College Commitment: Kobe Newton (2019 Westview HS)
Sometimes it’s about the best opportunity. That was the case for Kobe Newton and his college recruitment. The athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound combo guard from Westview High School could have stayed in the Pacific Northwest to start his college career, but when a school in the Midwest came calling with a full scholarship offer, he jumped at the chance and committed on Sunday night.
“I’ve committed to Dodge City Community (College) in Kansas,” Newton said. “They seemed the most invested out of all the Schools recruiting me to move me on to the next level and prepare my body for the next level and that immediately made me feel like it was a good fit.”
Newton had previously signed with Highline College in Washington, a school that had been recruiting him throughout the season. But the full ride offer from Dodge City was too hard to turn down and Newton said telling the coaches at Highline of his decision was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do.
Dodge City competes in the ultra-tough KJCCC league in the NJCAA, and Newton has gotten a feel for the high level of play from the DCCC coaching staff and his head coach at Westview, Michael Wolf. The program had gotten in touch with Newton and through viewing game film, decided to make the scholarship offer. So despite the fact he hasn’t seen the college campus in person (he does plan on visiting at some point this summer), Newton got a FaceTime tour from the coaching staff and felt comfortable enough to commit sight unseen.
“I knew that they were going to give me all the right tools to get to the next level,” Newton said. “And there’s a lot of open spots due to only three guys returning.”
A very skilled backcourt performer, Newton plans on working at getting physically stronger and continue developing his ball-handling skills to get ready for the level of play that awaits him at Dodge City. He currently ranks as the #62 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2019 rankings.