Florida State University Athletics
2024-25 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Waka Mbatch
- Year:
- Sophomore
- Height:
- 6-10
- Hometown:
- Serekunda, Gambia
- Weight:
- 225
- High School:
- KOTU Seconday School
WAKA MBATCH'S CAREER HIGHS
PTS: 2 vs. Tarleton State (11-12-24); vs. UMass (11-24-24);
REBS: 1 vs. UMass (11-24-24)
BLKS: 1 vs. Western Carolina (11-26-24)
ASTS: 1 vs. Tulane (12-14-240
HONORS
2024-25 FSU Student-Athlete Advistory Committee (FSU Athletics)
WHY I WEAR MY NUMBER
Waka Mbatch – I wear No. 35 at Florida State because I grew up watching Kevin Durant in the NBA and it is his number. He is my favorite NBA player and one who I model my game after.
Waka Mbatch is the 14th player in school history to wear uniform No. 35. Dick Kendall, who played both basketball and football at Florida State was the first basketball player in school history to wear No. 35. He was a member of the Seminoles’ basketball team during the 1948-49 and 1949-50 seasons and was a member of the football team in 1948 and 1949. He averaged 8.9 points in 45 games as a guard/forward in basketball and was a left end/tackle in his two seasons as a member of the football team.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
My full name is Alhagie Waka Mbatch. It’s a name that my parents liked. There is no real meaning behind it.
MY HOMETOWN
Alhagie Waka Mbatch – My hometown of Serekunda is the largest city in Gambia with a population of 340,000 people. It is in the Kombo North District of the Western Region of the country and is within the Kanfing Municipality.
ON MBATCH
Played for two seasons and in seven career games as a Seminole for head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff (2023-24 and 2024-25)…played in only five of the Seminoles’ 32 games and in none after December 14 against Tulane in the Orange Bowl Classic…entered his named into the NCAA Transfer Portal on March 25, 2025 and committed to Montana State University on May 2, 2025…earned playing time against both SMU and North Florida as a true freshman…earned playing time against Tarleton State, Hofstra, UMass, Western Carolina, and Tulane as a sophomore…lived and played basketball in Spain of one year (2019-20)...the year was suspended because the worldwide Covid-19 Pandemic…began playing basketball when he was 14 and has blossomed as a player since picking up a basketball...a member of the Florida State Student Athletics Advisory Board during the 2024-25 season.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2025)
Averaged 0.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in just five games played in his second season under head coach Leonard Hamilton and his staff…made his sophomore season debut with 7 minutes played and 2 points scored in Florida State's 72-52 win over Tarleton State at the Donald L. Tucker Center (Nov. 12)...totaled 2 points with 1 rebound in 4 minutes of playing time in the Seminoles' 92-59 win over UMass in their final game of the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off (Nov. 22)…his first career blocked shot came in Florida State’s victory over Western Carolina (Nov. 26) and his first career assist came in the Seminoles’ win over Tulane (Dec.14).
AS A FRESHMAN (2024)
Averaged 0.0 points and 0.0 rebounds as he appeared in two games during his first season as a Seminole…earned playing time against both SMU (Dec. 16) and the Seminoles’ victory over North Florida (Dec. 19)…gained valuable experience as he practiced and traveled with the Seminoles throughout his first season in Tallahassee…worked with Associate Head Coach Stan Jones on his technique and footwork throughout the year.
BEFORE FLORIDA STATE
Graduated from Kotu Senior Secondary School in 2022...he began playing basketball at the Hope Basketball Academy...averaged a double-double of 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in his final season at the Hope Basketball Academy...named as the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2022 Championship Season at Hope Academy in 2022...played in the premier division league in his home country of Gambia.
PERSONAL
Born February 5, 2004...Waka is the son of Aji Awa Jallow and Modou Mbatch...the oldest of four – he has two younger sisters and one younger brother...was a soccer player (midfielder) before enjoying a five-inch growth spurt and turning his interests to basketball when he was 14 years old.
