Independent Top 10 team preview: No. 10 Mountain Mission

Video: Breaking down the Independent Top 10
Roster features players from Congo, Egypt, Ivory Coast and Russia.

10. Mountain Mission (Grundy, Va.)

Head coach: Al Wilson (first year)

2015-16 record: 29-8



PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bikim Biyombo (6-6, Sr., G/F) … Brother of Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo

Daniil Kasatkin (6-7, Jr., G) … Russian import is a true point guard at 6-7

Mohammed Sylla (6-11, Jr., C) … Joined program in October from Ivory Coast

Florent Thamba (6-9, Jr., F/C) … Played in 32 games for Mountain Mission as a sophomore

Oscar Tshiebwe (6-9, So., F/C) … Top 50 prospect in the Class of 2018



Youssef Abdrabou (6-6, So., G/F) … Recent addition from Egypt

STORYLINES

* There's plenty of intrigue on the roster once again at Mountain Mission but the reality is this will be a much different team than the 29-win edition of 2015-16. The Challengers are replacing their head coach and seven top scorers from a year ago. Having a handful of players over 6-8 is always a good starting point but that kind of size alone doesn't assure success playing the kind of schedule that Mountain Mission does.

* Tshiebwe blew up last spring on the camp and showcase circuit, earning Top 50 acclaim from 247Sports. Virginia Tech and West Virginia have offered and he will be counted on to fill a much more significant role than he did in 2015-16 when he played in just seven games for Mountain Mission.

KEY DATES

Dec. 13 – vs. Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W.Va.)



Jan. 7 – vs. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) @ Chance Harman Classic

Jan. 24 – vs. Huntington St. Joseph Prep

Feb. 11 – vs. Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.)