Sage Tolentino —PHOTO FROM SAGE TOLENTINO’S INSTAGRAM
Sage Tolentino has received a scholarship offer from Kansas University, one of the blue-blood programs in the US NCAA.
The development was made public by Tolentino himself through his Instagram page on Thursday, with the caption, “Thanks to Coach [Bill] Self and Coach [Kurtis] Townsend for believing in me. All glory to God!”
The 16-year-old Tolentino, who plays basketball in Hawaii, has been regarded by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as a future addition for Gilas’ talent pool for the 2023 Fiba World Cup here.
He had been training alongside homegrown talent and fellow 7-footer Kai Sotto, who is set to play for an NBA G League select team.
“It was very unexpected,” he told Hawaii’s KHON2 News. “I’m just very excited and proud.”
“Just grateful … that another college has [given] me an offer,” he added.
Kansas’ offer comes on the heels of University of Kentucky’s reported interest in the lanky beanpole, who helped Maryknoll to back-to-back state championships.
Tolentino said being courted by a champion NCAA team gives him extra motivation to work harder.
The Kansas Jayhawks have won three national championships. The program has produced NBA champions like Wilt Chamberlain, Jojo White and Paul Pierce, and current stars Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid.