Recruiting report: Kobe Wands (2016)
SPRINGFIELD — One year after helping lead the Rolla Bulldogs to a share of an Ozark Conference championship, senior point guard Kobe Wands is at it again in 2015-2016. Wands has helped Rolla to a No. 4 state ranking in…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD — One year after helping lead the Rolla Bulldogs to a share of an Ozark Conference championship, senior point guard Kobe Wands is at it again in 2015-2016.
Wands has helped Rolla to a No. 4 state ranking in Missouri Class 4, and on Friday, he capped a big week of basketball with a 39-point performance in a 96-88 win over Glendale in Springfield. That contest came on the heels of a 19-point game against Kickapoo on Tuesday, a loss to the Chiefs.
Rolla is 23-2 this season and 8-1 in the Ozark Conference, one year after going 26-3 and 8-1 in the league last season.
“He is about like a second son to me,” Rolla head coach Mark Miller said. “He came in from the time he was a freshman and started as a point guard for us. That doesn’t happen that often at the Class 5 level.”
Miller said he has been a leader for the Bulldogs right from the start and has helped lead Rolla to a 13-13, 4-5 record as a freshman and 15-11, 3-6 as a sophomore.
“Playing in the Ozark Conference, it was very challenging, but he owned that spot from day one,” Miller said. “He has been a great leader. His work ethic is secondtonone. He is going to make somebody a really fine college basketball player.”
Wands said he has taken his game to another level this season after the graduation of several seniors last season, including his older brother, Carter.
“I’m a point guard who is going to attack the basket and try to find the open man and knock down the open shot,” Wands said. “Last year, I was just strictly a spot-up shooter and mostly passed the ball. But this year I’ve tried to open up my game a little more and have worked on a pull-up jumper and attacking the basket better.”
Wands played his summer ball with St. Louis Elite and played several tournaments around the midwest.
“It got me ready for the physical play and helped me be able to create my own shot and work harder on defense,” Wands said.
Wands has drawn the interest of several colleges and holds an offer from Drury, Central Methodist, Westminster and Ottowa (Kan.). He has taken visits to both Drury and Central Methodist.
“I’m just trying to look at my opportunities,” Wands said.