Kobe Paras joins US-based sports agency, parts ways with UP

Former UP Maroon Kobe Paras. INQUIRER PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO

MANILA, Philippines — Kobe Paras has forgone his final year of eligibility with University of the Philippines.

With too much uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paras’ basketball career took a turn back to the United States where he will now train as part of the East West Private umbrella.

“Let tomorrow be your second chance to prove that you are better than today and yesterday. Welcome to the family Kobe!” East West Private, who also has Kai Sotto and other US-based prospects under its agency, posted Tuesday on Instagram.

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The 23-year-old Paras averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in his lone UAAP season with the Fighting Maroons.

Paras was due for an even bigger year with UP but the pandemic struck and scuppered the UAAP’s plans of staging another season after its 82nd Season was cut short.

Before suiting up for UP in 2018, Paras committed to play for the UCLA Bruins after coming out of high school at Middlebrooks Academy in California as a three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals.com.

Paras, though, bounced around early in his collegiate career.

The 6-foot-6 forward ended up playing at Creighton instead before transferring to Cal State Northridge, a school he also never got to play for. He reportedly left Cal State Northridge after its then-head coach Reggie Theus got fired.