Kobe Paras commits to Cal State-Northridge

Screen capture from Youtube

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Kobe Paras is returning to Hollywood.

He is not rejoining UCLA, though.

The former Batang Gilas star committed to the California State University campus in Northridge, a Los Angeles district 30 minutes away from the city proper.

Middlebrooks Academy made the commitment official in a statement, in which a copy was obtained by Dugout Philippines on Thursday.

Paras chose Cal State-Northridge over Santa Clara, Grand Canyon, University of Hawaii, and Big West rival Cal State-Fullerton.

According to Middlebrooks, what led the six-foot-six high-flyer to transfer to CSUN from Creighton is an opportunity to be coached by former NBA superstar Reggie Theus, one of only four players to score 19,000 points and 6,000 assists in his entire career and one of only two stars six-foot-seven or taller to dish out 750 assists in one season, the other being Magic Johnson.

"Paras now has an opportunity to continue his development on a daily basis with a coach that has done exactly what Paras is desirous of doing, which is to have a stellar NBA career as an elite scoring and assists specialist," the school said.

Paras first committed to UCLA but eventually moved to Creighton just before the US NCAA season began.

He only played sparingly last season, which became a factor for his decision to leave the Bluejays for the Matadors.

Paras, according to Middlebrooks, will sign a written commitment to CSUN as soon as next week. The school will then post a statement and even have a press conference as well.

Paras will undergo a one-year residency this upcoming season before jumping to action in the 2019 season.

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