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Kevin Zabo

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Kevin Zabo
Zabo with San Diego State in 2014
No. 6 – CB Ciudad de Ponferrada
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
LeagueLEB Plata
Personal information
Born (1995-05-12) May 12, 1995 (age 29)
Sherbrooke, Quebec
NationalityCanadian
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018St. John's Edge
2018–2019Albacete Basket
2019–presentCB Ciudad de Ponferrada
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Canada
FIBA Americas U16 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Mexico National team

Kevin Zabo (born December 5, 1995) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the CB Ciudad de Ponferrada of the LEB Plata. He completed his college basketball career with Kent State.

Early life

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Zabo was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec to Congolese father Ndavo Zeph Zabo and Rwandan mother Jackie Mukamayire.[1] His parents and older brother Alexandre had settled in Canada in the 1990s to escape a brewing war in central Africa. At age 4, Zabo moved to Gatineau, Quebec, and at age 5, he began playing basketball against older opponents in a YMCA league. He played for De L'Île High School by 7th grade and was also a member of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team QC United.[2][3]

High school career

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When he was 15 years old, Zabo started living in the United States, away from his family, for high school. He first attended St. Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts, where he was teammates with college prospects Nik Stauskas, Alex Murphy, and Kaleb Tarczewski.[1] With St. Mark's, Zabo was ranked among the top guards in his class by ESPN.[4] However, he decided to transfer due to the school's requirement of playing multiple sports, which forced him to play football.[1] As a sophomore, he attended Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland but left after one year over housing concerns.[4]

Zabo completed his high school career at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where he joined several NCAA Division I recruits, including Devonte' Graham and Chris McCullough.[1][2] In the 2013–14 season, he helped his team finish with a 33–2 record and win the National Prep Championship and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class AAA title.[5] Zabo was rated a three-star recruit by recruiting service 247Sports and ESPN.[6][7] He played with CIA Bounce on the AAU circuit, a team that featured Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, who would both become first overall NBA draft picks.[2]

College career

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Zabo joined a San Diego State team that was coming off a 31–5 season, and he was logging productive minutes during the nonconference season. However, after spraining his pinky toe, Zabo had trouble finding his spot in the rotation. He opted to transfer following the season. Zabo played a season at Indian Hills Community College, averaging seven points per game and attracting the attention of Division I coaches. He narrowed down his choices to Wichita State, Memphis and Iona. However, Wichita State ran out of scholarships, Memphis lost its coaching staff and Iona signed another point guard. Kent State head coach Rob Senderoff had seen Zabo play at Indian Hills while recruiting his teammate Jerrelle DeBerry, and the Golden Flashes were losing starting point guard Kellon Thomas to transfer, so Senderoff offered Zabo a scholarship.[2]

He committed to Kent State, and helped lead the team to the 2017 NCAA Tournament as a junior.[8] He posted 5.6 points per game on the season.[9] On January 12, 2018, Zabo scored a career-high 24 points and hit four three-pointers in a 70–69 win over Ohio.[10] The following game, Zabo scored 23 points in a 73–71 win over Western Michigan.[11] As a senior at Kent State, Zabo averaged 13 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game and shot 42.1% from the field.[12]

Professional career

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After completing his collegiate eligibility, Zabo participated in the inaugural Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship.[13]

St. John's Edge (2018)

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On August 2, 2018, Zabo signed a one-year deal with the St. John's Edge of the NBL Canada.[12]

Albacete Basket (2018–2019)

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On January 14, 2019, Zabo signed for the remainder of the season with the Albacete Basket of the LEB Plata.

CB Ciudad de Ponferrada (2019–present)

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On August 12, 2019, Zabo signed a one-year deal with the CB Ciudad de Ponferrada of the LEB Plata.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Zeigler, Mark (November 5, 2014). "Zabo's journey: Africa, Canada, SDSU". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Castora, Tanner (February 22, 2017). "Behind the jersey: Kent State junior point guard Kevin Zabo". Kent Wired. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  3. ^ Hayes, Barry (July 8, 2014). "2010 AAU Spotlight: QC-United". Hoopstars Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hall, Brendan C. (June 13, 2012). "Kevin Zabo returning to New England". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  5. ^ "Kevin Zabo". San Diego State University Athletics. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Kevin Zabo". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kevin Zabo". 247Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Moff, Allen (April 18, 2018). "Kent State men's basketball program adds junior college guard Williams". Record-Courier. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  9. ^ Moff, Allen (February 26, 2018). "Kent State set for Senior Night showdown with Miami". The Record-Courier. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "Zabo, De La Rosa spark Kent State to 70-69 victory". ESPN. Associated Press. January 12, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  11. ^ "Zabo, Peterson lead Kent State past Western Michigan 73-71". ESPN. Associated Press. January 16, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Edge Sign Kevin Zabo". St. John's Edge. August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  13. ^ Moff, Allen (March 27, 2018). "Three-peat for Stypinski". The Record-Courier. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
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