WASHINGTON – One of the most prolific shot blockers in the country, Abdou Tsimbila has been named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Defensive Team, it was announced this morning in conjunction with the start of Atlantic 10 Media Day in the nation's capital.
This marks Tsimbila's second consecutive A-10 Preseason All-Defensive Team honor, as he and teammate Kyle Rose also earned the distinction last October.
Last season, Tsimbila ranked second in the A-10 and 18th in the nation in blocked shots with 2.3 per game. He recorded six or more blocks in a game on three separate occasions, including a career-best nine rejections against NJIT on Dec. 6. His 72 blocks on the campaign tied Dud Tongal (1978-79) for the fifth highest single-season total in program history.
Entering the season, his fourth at Rose Hill, Tsimbila ranks sixth on the Fordham career blocks list with 157 and is just three rejections away from entering the top five.
In addition to his shot-altering prowess, Tsimbila is also one of the league's top rebounders, leading the team and ranking 10th in the A-10 with 6.3 boards per game. He tallied four double-doubles on the season while averaging a career-best 7.5 points per outing.
This past summer, Tsimbila earned the opportunity to compete internationally with his native Cameroon, joining the senior national team in its quest to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The A-10's preseason all-conference teams were announced in conjunction with the league's preseason coaches' poll. The Rams were predicted to finish 14th. VCU was picked to win the conference followed by Dayton, Saint Joseph's, Saint Louis and Loyola Chicago.
Fordham will open the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, when it heads to Queens for a showdown with local rival St. John's. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
Season tickets are available now by visiting FordhamSports.com/Tickets or by calling 718-817-4759.
