Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge
- Thread starter etowncoug
- Start date
I think there was a story where he said he would like to play both. Basketball appears to be his first love but this was his first year in football? I think WSU was close to offering him in football when Leach was here. I assume Rolovich would follow. He looks like a great prospect for both sports.
Oregonian/OregonLive has an article on Rawlins-Kibonge. I didn't realize Nathan was so highly rated nationally in basketball. The article doesn't seem to take his WSU commitment very seriously and after reading it, someone would likely think he will never become a Cougar. I'd like to think that his commitment is more than him just waiting for a better offer.
One other funny thing written by the reporter, Andrew Nemec, who tends to get a little hyperbolic in his writing:
"Jefferson junior Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge received one of the most coveted scholarship offers in all of college athletics. It was an offer from the Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes. For football."
Is a scholarship offer from Miami these days truly one of the most coveted offers in all of college athletics? I doubt it.
Nathan Rawlings-Kibonge article
Glad Cougar
One other funny thing written by the reporter, Andrew Nemec, who tends to get a little hyperbolic in his writing:
"Jefferson junior Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge received one of the most coveted scholarship offers in all of college athletics. It was an offer from the Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes. For football."
Is a scholarship offer from Miami these days truly one of the most coveted offers in all of college athletics? I doubt it.
Nathan Rawlings-Kibonge article
Glad Cougar
Great point glad. Yeah they were 6-7 just like WSU. Haven't played in a significant bowl in years and being in the ACC they are typical not a high flyer in years. Same in basketball (well the ACC is premier) but 11-7 and 3-7 in conference isn't much.
This Oregon author is very odd.
This Oregon author is very odd.
Nebraska is the latest school to offer NRK a football scholarship. They join Miami, Indiana, Boise State, Cal, OSU, Arizona State, and Colorado with offers. As far as I can tell, he's still committed to WSU for basketball and I would be very surprised if Rolo hasn't extended the opportunity to play football, too. He's averaging 15 ppg, 14 rpg, and 6 blocks per game in this, his junior season at Jefferson HS in Portland.
I would love for Nathan to stick with his commitment and give preference to WSU for being the first to recognize his talents, but there are a lot of suitors lined up with more to come.
Glad Cougar
I would love for Nathan to stick with his commitment and give preference to WSU for being the first to recognize his talents, but there are a lot of suitors lined up with more to come.
Glad Cougar
Maybe he's another Tony Gonzalez. If he takes a FB schollie that basically gives BB an additional schollie.
Can't hurt that he's wearing Coug gear. He's blowing up but getting in first can mean a lot.
Brand X has an update on Rawlins-Kibonge. Looking more and more like football will be the focus for him with most everyone in the Pac-12 lining up for his services. Smith & Rolo are continuing to recruit him to play both sports, but other schools are also offering him a 2-sport deal. I don't hold much hope that he stays committed to WSU, but you never know.
Here's a quote from Nathan that is all too common these days among HS athletes. Makes you wonder why the word "committed" is even used:
"I'm still committed to Washington State, but I have to make a decision soon," said Rawlins-Kibonge.
At least identifying NRK early, like Smith and his staff did, shows they have a good eye for potential.
Glad Cougar
Here's a quote from Nathan that is all too common these days among HS athletes. Makes you wonder why the word "committed" is even used:
"I'm still committed to Washington State, but I have to make a decision soon," said Rawlins-Kibonge.
At least identifying NRK early, like Smith and his staff did, shows they have a good eye for potential.
Glad Cougar
I read his comments as saying he's committed to us for basketball but he'll have to decide whether or not his future is in football. It seems we are the only school to really see him as a basketball player first, with football as almost an afterthought. I don't think he'd get offers to play basketball from some of these programs if he wasn't a stud football player. On some level, he's got to realize he'll get pushed toward football after a year but Smith truly sees him as a basketball player.
Just an update.....NRK is planning to announce his decision June 17– a week from tomorrow. His offer list for football is quite long. The Oregonian/OregonLive (Andrew Nemec) writes the following:
"[Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge] holds offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee, USC, Washington and others."
It's funny that they list all the Pac-12 schools that have offered NRK a football scholarship except WSU. I guess we have been relegated to an "others" designation, even though we were the first to offer a scholarship (for basketball) and NRK committed. I know that Rolo has offered a football scholarship and that NRK has an opportunity to play both sports at WSU. I have no expectations that he will be a Cougar, but I would think we have as much of a chance as Colorado– a school that is specifically listed by the Oregonian.
Glad Cougar
"[Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge] holds offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee, USC, Washington and others."
It's funny that they list all the Pac-12 schools that have offered NRK a football scholarship except WSU. I guess we have been relegated to an "others" designation, even though we were the first to offer a scholarship (for basketball) and NRK committed. I know that Rolo has offered a football scholarship and that NRK has an opportunity to play both sports at WSU. I have no expectations that he will be a Cougar, but I would think we have as much of a chance as Colorado– a school that is specifically listed by the Oregonian.
Glad Cougar
Interesting. I believe the Oregon papers have pretty much dismissed us from the point Oregon entered the picture for football. He definitely has some heavy hitters including the Yuks and I believe his childhood favorite in Miami. When he blew up in football I suspected he wasn't coming our way so I have no illusions he will pick us either. I guess you never know until the hat show takes place.
Actually, unless I missed it, I don't think the Ducks are offering him.....which is shocking given that they seemingly are in on just about every top football prospect in the country. I thought I read something at one time that there would be quite a bit of unwanted scrutiny of his recruitment by UO because of an assistant coach or some other relationship to NRK. I'll have to go back and find it....but he's not on their list.
I also missed Oregon State, which has offered Nathan. So for some strange reason, the Oregonian didn't list the Beavers. They too are considered "others" by the article.
Glad Cougar
I also missed Oregon State, which has offered Nathan. So for some strange reason, the Oregonian didn't list the Beavers. They too are considered "others" by the article.
Glad Cougar
Not sure what I was reading and you are correct on the reason. I remember hearing his high school coach was hired and that eliminated them from recruiting him. At least I believe it was Rawlins-Kibonge but I'm questioning my reading skills at this point.
As expected, Nathan is no longer committed to play basketball at WSU. He will be playing football at Oklahoma. That news is more than compensated by the Rosario announcement, IMO.
Glad Cougar
Glad Cougar
Seems very odd to me that he would turn down Stanford for Oklahoma. But hay after he blew up in football he was a long shot for us. I would prefer to play basketball
My guess is the admissions process to Stanford may take too long - I read somewhere he wasn't going to wait, but that could be just hearsay.
Seems very odd to me that he would turn down Stanford for Oklahoma. But hay after he blew up in football he was a long shot for us. I would prefer to play basketball
If you followed his Twitter, you can see why the benefits of a Stanford education might have been lost on him.
Not what I heard. He is playing FOOTBALL at Oklahoma. But still committed to us for BASKETBALL
