College Commitment: Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge (2021 Jefferson HS)
It’s hard to believe that Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge 6'7" | PF Jefferson | 2021 #228 Nation OR only first donned a football uniform just a few months ago. Since then, college football programs have been enthralled with the potential of the 6-foot-7 athlete and the one-time Washington State hoops commit all of a sudden started earning gridiron offers from across the country. It became clear that football would be his main route to college and on Wednesday afternoon at a press conference on the 50-yard line at Jefferson High School alongside teammate Damir Collins, Rawlins-Kibonge announced that he’ll be attending the University of Oklahoma.
“I felt like they were the best family atmosphere for me,” Rawlins-Kibonge said. “I’m a big family person and they treat me like family. They didn’t treat me like a kid that they were recruiting, they didn’t treat me like an object and at the end of the day I thought they did the best job recruiting me.”
Rawlins-Kibonge went into detail what he put Oklahoma over the top for him. “I love that it’s a Jordan school and I love the coaches, the staff, and everybody there so far,” Rawlins-Kibonge said. “I love the schemes and how they want to put me in and develop me. The plans they have for me that they’ve put in front of me, it was an opportunity that I couldn’t waste.”
Another opportunity for Rawlins-Kibonge was on the basketball floor. The 6A Player of the Year has talked with the Sooners hoops coaching staff and he’s fully planning on starting out college as a two-sport athlete.
“They did say that I could play basketball so I’m planning on playing my first couple of years,” Rawlins-Kibonge said. “I talked with Coach Kruger on my virtual visit and he was very adamant about me playing and coming out. He was really excited and saying that if I’m coming that he’d have a spot for me. So you’re going to still see me with a (basketball) jersey on, my career ain’t over yet.”
Rawlins-Kibonge has been working out in both football and basketball this off-season and with hoops, he’s planning on playing with Oregon Prospects whenever club basketball continues. He’s got goals for next year on the hardwood and he’s staying focused.
“I’ve just got to keep getting comfortable with who I am as a player,” Rawlins-Kibonge said. “I want to improve my shot but I just want to have fun with it. I still feel like I’m a top hoops prospect and I’m kind of slept on, but I want to enjoy this last run that I’ve got and try to win a ring next year.”
Rawlins-Kibonge currently ranks as the #3 ranked player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2021 rankings.