1-on-1 with Myck Kabongo
Words. Jason Jordan
Unprompted, we’ve randomly asked a handful of players who their toughest defensive assignment has been all summer, and the name that consistently pops up is Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) point guard Myck Kabongo, a rising senior who is committed to Texas. The reasoning?
He’s fast and quick and smart, and the consensus is that he blends all of those elements better than any other guard in the country.
“There’s no other player like him out there,” Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) combo guard Bishop Daniels said of Kabongo. “It’s hard to explain, but that guy is just really hard to defend.”
We caught up with the most feared floor general in the country to talk about everything from his big move out West to where he thinks his best friend Austin Rivers (Winter Park, Fla.) will end up.
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HighSchoolHoop: Let’s start with the move to Findlay. How’d that come about?
Myck Kabongo: I was in a good situation at St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) and then my coach left. So I didn’t want to stay there after he left.
HSH: Now you’re taking over for your boy Cory Joseph (Texas).
MK: Yeah the relationship I had with Cory helped me get to Findlay. Coach (Mike) Peck was really excited to have me out there. I was excited to go out there too because I know what their school is all about. I talked to Avery (Bradley) about Findlay and he was telling me that Coach Peck likes guards and I saw what he did with Cory because Cory got so much better and stronger. For me to take my game to the next level I knew Findlay would be a good look for me.
HSH: When do you go to Findlay?
MK: I’m supposed to report there in August, but if I make the Canadian national team I won’t be able to go out there until later.
HSH: You’re going to be playing against Team USA U18, right?
MK: Yes.
HSH: Now you know Kyrie Irving (Duke), Austin Rivers, Quincy Miller (High Point, N.C.) and all those guys are on that team?
MK: (Laughs) Yes, yes I do.
HSH: OK, so look into your crystal ball and tell me who you see winning that game.
MK: Wow… Well, I’ve been working on my American citizenship… (Laughs)… I know the talent they have is CRAZY, but I’m a competitor so I can’t say that they’re going to win. We’re gonna go out there and play hard and do everything we can to win. That’s all you can do as a basketball player.
HSH: Hmm, that was a very politically correct answer.
MK: (Laughs) OK, OK.
HSH: What about the potential backcourt matchup; You and Cory against Austin and Kyrie.
MK: I’ve thought about that. Aww man. Well, you know those guys are gonna have to double team me out there! (Laughs)… So they’ll have a little bit of an advantage because they’ll have the fresh legs… No, but I think me and Cory will win that matchup. Like I said I’m a competitor and I know those guys are too. It will be fun.
HSH: We shall see. Let’s talk NBA Camp. How do you feel about your play there?
MK: I think I did really well. I’m just showing everyone that I’m improving more and more and adding new things to my game. I wanted to bring a lot of leadership to the camp. I have improved on my defense and my jump shot too. Then I got sick the last day.
HSH: What happened?
MK: I had a fever.
HSH: So you didn’t play the last day?
MK: No.
HSH: How did your team do?
MK: We were 3-1 before I got sick, then they went 1-1 when I got sick. We lost in the semifinals to go to the finals. We had good guys on my team too. Not a bunch of guys who just jack shots up. We played as a team so that helped me play even better.
HSH: What kind of stuff do you guys do at the NBA Camp in your downtime?
MK: There’s no TV’s in the rooms so we’re just talking and bugging out. We have fun together.
HSH: How much recruiting were you doing when you were there?
MK: Oh a lot! A lot! Everyone wants to come to Texas with me! You know after seeing me play, they’re like “Mike I’ve gotta play with you!” (Laughs)
HSH: Well since it’s like that why don’t you go ahead and tell us now, are you getting your boy Austin Rivers to Texas?
MK: Uuuuuh, well that’s kind of tough. Austin has some great schools on his list. I’d LOVE to play with Austin, but I don’t know if I can pull that one off.
HSH: Come on Myck, you’ve got all the juice. I mean you’re playing in Austin, his name is Austin…
MK: (Laughs) That’s pretty good! Yeah, I don’t think I’ve got that much!
HSH: OK, if not there then where do you think?
MK: I think we both know… I think that dark shade of blue may be it.
HSH: So you think he’s headed to Duke?
MK: Yeah.
HSH: OK, let’s switch gears. Where are you from originally?
MK: I’m from Zaire, but I’m a Canadian citizen.
HSH: Are we missing a pool of talented players like you in Zaire?
MK: You know I’m not really sure, but I’ve heard that there are some really talented players over there. I’d love to bring them over here with me. Maybe we could start our own national team.
HSH: That would be interesting.
MK: Yeah I’d love to be a part of something like that.
Got a burning question for Jason? Email him: JasonJ@DimeMag.com
Great read! Kabongo giving the scoop on Austin! You guys do a great job.
Great article JJ!! I know u cant tell him not 2 go 2 duke, but i will, austin(calling his name)? dont sell ya soul 2 the devil, the price is cheap, u know its hot on this level bc unc is 2tw as deep.
But i hope ya listening, ignorance is bliss and so on, its fact that you’ll b better as a heel, should i go on!
Good luck kid. For the record, MK is the purest pg in this class. He and teague is so close, i like the intangibles that both players bring(mk a little more. teague is a better scorer though).
MK would b perfect as a HEEL!! Everybody is talking about duke, kentucky, memphis, unc…as teams who could dominate at the top for at least the next 3-5yrs, Texas is looking really scary!
They can play both MK and C. Joseph in the backcourt together and not loose a beat bc of CJ’S defense and shooting ability. Two great playmakers who can score, defend and pass, thats scary!!
Good luck kid! To Austin, which ever school he chooses, they r getting one heck of a player/stud! With the most overlooked skill of a basketball player, a top of the chart BasketBall IQ, and having the skills to compliment the BB IQ is something that a coach cant plan for(think K.Bryant, LBJ and i’ll even throw in d-wade)
The only thing the kobe doesnt have is his exsplosiveness, as in 3yrs ago. Outside of that he doesnt have a weakness. 3pt, mid-range, post, left-hand,ft’s, fundelmentals through the roof.
Thats why he can still b the best player in the game at 31yrs(calculated thats +4=35yrs bc of the miles logged on his body since he didnt go to college)old battling back,knee problems and this broken/torn ligaments of a finger with 2lbs of tape on it(who the doctor said, its a finger of a 50-60yr old, something like that).
I’m getting way ahead of my self bc kobe/LBJ has skills that austin havent dreamed of yet, but a bb iq can make the diff btw being a good player and being a great player!
At this stage, the only player who can stop austin is austin!
Though he needs 2 hit the weightroom hard, i’m pretty sure something he already knows!
“dont sell ya soul 2 the devil, the price is cheap, u know its hot on this level bc unc is 2tw as deep.”
LOL, what utter stupidity and juvenille talk. You say unc is 2tw as deep? first off, if you are implying that the tarholes are a deeper team you need to get your little brain checked because Duke is the deepest team in the country. Wow, you tarholes are so dumb, I mean REALLY dumb.
And you say “MK would b perfect as a HEEL!!”, ha ha, only if he want’s to play on an avergae team with a hick coach. He’s Duke material dude and he’s Austin’s boy so you’ll be crying soon enought when he shows up in Duke blue!!!! (and putting another 32+ point beatdown on the holes).
Kabongo, come to Duke where they win NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS and have the best coach in the world. If you pick crapolina then all you can hope for is an NIT appearance.
GO DUKE!!!