Recruiting Report: Mohamed Kone (2017)
If there’s a better story than Mohamed Kone from last week’s Minnesota State Tournament, I haven’t found it.
Less than a year after losing his younger brother to cancer, Kone has become a state champion. He and the Apple Valley Eagles beat undefeated Champlin Park to grab their rings, and Kone earned a spot on the Class AAAA All-Tournament Team in the process. He had #BallForHamza written on his shoes, as he has ever since Hamza’s diagnosis.
Then there’s the story of his basketball trajectory. If Kone told his 9th-grade self that he’d eventually be a starter for a state champion team, he’d probably be shocked. That’s part of what makes his story so compelling.
“Ever since 9th grade B team was over, I was told I would most likely not make the team,” Kone said. “I don’t like to be told that I’m not going to make it, so every day after school I went to the community center just shooting and ball-handing.
“I made the team sophomore year. I was very nervous, but I made it. At the end of sophomore year I met Jadee Jones, Tre’s older brother who is a trainer, and I told him I wanted to get better. During the summer I got to work with him and improved a lot, but I also would also get help from my close friends that could train me to get me better.”
A huge door opened when five-star recruit Gary Trent, Jr. transferred out to Prolific Prep in California.
“I found out that Gary was going to transfer schools, and I was like ‘damn, that’s crazy,'” Kone added. “It was sad that he left, but it was a chance for me to get that position. I knew that it was a big shoe to fill, and I knew that I had defense and energy, so I just stuck with everything I’ve been doing that got me on the team every year. Senior year came and I made the team because of my hard work and defensive energy. I made the starting line up and took off from there.”
What a journey. Kone is considering playing college basketball at junior colleges Central Lakes, Rochester, Ridgewater, and NDSCS, the latter of which has provided a half scholarship. He plans on playing spring basketball with the MN Eagles.