Kobee preps up for college hoops

Former Marianas High School standout Kobee Mendoza is getting ready for college basketball as he attended a camp and signed up for a high school team in the U.S.

Kobee Mendoza, left, joins fellow CNMI player Chris Mizer for a photo during a break in The Hoop College Bound Showcase in Salem, Oregon last weekend.
(Contributed Photo)

Mendoza joined The Hoop College Bound Showcase in Salem, Oregon last Oct. 3 and 4, keeping pace with his fellow high school players and trying to impress college scouts and coaches who attended the skills camp.

“The players run games in front of college coaches, basically for exposure purposes. There were about 80 guys there. Playing in this showcase gave me an idea of what I’ll be going up against in the future,” said Mendoza.

The camp had live streaming and also drew coverage from media outlets across the U.S. It produced several NBA players from its previous editions and the program’s alumni include Devin Harris, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Nate Robinson, Trey Burke, and Kevin Martin, among others.

“All these guys (camp participants) have different playing styles and that was what is cool about playing here. I got to pick up a few things from different people. Most importantly, I learned new ways to attack the defense,” said Mendoza, who led the MHS Dolphins to back-to-back championships in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Basketball League.

He also won a handful of individual awards in both adult and youth leagues on Saipan and represented the CNMI in a couple of regional tournaments before moving to Seattle, Washington this year.

He is now a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington and plays point guard for the squad.

“Basketball out here is definitely a whole new level. But honestly, Saipan has a lot of talent. I think about the guys I play with back home like (Chris Mizer, Karlo De Leon, Michael Espinosa, Jack Aranda, Prince Factor, and Jesse Santos) and they could definitely do some work out here. Basketball out here is a lot faster, more technical, and a lot more physical. The biggest obstacle for athletes from the islands is exposure. There is so much talent on Saipan that’s been unrecognized,” the 6’1 guard added.

With his stint at The Hoop College Bound Showcase and upcoming high school season this winter, Mendoza vowed to become a better player every day to get ready for the collegiate level.

“As for college, I’m being opened-minded about everything right now. I’d want to go somewhere in the West Coast. I think the most realistic approach is to get into a junior college or a Division II school and go on from there. My ultimate goal is to play college ball,” said Mendoza.