Kobe Paras, 3 Fil-Ams to play in Staples Center showcase

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras and three more Fil-American prospects will play in a special showcase game in the Staples Center before the Los Angeles Clippers host defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs on Monday (Tuesday Manila time).

Paras will headline the special showcase along with Lucas Siewert and Milan Acquaah and the entire LA Purple Ghosts under coach William Middlebrooks.

Three Fil-Americans will also join Paras in the special showcase. They are Vicente Mojares, freshman Avery Carter and Jameel McGill, currently ranked no. 88 in the state.   

Paras is already committed to play for the UCLA so there is no pressure for him to impress the scouts but nonetheless, he still wants to put a good show.

“I’m excited because I’ve never played in a stadium. Hopefully, I do good and my teammates will, too. And hopefully, we’ll get a win,” Paras told ABS-CBN North America’s Steve Angeles.

Middlebrooks spoke highly of Paras in an interview with the Los Angeles Times during UCLA’s recruitment visit.

“Most people know him (Paras) for his dunking but he can shoot the 3, he dribbles, he passes so he is pretty highly-skilled. He’s adapting to the style of play here in America, which is a lot different from where he came from,” Middlebrooks told LA Times.

Paras rose to fame when he dunked on LeBron James during the NBA superstar's Manila tour and then won the FIBA 3x3 U18 world championship slam dunk title. He managed to land a spot in Middlebrooks' team and was highly-recruited by UCLA coach Steve Alford. 

Siewert, meanwhile, is a strong 6’11 power forward from Brazil. A member of Brazil’s junior national team, he is ranked no. 100 in the US by Rivals and no. 23 on ESPN.

Acquaah has averaged 20 points per game last season and is currently ranked no. 55 on ESPN.