Signing Report: Gabe King (2016)

<h2>Signing Day 2015</h2>Gabe King had an excellent summer playing with the South Dakota Heat pushing the team to defeat a couple of the top PHD area programs and he picked up five scholarship offers along the way impressing several of the college programs looking on. The option Gabe seemed to like the best was playing for Northern State as he visited the school, committed to their scholarship offer, and signed with the program yesterday along with top 15 talent in Minnesota Cole Dahl. King is a 6-foot-5 guard/wing from Irene-Wakonda and Northern State Head Coach Paul Sather was excited to receive his national letter of intent Wednesday. "Gabe is the kind of player that can fill a stat sheet," Sather said. "He is a very good shooter, but his feel for the game is what sets him apart. Gabe is a big guard that can really see the floor, create his own shot, or finish at the rim. "He's a really good athlete with a very high ceiling, and was one of the best rebounding guards we saw all summer. Gabe is also a very high academic student that is interested in our School of Business." Gabe was a first team all PHD performer this summer for his play with the South Dakota Heat and he is a top five player prospect in the state of South Dakota. King has racked up the honors playing for Irene-Wakonda and yesterday Northern State released the following information about King's accomplishments: Gabe has averaged over ten points per game each of the last three season. As a junior he averaged a career best 22 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks per game. As a freshmen, King earned Irene-Wakonda Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-Conference honors. Gabe continued as a sophomore earning both First Team All-Conference and Team MVP honors. King was named the team and conference MVP a season ago, while also earning Second Team All-State as he led the Eagles to a district championship. <h2>August 13th Update</h2>The South Dakota Heat squad from the eastern portion of the state grabbed attention this Grassroots season by competing in strong way in the SPTS including wins over the top North Dakota 17U squad ECI Prospects and a win over the top ranked team in South Dakota, Schoolers Daly. They finished 17-11 overall and were led by 6-foot-5 wing Gabe King who continues to pile up scholarship offers. King led PHD know today that Briar Cliff offered him making it Gabe’s 5th offer. “The main schools I'm looking at and have received offers from are Northern (State), Dakota Wesleyan University, Dakota State University, and Dordt,” Kind said. Schools followed King to Omaha, the Twin Cities, and to four Sioux Falls events to see how his game was evolving. Along the way King’s game improved with each tournament. “Playing with and against an elite group of basketball players made me push and work harder than I ever have,” King explained. “I have played with this group of guys for multiple years and they have become like brothers to me. I also had an awesome coach that was very dedicated to making his players become the best they could.” King’s years playing Grassroots basketball were memorable for many reasons. “I love traveling when it's going to play basketball somewhere new, I love my teammates and made a ton of new friends both from my team and other teams,” Gabe explained. “The competition is incredible and is really humbling. It pushes you and makes you a better, more complete player.” Next for King is looking into his college basketball options and then playing out his senior year of high school basketball. “We're looking to have a very successful season this year,” Gabe said. “Losing in the region championship was devastating to all of us and we put in tons of work this offseason. “Our goal is to reach the state tournament, and hopefully win a couple games up there at the Barnett Center. Anything short than state would be a disappointment.” <h2>May 1, 2015</h2>The 6-foot-5 Gabe King earned second team all state this year at Irene-Wakonda and he earned it. King put up 21.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 5.5 blocks, and 2.6 assists per game leading his team to a 16-6 record. At 175-180 pounds King has the length, skill, agility, and versatility to play on the perimeter against the best but at his size he also put up the massive rebounding and blocked shot numbers this winter. It goes without saying that King received a lot of defensive attention but that didn’t stop him from shooting 50 percent from the field (took about 16 shots a game), 39 percent from the arc (took 5-6 treys a contest), and 72 percent at the arc (about six free throws a game shot). Gabe has moved on to the Grassroots level of play with South Dakota Heat and after nine games they have a solid 6-3 record. “It's been pretty fun so far,” said King of the month of April. “It's obvious that we've improved individually and as a team over the last year. It makes it even more fun.” King competes with Camden Myers of Ethan, Shay Jolley of Canistota, Jacob Hinker of Lennox, and Logan Busch of Beresford amongst others. Next up for them is the Sanford Pentagon Championship Series Session Two in Omaha in just over a week’s time. “We need to continue to play hard and fast the entire game without letting up,” said King about what his team needs to do to improve. “When we relax, it's costly.” King has the skill, versatility, and production to be a division two recruit in the opinion of PHD. He’s heard from several and there are more skills that are going to keep following and are likely to recruit him harder in the future. “Colleges I hear regularly from are Dakota Wesleyan, Augustana, Dordt, the University of South Dakota, Northwestern College, and Mount Marry College.” <h2>February 2015</h2>At 6-foot-5, 170 pounds and playing on the wing, Irene/Wakonda’s Gabe King is an intriguing prospect. What’s even more intriguing is that this big guard is getting 23.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks a game. He’s made 52 percent of his field attempts this year despite constant attention including 33 of 86 three point attempts (38 percent). “The season is going fairly well so far,” said King. “We are 13-5. To win in the District Tournament, we're going to have to lock down and work hard on defense and eliminate turnovers. If we do those two things, we have as good of a shot as anybody to go to the state tournament.” Irene-Wakonda defeated Freeman 72-67 last night and has one more game this week before districts begin. King scored 21 and he’s playing well. “I have cut down on turnovers, improved my rebounding, and become more of a leader for my team,” said King. “I'm having more fun this year, and it shows in my statistics and play.” With his production, size, and skill King is a guy that schools will follow this spring and summer. “I've played AAU with the South Dakota Heat for two years now and will be again this summer,” said King. “Mount Mary College, Dakota Wesleyan, and Augustana are the three showing the most interest.”