Assuming the role of gatekeeper to the rim is in the Mutombo blood.
Videos by FanBuzz
Dikembe Mutombo led the NBA in blocks three times, averaging 2.8 per game over the course of his 18-year career. His mere presence was enough to deter rim attackers.
The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year's son, Ryan Mutombo, has a similar penchant.
Ryan Mutombo in High School
RELATED: Jerry Rice's Son Continues His Legacy, Transfers to Major Program Out West
Ryan Mutombo is the 7-foot-2 product of Dikembe and Rose Mutombo. The couple just celebrated their 25th anniversary last year, and they did so knowing their son has some serious talent.
Ryan was a beast at The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. Defensively, he worked in the gym with his father. Dikembe wanted his son to block everything. He encouraged Ryan to be relentless in monitoring the rim. Every shot in the paint is a chance for a block. He performed well as the leader of the paint patrol, focusing on keeping his long arms extended and straight up.
Mutombo isn't restricted to just being a rim protector. The big man also has a knack for distributing. On the block or in the high post, the high school center has the sense to find open shooters and cutters. He's opening up his scoring options by working on his face-up game. He has a nice, short jumper to go with a swift first step to beat defenders off the dribble. One of his biggest strengths is gaining position in the post and finishing with dunks.
With room to grow into his body and improve agility and strength, he committed to the same school his father became a legend at.
Ryan Mutombo's Recruitment & Commitment
Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ryan Mutombo was the 80th-rated player in the 2021 college basketball recruiting class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The four-star post player held NCAA scholarship offers from Georgetown, his father's alma mater, Georgia Tech, Richmond, Appalachian State, Texas A&M and Indiana State.
Mutombo gained more interest from Power 5 programs, partly due to his performance at the 2019 Holiday Hoopsgiving — one of Atlanta's premier showcases. He was offered by Clemson, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Stanford, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Florida and Wake Forest as well.
The blossoming recruit had big shoes to fill given his name. Maybe even enormous with his dad standing 7-foot-2 and being an eight-time NBA All-Star. It doesn't seem to bother him. If he continues this growth rate, his path could lead to the NBA Draft.
On October 4, 2020 — at 8:24 p.m. ET to honor the late Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant — Mutombo announced his commitment to play for Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas.
It was a big-time announcement for both parties, and it's already paying off in his freshman season.
Ryan Mutombo's Georgetown Career
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
It's not every day you come across a 7-foot-2 shot-blocker — which would make Mutombo one of the tallest NBA players if he were in the league right now.
As a freshman, he's leading the Hoyas in blocks (averaging one per game) while averaging 5.5 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. And that's coming off the bench. Give Ryan a few more years and he could potentially become a legit threat under the rim in the Big East.
Of course, he can dunk like his daddy, too:
Mutombo taking FLIGHT✈️✈️✈️@RyanMutombo #HOYASAXA pic.twitter.com/opavVw9gg5
— Georgetown Hoops (@GeorgetownHoops) February 3, 2022
We may not be seeing much of Georgetown this NCAA Tournament, but don't be surprised if we see a bunch of Ryan Mutombo in the coming years.
This post was originally published on May 4, 2020 and was updated during Mutombo's freshman season at Georgetown.
