Tag Archives: Kobe Paras

Former UCLA commit Kobe Paras picks Creighton

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After leaving UCLA in June due to academics, Filipino shooting guard Kobe Paras will rebound at Creighton, he tweeted Sunday night.

Paras enrolled at UCLA as an incoming freshman, but was forced to withdraw during summer school after “academic conditions of his admission were not met,” the school said in a statement.

There was some controversy about why exactly Paras, who was an honors student and met all of the NCAA’s requirements, was denied admission. Cathedral High school’s principal told the L.A. Times “there was an SAT scoring issue,” but Paras’ father Benjie Paras and coach at Cathedral William Middlebrooks said they were shocked and surprised by the sudden denial of a full academic qualifier.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard is well-regarded for his athleticism. He won the dunk contest at the 2013 and 2015 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Championships while competing for the Philippine national team.

UCLA signs Lonzo Ball, Ike Anigbogu and Kobe Paras to 2016 class

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The UCLA men’s basketball team officially added Lonzo Ball, Ike Anigbogu and Kobe Paras to its 2016 class on Wednesday, securing what should be the Pac-12’s most impressive recruiting haul.

Ball is a five-star point guard who is considered one of the nation’s top 2016 prospects at any position. The 6-foot-5 star from Chino Hills signed and delivered his letter of intent to the Bruins almost two years after he first committed in January 2014.

“Lonzo is a tremendous scorer, passer and defender who has displayed great athleticism, instincts and size,” head coach Steve Alford said in a statement. “Our coaching staff is excited to see what he can do in our program, and we know that he’s going to have a special career at UCLA.”

Anigbogu, a four-star center whom Alford said has “an NBA body,” and Paras, a three-star shooting guard, have also sent in their letters of intent.

Those three recruits combine to give UCLA the most highly regarded recruiting class in the conference, one that is ranked fourth in the country by Rivals and sixth by Scout.

The Bruins could also add five-star power forward T.J. Leaf, who will announce his decision on Thursday afternoon on ESPN. He is deciding between UCLA, San Diego State and Oregon.

Updated at 2:39 p.m. to reflect Lonzo Ball’s signing. Updated at 4 p.m. with comments from head coach Steve Alford.

L.A. Cathedral guard Kobe Paras commits to UCLA’s 2016 class

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UCLA basketball has landed its second 2016 commitment in unranked guard Kobe Paras.

The 6-foot-5 wing sat out his first season at L.A. Cathedral after moving from the Philippines, and will make his U.S. high school debut as a junior next month. Paras helped the Philippines to a gold medal in the FIBA Asia Under-18 3×3 championship in May 2013.

He is the son of Benjie Paras, a former two-time MVP center in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Paras joins five-star guard Lonzo Ball in the Bruins’ 2016 class.