Tijan Jobe is a junior college transfer from The Gambia who is presently making a name for himself at the Indiana University men’s basketball team in United States.

Jobe, a 7-foot, 255-pound center, had brief sting with Olney Central College in Illinois before signing a national letter of intent to attend Indiana University and play basketball for the team beginning this season - a development that excited the Indiana officials.

"We are excited to be able to sign a player with the defensive ability and rebounding presence that Tijan has," said his new manager Tom Crean.

"We feel he has a lot of room for growth in the sense of improving on both the defensive and offensive end and we love the fact that he plays extremely hard. His height and wingspan (7-5 1/2) is something that our team was in great need of."

Originally from Banjul,  Jobe averaged 4.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and a block for Olney Central College last season. He attended Butler County Community College as a freshman and attended Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep School.

He went to the United States four years ago through the African Hoop Opportunities Providing an Education Foundation (A-HOPE), which is run by Bloomington resident Mark Adams. The foundation is designed to provide talented basketball players from a host of African countries the opportunity to go to the United States to use their skills as a means to get a U.S. education.

The Gambian, who chose Indiana over scores of other teams, is ready to prove that he belongs.

“Of course, I have a long wingspan,” Jobe said. “I’ll make use of that.”
Offensively, Jobe said his coaches have been working with him to help develop a mid-range jump shot. Although Jobe admits he prefers to have his back to the basket on offense, he said the coaching staff has been working with him on facing up on to open lanes for the guards. Jobe said his big role on offense will be to set screens for the many guards on the team and create open space for them to make plays.

Quizzed about the way the team is coming together, the big man said he has noticed changes in every player on the team since they’ve started playing together.

“Everybody’s getting better everyday,” Jobe said.

He said said since he has come to the United States, he hasn’t been able to go back to The Gambia, and although he said he loves Bloomington and has a brother and sister who work in Washington, he still misses his home.

“I miss all my friends back home,” Jobe said. “I miss my family.”
Jobe said he hopes to be able to visit his family next year, but until then, he will be counted on by Crean, a man impressed with Jobe’s work ethic.