UCLA coach Steve Alford likens Kobe Paras to NBA rookie Zach LaVine

MANILA, Philippines – UCLA coach Steve Alford has compared LA Cathedral High School star Kobe Paras to Minnesota Timberwolves rookie shooting guard Zach LaVine.

Kobe, who already committed to join UCLA by 2015 after finishing his high school eligibility at LA Cathedral Phantoms, bared this in an interview with BruinSportsReport.com Edward Lewis.

“He (Alford) compared me to Zach LaVine, he said that my basketball IQ was kinda better than his and we’re both athletic. So, that was really cool when he said that because no one really compared me to anyone. It was kinda great especially coming from him, the head coach,” Paras told BSR.

LaVine played for Alford in his only year in the NCAA last season and made the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. LaVine declared for the draft following his freshman year at UCLA and was selected 13^th overall by the Wolves.

Alford visited LA Cathedral early this month to check on Paras, who made it to LA Times sports pages for his impressive pre-season showing with the Phantoms and he liked what he saw up close.

“When he (Alford) told me that and offered me [a scholarship], in my head, I want to commit right away,” Paras added.

Kobe, the son of PBA legend and the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season Benjie Paras, has added another youtube highlight to his growing collection with a monster dunk on a fastbreak play during an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) game last week in LA.