The areas best basketball talent is headed to Salina.
Yates Centers Aaron King finally put pen to paper and signed his national letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Kansas Wesleyan.
Wesleyan is probably best known for its stellar football program that made a trip to the NAIA National Semifinal game last season. But its Coyote basketball program under fourth-year head coach Anthony Monson has had steady improvement over the last four years, culminating in a 17-win season in 2018-19.
Monson caught onto King earlier this year after running into Wildcat athletics director and boys head basketball coach Jason Graf at the 5A state tournament in Emporia. He soon had the senior up to Salina for a workout and it wasnt long after that when he offered him a scholarship.
Hes a really good kid and has a really good skill set, Monson said on what attracted him to the Wildcat star. He scored a lot of points in high school and he has size. He had a lot of things that we look for in our young kids and I just really enjoyed having him and his dad on campus. It just seemed like a really good fit.
Last season, King averaged 22.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in the Wildcats 18-1 season that ended just a game shy of a state tournament berth.
With Wesleyan being a four-year school, Monson expects an adjustment period for King but believes that, in time, King will really contribute.
Hes eventually going to blossom into that player that we all know he can be, but it will take time, Monson said. Theres always a transition to that next level. I know hell work on it but well just have to see how quickly he gets comfortable.
King, soft-spoken as always, did not appear overly confident during the official signing. Instead, the Wildcat star understands what challenges lay ahead of him and the fact that his game is currently a work in progress heading into his freshman season.
Its a new feat, King said. Its a different animal for sure. But Im hopeful that everything will turn out right and Im sure it will. Its fun. Theres a lot of hard work that Ive put in and Im glad to see its paid off.
King had one of the more successful runs in Wildcat history in his time at Yates Center and he said that its those games, especially the ones at home, that hes going to look fondly back on after he leaves.
We had one of the greatest atmospheres in Southeast Kansas, I think, King said. It was always a packed house and I have a lot of family and friends here. Theyll obviously be missed.
And while King will miss the school, that may not match the amount that the school will miss him. While the Wildcat faithful are bummed about seeing him go, theyll be forever grateful for his impact on the program.
Aaron has left a great legacy, Graf said. And people will talk about the all-state awards and all of the points he scored but really hes made the program a better place. Kids want to be like Aaron. Hes helped change the culture of the basketball program just by being a part of it. Were sad to see him leave but were just happy to see the next step he takes.
The soon-to-be Coyote freshman will continue to wear number 32 in colleg
