Prospect Spotlight: Kibru Sugebo (2019)
Kibru Sugebo doesn’t go to your normal high school and that’s probably why a lot of people haven’t heard of him.
The junior point guard attends The Preuss School UCSD, a college prep charter school designed specifically for students who strive to be the first in their families to graduate from a university.
The application process is rigorous and the education is demanding, but Sugebo said that it’s provided him with the ability to get a high level education, while also a solid basketball foundation.
“My cousins told me about the school and said it’s one of the best in California,” he said. “I’ve been there now since sixth grade and it’s the fifth best school in the state. The school is a great and my craft is good, so it’s going to help me at the end of the day.”
Preuss UCSD point guard Kibru Sugebo made the most of his time at the Creme of the County.Sugebo is the type of kid who makes sure to take advantage of every opportunity presented to him and the Creme of the County showcase on Labor Day weekend was no different.
The 5-foot-10 floor general displayed a high basketball IQ and good feel for the position, while executing his plan of putting himself on the radar of scouts and media despite playing at a smaller high school.
“Our school is Division 4, but that doesn’t mean we have Division 4 players,” Sugebo said. “We have really good players that people don’t know about. I wanted to show everyone how I play and make them keep an eye on me.”
One of the things that stood out about Sugebo’s game was his quickness with the ball in his hands and his ability to work his way into tight spaces and create offense for himself and others.
“My speed helps a lot for when I get into the paint,” he said. “I feel like I’m getting better as a passer. My ball skills and quickness helps me squeeze into smaller areas.”
But in order to reach his athletic dream of playing college basketball, Sugebo knows he has to be able to defend his position.
“I’m working on defending bigger guards,” he said. “I’m not the strongest guy, so that’s going to be important at the next level.”
Sugebo hasn’t heard from any schools as of yet, but that could soon change, and once his playing career is over, he’ll have plenty of other options to fall back on, as well.
“I don’t have any college interest yet,” he said. “Everybody’s goal is is to play Division 1 and I think I’m good enough to play on that level. I’m just going to keep working on my craft more. I get to the gym every morning I can to work on my craft.
“I like physics a lot,” Sugebo added. “I have all A’s right now; I’m a 4.0 student.”