Lobo Basketball Adds Forward Mustapha Amzil
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico men’s basketball program announced Monday the addition of Mustapha Amzil, a transfer forward from Dayton. The 6-9, 225-pound native of Helsinki, Finland will have two years of eligibility with the Lobos after playing the previous three seasons for the Flyers.
Last season at Dayton, Amzil was third on the team in scoring and rebounding at 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He was second on the team with 45 made 3-pointers, shooting 36.6 percent from behind the arc, and led the Flyers in free throw percentage at 79.5 percent. He scored a season-high 20 points in a victory over SMU and had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Western Michigan.
“We are excited to have Mustapha join our program,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “We set out to add size and skill at the forward position and we feel like we have done that. Mustapha comes from a program that I truly respect, where he has been well-coached and has produced at a very high level. We expect him to come in an immediate impact on the court and in the community.”
As a sophomore, Amzil was one of four players to appear in all 35 games as the Flyers reached the second round of the NIT. He averaged 5.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest, with six double-digit scoring games. He hit game-winning shot as time expired to give Dayton a win over No. 4 Kansas, the eventual NCAA Champion, in the semifinals of the ESPN Events Invitational in November.
In 2020-21, Amzil was named to the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team after earning three A-10 Rookie of the Week honors. He averaged 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, helping the Flyers reach the NIT. Against La Salle, he scored a career-high 22 points, including a span in the second half where he scored 17 straight UD points. He had his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds at Duquesne.
“I chose New Mexico because I trust Coach Pitino and the staff to help me get to the next level,” said Amzil. “Our goal is to win championships and I am excited to get that process started. I know the Lobos have a passionate fan base and I can’t wait to play in The Pit.”
Amzil has international experience, playing 86 games for the Finnish junior national team. Last summer, he was invited to the Finnish national team’s training camp and saw action in scrimmages against Estonia.