Kabongo’s growth over the course of the season was hard to ignore, evolving into a reliable scoring option with strong on-ball creation. He was not playing with the team in the Fall, played seldomly to start the year, but hit his groove to start out the new year. Izzy showed himself as a reliable scorer who excels in isolation. He breaks defenders down off the dribble and finishes well at the basket. He battles for boards, he sets up the offense, and played himself into being the 2nd leading scorer for Grandview at 8 points a game. I’m excited to see how he continues to elevate his game, and this should be a big summer for him.

Kabongo impacted the game in a variety of ways, showing a well rounded skill set throughout the tournament. He was active on the glass, consistently boxing out and securing rebounds in traffic. He ran the floor hard, turning effort into scoring chances in transition. In the post he showed touch and patience, finishing through contact and using his body effectively. He also stepped out and knocked down the occasional three, hinting at range. What stood out most was his comfort handling the ball, pushing the break and making solid decisions. Kabongo’s versatility makes him an intriguing all around prospect

Kabongo is starting to pop now that he’s fully entrenched in his role at Grandview, and his impact is showing up on both ends of the floor. He flashes to open spots, attacks off the dribble with purpose and is strong going to the basket finishing through contact. His activity level stands out, especially defensively where he jumps passing lanes and turns steals into instant offense. Averaging 7.9 points per game, Kabongo brings energy, toughness and momentum every time he’s on the floor

Kabongo has been a welcome spark for Grandview, as he did not play with them in Fall League, but now that his number has been called, he’s been delivering. The sophomore is averaging 7.3 points and coming off a 13-point outing against Chaparral that kept them in the game. He’s most effective attacking downhill and creating in isolation as he gives the offense a different look. His confidence and consistency have grown quickly, and he’s becoming a reliable contributor on this veteran-led team. Keep an eye out for him. 

Kabongo impressed this summer as we saw him multiple times, and his ability to put the ball in the basket, as well as versatility, is why he will be making the rankings this go-round. Izzy stood out with his scoring instincts and creativity on offense as a shot maker.  He’s comfortable with the ball in his hands and also moves without it. He also knocks down the 3-ball and gets to the mid-range. Izzy uses his athleticism to exploit mismatches and flashes defensive potential when locked in. This season will be about growth and learning, but his skill level makes him one to track moving forward. 

Kabongo impressed as a versatile scorer. In 3-on-3, he dominated with craft finishing, floaters, and deep shooting. That was the part of the day where he was very aggressive, took advantage of mismatches, and while I wanted him to showcase his playmaking ability as a distributor, he proved to be one of the better iso scorers. In 5-on-5, he slowed slightly but still showcased balance and control, getting to his strong spots on the left side. His ability to score at all three levels makes him an intriguing guard to follow moving forward and one that is on my radar.