Know Your Team: Wayne McCullough & Joel Ndondo
In the Moncton Magic's ranks this season are a player in his second NBL Canada season, Joel Ndondo, and one playing for his second NBLC team, Wayne McCullough. After their performances in 2018-19 so far, though, it appears they have been sparked by their playing time in New Brunswick.
Wayne McCullough
6’5
Guard
From Hockley, Texas
McCullough played four seasons for the Colorado Christian Cougars in NCAA Division 2. Becoming the starting shooting guard in junior year, he led the Cougars to win the 2015 National Christian College Athletic Association championship. Senior year saw him record career-best averages of 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 49% field shooting.
He made his professional debut in 2016 for the Island Storm, going on to play two seasons for the team, but seeing largely rotation time.
After making an attempt to join the Arizona Suns in the NBA G League in 2018, McCullough returned to Canada and joined the Moncton Magic, immediately becoming the starting shooting guard. The Magic clearly saw his potential - after playing twenty games, McCullough had averages of 11.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and third overall in the league for steals.
Joel Ndondo
6'8
Forward
From Ajax, Ontario
Moving to Canada from Kinshasa as a child, Ndondo shined during his time at the Christian Faith Academy in Creedmor, North Carolina, and earned a scholarship to NCAA Division 2 team the Wayne State Warriors in Michigan.
He was a huge defensive player throughout his tenure with the Warriors, as well as leading the team in field goal percentage (51%) in junior year. At the end of four seasons with Wayne State, he had averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 46% field shooting, as well as the 19th best shot blocker in the team's history.
Turning professional after leaving Wayne State, Ndondo played in 40 games for Saint John Riptide in 2017-18, starting in 7, and averaging 2.3 points per game on the season. He then started the following season for the Cape Breton Highlanders, but left after four games, joining Moncton in January 2019.
