On Thursday, the East Carolina University men’s basketball program announced the official signing of three athletes for the 2025-26 season.
Below is information on all three signings from ECU Sports Information.
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Pirates announce signing of Isaiah Mbeng
Isaiah Mbeng (ECU Sports Information photo illustration)
East Carolina Men’s Basketball has officially announced the signing of point guard Isaiah Mbeng on Thursday.
Mbeng is coming off a CAA All-Rookie Team season at William & Mary where he averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 32 games played. The Potomac, Md. native led William & Mary last season in assists with 110 and in steals with 48 in only 19 minutes played per game. Mbeng finished last season fourth in the country among all freshman in assists per 40 minutes and seventh among all freshman in steals per 40 minutes.
“Isaiah is a phenomenal young man who is a perfect fit for the way we play,” head coach Michael Schwartz said. “Isaiah is not only three-level scorer but also can really pass the basketball and create shots for others. He is just scratching the surface of what he’s going to become as a player. He’s a high IQ guy, who has a tremendous work ethic, and is a real competitor. ”
Prior to his arrival at William & Mary, Mbeng spent a post-graduate year playing for Prolific Prep Post Grad after graduating from Winston Churchill High School. Mbeng averaged 17.9 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals per game as a senior at Churchill and was rated as the No. 13 player in the DMV area (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) by Prep Hoops.
His stellar senior season helped earn him first team all-county and all-division honors in 2023 and a spot on the Washington Post All-Met Third Team as he led Churchill to a county championship. In 2022, Mbeng helped lead Churchill to county and region titles as well as an appearance in the Maryland 4A state final.
Mbeng’s brother, Bez, was a two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career at Yale as the school’s all-time leader in steals.
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Pirates Announce Signing Of Giovanni Emejuru
Giovanni Emejuru (ECU Sports Information photo illustration)
East Carolina Men’s Basketball has officially announced the signing of center Giovanni Emejuru on Thursday.
Emejuru comes to ECU after competing at George Mason last year where he averaged 6.2 points and four rebounds on a team-best 67.4 percent shooting from the field in 36 games played. Emejuru’s shooting percentage from the floor ranked as the top single season mark in program history. The Leicester, England native posted a season-high 21 points while adding seven rebounds and two blocks in George Mason’s win over Coppin State on Nov. 20.
“Gio will make a significant impact on our program from day one, both on and off the court,” head coach Michael Schwartz said. “Pirate Nation will quickly understand not only how much the game of basketball means to him, but also, how mature of a young man he truly is. He is a physical, athletic post that has the ability to impact winning and will be a true presence in the paint on both ends of the court. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gio and his family here to ECU.”
Prior to playing at George Mason, Emejuru played at Siena in 2023-24, averaging a career-best 11.3 points and 6.3 boards on 56.8 percent shooting from the floor. He scored 10 or more points in 19 games for the Saints, including posting a career-best 30 points on 11 made shots against Manhattan. He notched four double doubles on the season and finished the year ranked third in MAAC and 55th nationally with 2.91 offensive rebounds per contest.
In 2022-23, Emejuru competed for Sam Houston State, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds on an efficient 71 shooting from the field off the bench for the WAC Regular Season Champions. He played prep ball for Charnwood College in England where he averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds as a junior while competing for U18 Barking Abbey at the Euroleague Adidas Next Generation Tournament held in Lithuania.
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Pirates Announce Signing Of Eli DeLaurier
Eli DeLaurier (ECU Sports Information photo illustration)
East Carolina Men’s Basketball has officially announced the signing of forward Eli DeLaurier on Thursday.
DeLaurier arrives in Greenville after competing at Providence where he appeared in 22 contests and averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds. He scored a season-high six points twice, including a 2-for-2 shooting performance from behind the arc against Seton Hall.
“Excited to welcome Eli and his family to East Carolina,” head coach Michael Schwartz said. “Eli is a relentless worker, tough, and of the highest character. At his size, he is incredibly skilled and is someone who can stretch the court for us. Pirate Nation is going to love how hard he plays and how infectious his energy is night after night”.
The Shipman, Va. native also played at the Miller School where he averaged 15.9 points and 6.5 rebounds to help lead the team to the 2023 state finals. He also played AAU basketball for Team Loaded, which captured the 2023 Southern Jam Fest. DeLaurier was tabbed as a four-star prospect and the 15th best at his position by Rivals.com.