MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras has officially committed to play
collegiate basketball with the UCLA Bruins, head coach Steve Alford
announced.
Paras, a standout from La Salle Greenhills who moved to the United
States to play for Cathedral High School, verbally committed to play for
UCLA in October 2014 but made it official this week.
According to the
UCLA Bruins' website, Alford received a signed National Letter of Intent from Paras on Wednesday, the first day of early signing period.
"We're always looking for players who've grown up immersed in
basketball, and Kobe definitely fits that mold," Alford was quoted as
saying. "He just loves the game."
"To add a talented player like Kobe to our program is terrific. He's a
very athletic guard who plays with tremendous energy. We like how he can
attack off the dribble and get to the rim in the open court," he added.
"We're excited that he'll be joining us in Westwood."
Paras is currently playing for the Middlebrooks Academy Team and has
represented the Philippines in several international competitions,
including the FIBA Asia Under-18 3x3 Championships.
"Officially a Bruin," Paras said in an Instagram post. "I can't wait for
the next chapters of my life…. This one is for my family back home."
Along with Paras, UCLA also got official commitments from Ike Anigbogu
and Lonzo Ball, who are highly rated players in their high school class.
All three will enroll at UCLA in 2016 and begin their freshmen seasons
in the 2016-2017 academic calendar.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
