College Commitment: Ken West (2019 Bellevue Christian HS)
He was getting ready to make a decision anyway. Ken West had whittled down his college choices down to three and by the end of this week he was going to choose where he was going to play basketball. But during spring break one thing led to another for the versatile 6-foot-7, 195-pound forward from Bellevue Christian and the next thing you know, West had decided to sign to play with Azusa Pacific.
“It’s super exciting,” West said. “They’ve been on my tail for awhile recruiting wise and I visited there in the fall last year and I really liked it. I visited with my dad, so we are down here in the San Diego area for spring break and my mom really wanted to see the campus. I was going to make a decision by the end of spring break, so we went up to Azusa and we were talking to some of the guys that I’d be playing with and the coaches and I realized it was an awesome fit for me. So I decided to sign right on the spot.”
The timing was just right for West, who broke down more why he chose Azusa to continue his basketball career. “It will be a lot more sunny than it is in Seattle, so that’s kind of nice,” West said. “I connected with the guys there really well and I really like the coaching staff and where they are coming from. I know it’s a very stable environment going in there coaching-wise. I really connected with the coaches which I feel is very important because they’re going to be a huge part of my life for the next four years.”
The fit on the basketball floor and how he could develop as a player was paramount in his decision making process as well. “I’ll be like a stretch four or a small forward when I get older and stronger,” West said. “They told me that they’re going to use me right off the bat which is pretty exciting. So hopefully I’ll get some pretty good minutes. I definitely have to get stronger but I’ve already started getting in the weight room a lot. I also probably need to get a much better handle on the ball so I can be a bit more diverse. Right now I’m a three or a four, but if I can get a really good handle I could play the shooting guard position.”
West earned Nisqually League MVP honors this past season and chose Azusa Pacific over St. Martin’s and Cal State San Marcos. He currently ranks as the #35 player in the PrepHoops Washington Class of 2019 rankings.