WBCA announces Kobe King of La Crosse Central as Mr. Basketball

Steady improvement. Stellar athleticism. Excellent teammate. Winner.

Those attributes clearly characterize the 2016-17 Mr. Basketball award winner for Wisconsin – Kobe King of La Crosse Central.

The 6-foot-4 King was presented with the prestigious award from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association at the WIAA State Tournament Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison.

King is a most deserving recipient of the award as he has increased his scoring output in each of his four years of varsity competition for coach Todd Fergot and the Red Raiders.

As a freshman reserve for a club that went 21-3 and won the Mississippi Valley Conference title, King averaged 9.5 points per game and earned honorable mention all-league honors.

As a sophomore, King became the ‘go-to’ scorer for the Red Raiders and helped a young squad to a 17-7 record by averaging 15.8 point per game and earning first-team all-league honors.

Last season, King upped his production to 25.5 points per game and helped La Crosse Central to its first state-tournament appearance in 30 years. The Red Raiders lost to eventual state-champion Kaukauna in the state semifinals to cap a 22-5 season.

As a senior, King helped La Crosse Central to a 24-2 record and another appearance in the WIAA State Tournament. He is averaging 26.5 points per game and went for a career-high 49 points in a 98-83 loss to Lakeville, Minn., North in the annual Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle.

King, who committed to the University of Wisconsin on September 16 of 2015, led the Red Raiders to a 12-0 mark in league play and a 22-game winning streak within league competition.

His eye-popping jumping ability, excellent timing when rebounding the ball on both ends of the court and his unselfishness have endeared him to his teammates.

Heading into the 2017 WIAA State Tournament, King has helped La Crosse Central to an 84-17 record and three league championships.

“As great a player as Kobe is on the court, he is even a better person off of it,” Fergot said. “Kobe has been a part of our program since he was in elementary school and to see how far he has come over that time both on and off the court has been truly amazing.

“I have said this before, but he truly is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. Whenever we mention an area of his game that he needs to work on, he responds and rises to whatever challenge we put in front of him. We have had to actually force him to take days off to make sure he gets enough rest.

“I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of his life the past 10-plus years. You will not find a more humble and kind person.”

King went over 2,000 points during the Red Raiders' state semifinal contest with Waunakee.