Inside the Storm

Name: Kobe Lee

Grade: 12

Height: 5’10

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Date of Birth: 06/28/2008

When and how long have you been playing basketball? Why did you choose this sport specifically?

I’ve been playing basketball on and off since I was around eight years old, but I never fully pursued it as a main sport until eighth grade. I used to play soccer competitively. However, during COVID, I gradually lost my interest in it and wanted to find another sport to commit to. I began watching a lot of NBA and college basketball highlights, which sparked a deeper interest in the game. I brought it up to my dad, who was thrilled since he played basketball growing up. During eighth and ninth grade, he and I played very frequently, and from that moment forward, I decided to seriously pursue it as my main sport.

What position do you play, and why did you choose it?

I play the three (small forward). This position fits my play style very well because I get to fill the roles of both the guard and forward positions in set plays. I wouldn’t consider myself a primary guard nor a main forward but rather a mix of both playstyles. I get to handle the ball, set up teammates, and put myself in scoring positions for guards and forwards to pass to me. I enjoy the versatility of the role and being able to adapt to what the team needs in different situations.

What was your favorite moment on the team?

So far, this season, our first win against Norman Thomas has been the most hype moment for us. It was a very close, gritty game that we were able to edge out, and the energy afterward in the locker room was incredible. It instilled a lot more confidence in our team and reinforced our belief that we can be competitive with any team in our division. 

What does a typical practice look like?

A typical practice begins with our warm-up routine and stretches. Then, we do conditioning drills, often starting with a three-man weave, where three players run up and down the court passing the ball back and forth, finishing with a layup on both ends. After our conditioning drills, we run some shooting drills and then practice our set plays. We end practice by shooting free throws and a team huddle.

What are your goals for the remainder of the season?

Before the season started, I was a bit apprehensive about how competitive our schedule looked. However, at this point in the season, we collectively realized that we could compete with any team in our division. A big goal of mine is to make the playoffs, which is any team’s goal at the beginning of the season. However, I want to prove to any team we face that, even though we are probably seen as the underdogs in almost every game we play, we can shock everyone and win our division.

Favorite Teammate: Jaedon Yassin and Faheem Bhuiyan

Favorite Basketball Team: New York Knicks

Favorite Post-Game Meal: Bacon, egg, and cheese with avocado on a toasted everything bagel.

If you could play any other sport, which one and why:

Either soccer or volleyball. Soccer, because it was the first sport I ever played and I still play it casually with my friends, even though I haven’t played a competitive game since sixth grade. Volleyball, because my girlfriend plays it and has been trying to teach me, even though I still have a lot to learn…