A Conversation with Nate Rawlins-Kibonge
Back in June, Nate Rawlings-Kibonge made the early decision to end his college recruitment and accepted Washington State’s offer to play basketball for the Cougars. But now after the aggressive 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward finished after his very first year playing…
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Continue ReadingBack in June, Nate Rawlings-Kibonge made the early decision to end his college recruitment and accepted Washington State’s offer to play basketball for the Cougars. But now after the aggressive 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward finished after his very first year playing football, all of a sudden college programs are interested in him on the gridiron.
How does Rawlins-Kibonge feel about these offers? Is he still set on playing basketball with the Cougars? We caught up with the Jefferson junior on these questions and how he views the 2019-20 season going on the hardwood in our latest conversation with him after practice on Thursday night.
Here’s a transcript of the interview.
Q: This year you went out for football for the very first time. Tell me about the experience and how it went for you.
A: The experience was great and I loved every minute of it. I’ve never been a part of anything like that and it was a real family. It gave me a second place to call home and I enjoyed every day, every minute of it. I’m sad it’s over but it’s time for hoop now – time to put the ball in the hoop instead of putting the ball in the end zone.
Q: How easy or hard was it to transition to football?
A: It was difficult at first, especially playing D-End it was a lot more physical than I expected it to be. I’m a physical person but it was even physical for me. It was a hard adjustment at first but I got it. Coach Don (Johnson), Coach Chuck (Jones), Coach Lo (Edwards) they did a good job with the line helping me out. Coach Nee (Harrison), Coach Hou (Lillard) they helped me stay grounded and helped me stay humble, my family helped me stay humble, helped me stay grounded. They were my support system and that’s all I can really say about it.
Q: Obviously lots of people noticed your play and you got some offers (currently Arizona State, Washington State, and Colorado). What was it like getting football college offers?
A: It’s nice and I love it. All the offers – how many I get how many that come, I’ll accept them with the same open arms and the same gratitude. But right now I’m just focused on three things – the state championship, making my family proud, and making sure I just get this job done.
Q: Back in June, you committed to Washington State for basketball. Where are you at right now (with recruiting) with all this new stuff that’s come up?
A: It’s definitely very interesting with the new football offers and scholarships but I love Wazzu. They welcomed me as a family. A lot of people didn’t take a chance on me early and they did. Pac-12 basketball, a program that’s rebuilding with a great coaching staff, Mike Plank and Kyle Smith – those are my guys and I love them to death. The football coaches, Coach Spurrier, I love him and I talked to him yesterday. It’s just a great environment for me there. They’re grinding from the bottom and I’m from the bottom too – I just love that place.
Q: Does the football offer kind of cement things for you?
A: I wouldn’t say that it completely cements things but it definitely pushes me even more in that direction than I already was.
Q: OK like you said your focus is now on basketball. Obviously the goal is to get a state championship but what are your thoughts on this team?
A: I love this team. We’ve got some stuff to work on together, a little chemistry issues and stuff but we’re going to get through it. We’re definitely not going to do a repeat of last year and if we do, you’re going to have to see me down on the court because I’m not going to let that happen without me giving it my all. I take a lot of the blame for last year – I was a leader on the team even as a sophomore but I let a lot of stuff slide because I thought I was a sophomore and it wasn’t my place. But I should have stepped up and spoke and I didn’t and the losses are on me. All the losses are on me and I’ll take the blame for it. The championship was on me, I didn’t lead, I didn’t do what I was supposed to do the right way and I’m trying to fix that this year.