JP Kambola recorded his first career double-double with 14 points on 5-8 field goals and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s victory over University of North Texas. Kambola also reached double-digit scoring in Thursday’s win over Rice when he scored 10 points on 4-7 FG, which included two, three-pointers. For the season, Kambola is averaging 5.5 points per game on 51.7 percent shooting and 3.9 rebounds per game but since being reinserted into the starting lineup against the University of Texas at El Paso Jan. 24, Kambola has averaged an impressive 10 PPG and 6.8 RPG the last five games. It is no coincidence Kambola’s improved play has coincided with more team success as the Herd has won four of its past five games.

Kambola is a big man at 6-foot-9 and 244 pounds, and his impact is starting to match his size this season. After playing 13 minutes total as a freshman, averaging a meager 3.5 minutes per game as a sophomore and missing all of last season due to an NCAA eligibility issue, Kambola has emerged as a reliable and productive big man as of late. His effort on the offensive glass has led to second-chance opportunities for the Herd, while his size, solid build and technique make him a very effective screener. However, unlike many players his size, Kambola has shown he can knock down threes when defenses lag off of him.

Head coach Dan D’Antoni said Kambola is resilient.

“He is a great young man who has run up against the wall as a senior,” D’Antoni said. “He’s had all of those previous experiences, and it’s started to dwindle down. A lot of guys with a lot less character would have quit, but you know that he’s come back and picks all of it up, shows who he is.” 

Bradley Heltzel can be contacted at [email protected]