Prospect Spotlight: Kyle Bethel (2020)
2020 combo guard Kyle Bethel made his presence known for Oasis this past season.
The 6’0″, 155-pounder averaged 9.4 PPG on a team filled with upperclassmen. Bethel produced 16 double-digit outings including a 25-point game where he shot 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-7 from long range in a win over Cypress Lake.
The Sharks (23-6) won the Class 5A-District 10 and beat Berkeley Prep in the quarterfinal before losing to eventual state semifinalist Tampa Catholic in the semifinal.
Bethel attended Oasis from kindergarten to 8th grade before moving over to Mariner for his 9th grade year. He came back for many reasons.
“It just feels like home to me. I have been playing in that gym since it was built. It was a great move for me academically and for basketball,” Bethel told Prep Hoops. “I was the only starting sophomore on the team and the youngest player on the team. What’s cool is everyone thought I was going to check out because Oasis was never known for athletics and not winning, this was the first year they had a winning season, the first year they ever won their District Championship and the first appearance in the Sweet 16.”
He called it a real underdog season.
“Winning the district championship was the true highlight so far of my high school time. At Oasis, I feel like I could play my true game,” Bethel said. “I hit 65 3’s on the season that put me 7th ranked in my local region all the other players ranked were upperclassmen. I have goals for next season to be in the top spot.”
This summer, Bethel is playing for Hoops on Mission. He’s trained with coaches Dwayne Jackson and Jeff Walter since the 3th grade.
In terms of offers, Bethel doesn’t have any just yet but he’s drawn interest from Queens University and Newberry College. He says he plans on dialing in this summer on some colleges that he has interest in going to and playing basketball for.
“I’m a consistent ballplayer and my basketball IQ stands out over others,” he said. “I have highlight videos and I think they get more attention than other players because I am a lefty but can keep my competition guessing because I am so strong with my right. I shoot with my left and I will make floaters with my right hand.”
He says his biggest strengths are his shooting, aggressiveness, confidence and unselfish as a passing guard. Bethel says he wants to improve on his tendency to be too comfortable from behind the arc at times.
Oasis graduated four seniors this year so Bethel’s role is set to increase. If he can prove his worth early in games that will earn him more responsibility and attention on his group.