collegiate basketball

Ginobili-like Fil-Am teen Chris Koon commits to Ateneo

JR Isaga

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Ginobili-like Fil-Am teen Chris Koon commits to Ateneo
‘One of his greatest attributes is his basketball IQ, very smart, very tough player,’ Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin says of new recruit Chris Koon

Leave it to Coach Tab Baldwin to bridge the gap between Filipino and American basketball.

Chris Koon, a 6-foot-4 do-it-all guard, is now the latest Fil-foreigner recruit added to Baldwin’s retooling campaign for UAAP Season 84.

Although he is just 19 years old, Koon has received a glowing report from Baldwin, which is no small feat especially under a world-renowned, championship-winning coach.

“We should have 5 years with Chris in the Blue Eagle program. He can play multiple positions with a variety of skills,” Baldwin said after clarifying that he must sit out Season 83 in 2021.

“One of his greatest attributes is his basketball IQ, very smart, very tough player. His transition to our program will be fairly seamless.”

Here is what Koon had to say to those who need a clearer comparison with his all-around game.

“It’s a pretty comparison I like to give myself, but it’s a high comparison. I really like Manu Ginobili, a lefty just slashing in the lane,” he said.

“He’s a team guy who likes to win with his work ethic. I mean, he was on the Spurs, a winning program with Popovich. I just love watching him play and, being a lefty, I kind of model my game after him, I try to.”

Like many of Baldwin’s recruits, Koon didn’t come out of nowhere before committing to the reigning three-peat UAAP titleholders.

The Toranse, California native born to a full Filipina mother got his name out after leading Rolling Hills Prep with averages of 16.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.

There, Koon won 3 straight titles and even briefly played with Gilas Pilipinas prospect Dwight Ramos, who was crucial in securing his return back home to play for Ateneo. 

“He’s a great player, fun to play with him. I know he wants to get off with a bang,” Koon said of Ramos. (READ: Dwight Ramos: New Gilas kid on the block)

“I played with him a little bit and he wants to win so I think it’s gonna be a great partnership.”

Because Koon initially committed to California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, he will have to go through his redshirt year with the Eagles.

Still, he and Ramos will get one more playing year together in 2022, Ramos’ final year of eligibility.

As more and more foreign-born recruits fly back home to the Philippines, Baldwin praised the team’s thorough recruitment drive in their quest to keep their ongoing dynasty afloat.

“In college basketball, you’ve always got to refresh your roster. Recruiting is obviously a very important job that we have for Ateneo,” he said. “As Chris just alluded to, we’ve had a relationship with Chris for 3 to 4 years so there are a lot of players right now whom we have a relationship with.”

“Recruiting is a never-ending effort, and it’s always a great feeling when you prioritize a great player and that player decides to come and join the program,” he concluded. – Rappler.com

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