Kobe King is Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association announced Saturday.
A 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior from La Crosse Central, King signed a National Letter of Intent with the Badgers in November. He is averaging 26.5 points per game and leads the Red Raiders into their Division 2 state title game Saturday evening against Cedarburg.
"Kobe committed to Wisconsin very early in the process, and because of his loyalty to this university and his excitement to be a Badger, he never wavered from that commitment," head coach Greg Gard in November. "He has really developed into a player that can score at three levels: attacking the basket, mid-range jump shots and from behind the 3-point arc.
"In addition, his athleticism should allow him to develop into a very good defender. Kobe has done an outstanding job at setting an example for others in the classroom as well."
King, who committed to the Badgers and then-head coach Bo Ryan in September of 2015, went over 2,000 points during the Red Raiders' state semifinal contest with Waunakee this week. He is part of a three-man 2017 recruiting class for UW that also includes Brad Davison and Nathan Reuvers.
Past Mr. Basketball Award Winners in Wisconsin
2016: Sam Hauser, Stevens Point; Trevor Anderson, Stevens Point
2015: Diamond Stone, Dominican; Henry Ellenson, Rice Lake
2014: Kevon Looney, Milwaukee Hamilton
2013: Luke Fischer, Germantown
2012: Sam Dekker, Sheboygan Lutheran
2011: Nimrod Hilliard IV, Madison East
2010: TJ Bray, Catholic Memorial
2009: Jeronne Maymon, Madison Memorial
2008: DeMarcus Phillips, Milwaukee Washington
2007: Keaton Nankivil, Madison Memorial2007: Scott Christopherson, La Crosse Aquinas
2006: Andy Polka, Oshkosh West
2005: Wesley Matthews, Madison Memorial
2004: Michael Nelson, Madison Memorial
2003: Brian Butch, Appleton West
2002: Greg Brown, Milwaukee Vincent
2001: Devin Harris, Wauwatosa East
2000: Mike Wilkinson, Wisconsin Heights
1999: Marshall Williams, Milwaukee Vincent
1998: Jose Winston, Milwaukee Vincent
1997: Mike Wilks, Milwaukee Rufus King
1996: Brad Clark, Markesan
1995: Sam Okey, Cassville
1994: Jim Secretarski, Hartland Arrowhead
1993: Anthony Pieper, Wausaukee
1992: Greg Timmerman, Cuba City
1991: Calvin Rayford, Milwaukee Washington
1990: Damon Key, Milwaukee Marquette
1989: Chris Jones, Milwaukee Hamilton
1988: Tony Bennett, Green Bay Preble
1987: Mike Johnson, Phillips
1986: Kurt Portmann, Sheboygan North
1985: Dave Mueller, Racine St. Catherine's
1984: Robert Barnes, Racine Horlick
1983: Joe Wolf, Kohler
1982: Rick Olson, Madison La Follette