Kieffer Alas, the hottest high school prospect in the country, might play college ball abroad, after all.
His father, former Philippine Basketball Association mentor Louie Alas, told Daily Tribune that the young Alas is being invited to play his remaining year in high school in the United States with the goal of landing a scholarship in the Division I of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Louie said a major sports apparel company had already committed to cover his son’s training, allowance, accommodation and education in the most elite varsity program in the US to help him reach his goal of playing for a Division I school in college.
But for now, the 16-year-old Alas is determined to go all out to lead De La Salle Zobel to the Final Four of Season 86 University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior boys basketball tournament.
“There’s an offer for Kieffer to play his senior year in high school in the United States. Who knows, maybe he will land a scholarship in an NCAA Division I school,” Louie said in a telephone conversation.
“Kieffer is very passionate at what he is doing and motivated to play at a higher level. He may be young but he already knows what he wants and is very driven to get there.”
Alas is regarded as the golden boy of grassroots basketball.
Aside from serving as the main man of the Junior Archers, he also played for the Batang Gilas in the FIBA Asia U16 Championships in Doha last September in which he emerged as a Mythical Team member.
Prior to that, he participated in the NBA Academy Asia Development Camp in Singapore last May followed by a stint in the Basketball Without Borders Asia in Abu Dhabi last June.
Sources said Alas is being flooded with offers for his UAAP senior season with elite programs like La Salle, Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines, among his suitors.
Louie, who coached Phoenix Super LPG in his last year in the Philippine Basketball Association, believes that his son has what it takes to make an impact in the US, similar to what former Letran College star Andy Gemao is doing for Veritas Academy National Prep in California.
“I think so,” Louie said when asked if his son will thrive against bigger, stronger competitors in the US.
“Kieffer is one of the most driven and hardworking basketball players I’ve ever met. He told me that if ever his US stint materializes, he will definitely work his butt off to make the country proud.”
“With his character, work ethic and maturity at such a young age, I am confident that he will do well there.”
