Recruit Nathan Yambayamba

Cal Poly received a commitment from three-star class of 2027 forward Nathan Yambayamba, who chose the Mustangs over Seton Hall. The 6-foot-7 Edmonton, Alberta prospect held offers from both programs.

Why it matters

The commitment adds a national-caliber prospect to the Cal Poly program in San Luis Obispo, and it is the second verbal commitment the Mustangs have received in this recruiting cycle. Landing a player over a competing Power Conference-level offer signals the program's recruiting momentum.

Yambayamba is rated 301st nationally in the Class of 2027 and No. 58 among power forwards, with a recruit rating of 82.67. At the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup he shot 44.4% from three and averaged eight points over five games, though how those numbers scale to college play is still unclear.

The players

Nathan Yambayamba

A class of 2027 Canadian forward from Edmonton, Alberta, who plays for the City Reapers in Overtime Elite.

Mike DeGeorge

Head coach of the Cal Poly men's basketball program, who led recruiting efforts for Yambayamba.

City Reapers

A Phoenix-based team in Overtime Elite, a professional development league for high school-age players, which has won multiple championships.

The details

Yambayamba, a 6-foot-7 forward from Edmonton, Alberta, chose San Luis Obispo to play for Head Coach Mike DeGeorge over Seton Hall. He is currently playing for the City Reapers in Overtime Elite, a Phoenix-based development league.

2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup: Yambayamba shot 44.4% from three and averaged eight points.
2022-23 and 2023-24: City Reapers won Overtime Elite championships.
2023 NBA Draft: Amen and Ausar Thompson were selected fourth and fifth overall.
2024-25: City Reapers finished as Overtime Elite runner-up.
November 6, 2026: Cal Poly commitment from Yambayamba reported.

Season Trajectory

Mid-major programs like Cal Poly increasingly compete for prospects who have developed through Overtime Elite, a pathway that has produced high-profile NBA draft picks. Yambayamba's choice of the Mustangs over Seton Hall reflects how these programs are competing for talent in the early recruiting cycle.

For Cal Poly followers, the commitment is a signal of the program's recruiting trajectory in this cycle. Fantasy and roster-tracking readers should note that Yambayamba will not join the program until his college eligibility begins.

The takeaway

Commitments made this early in the cycle often reflect how programs are positioning themselves for future classes. Following Yambayamba's development with the City Reapers will show how his skill set holds up against stronger competition.