Mid-Major Mr. Basketball
by Jared Field
Monday, March 20, 2006
Detroit-- The Detroit Free Press reported this afternoon that David Kool, Grand Rapids South Christian's 6'2'' senior point guard, is this year's Mr. Basketball. Kool, coming off a disappointing loss to Godwin Heights in the district semifinals--one in which he scored 31 points--was the favorite in many circles to win Mr. Basketball this season.
Coming on the heels of his historic performance in last year's tournament, Kool was hard-pressed to duplicate his efforts. Kool scored a meager 80 points in his two games at the Breslin Center last year propelling his Sailor squad to the state championship.
After undergoing surgery in June for a torn ACL, Kool embarked on the long and often agonizing road to recovery. Many people thought his game would never be the same, but he proved them wrong. Kool averaged 30 points per game for the Sailors who went 20-0 in the regular season.
This is the first time, to my memory at least, that the Mr. Basketball award has gone to a mid-major college recruit. Kool signed with Western Michigan last year, a team that he has wanted to play for his whole life. This year the Mr. Basketball voters took a big step toward dismantling the prevailing theory that they kowtow to high-major recruits. (Last year was the first year since 1998 that a Mr. Basketball award was given to a player going out-of-state for college.)
Kool is a high-major player who CHOSE to play mid-major ball.
Congrats, DK, and best of luck in the future. You played the game the right way.
West Michigan basketball continues to shine.