PREP BASKETBALL: Big man on campus

Coronado senior Mike Kale has gotten even better

Mike Kale started playing basketball with his friend Ben Keller when they were both 6 years old. A dozen years later, the two are still friends and are still playing basketball together as starters for the Coronado High School boys basketball team.

"We can basically predict what each other's doing on the court," said Kale, a 6-foot-9 senior center.

Followers of Coronado basketball should be grateful to Keller for introducing Kale to the game. He leads Southern Nevada in rebounding, with around 14 rebounds per game, and is in the top 10 in scoring, with close to 16 points per game.

He also averages around four blocked shots per contest and has made huge strides on the hardwood since last season, when he averaged close to 14 points and 10 boards per game.

"He's improved 10-fold," head coach Paul Berg said. "His aggressiveness has gotten better, (along with) his defense and his footwork, and his post moves are 10 times better than last year.

"He's much stronger and he's a leader on the court by his play. He gets us going when he gets a big rebound or blocks a shot. I consider him to be one of the best, if not the best, big men in the city."

Kale also is the consummate team player, preferring to talk about team goals instead of his own.

"My only goal is to get signed by a Division I school. It's been a goal since I entered high school," said Kale, who has been recruited by several Division I schools, most notably the Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy, along with Idaho, Cal State Long Beach and Colorado State. "I have mostly team goals, and our goals are to get to state. Anything short of a bus ride up to Reno will be disappointing."

The Cougars were 10-0 to lead the Southeast Division at press time -- the only area team unbeaten in league play -- and were 20-7 overall, with the playoffs approaching.

Coronado will host a Sunrise Region quarterfinal game tonight, with the semifinals scheduled for Friday and the region final slated for Saturday at the school.

Only the region winner will advance to the state tournament in Reno, scheduled for Feb. 26 and 27, but Kale likes his team's chances. Coronado, in only its third year of existence, lost in the first round of the region tournament to Las Vegas the last two seasons.

"I like them a lot. We're meshing so well," he said. "We have three scorers who average more than 13 ppg, and we have the potential to have all five of our starters score more than double figures every night.

"Vegas knocked us out the last two years, so I'd like to play them. We beat them once this year. Or I'd like to play Rancho. I love their fans, they go crazy."

Coronado head coach Paul Berg, who guided the school's football team to a division title in the fall, also likes how his team is playing.

"We're playing well right now and I still don't think we've played our best game," he said. "I think the team is peaking at the right time."

Kale has been a key component of the team's success. He sank a game-winning baseline jumper with 3.5 seconds left to lift Coronado past Valley, last year's region runners-up, capping off a 19-point, 11-rebound, six-blocked shot performance, and has been a steady presence down low.

Kale, who weighs 225 pounds, put on 15 pounds through weight lifting in the offseason and he said he's more confident this year.

"I'm a lot more comfortable in the post. I feel like I can take over whenever I want," he said. "I don't feel like anybody can stop me. My post moves are a lot more sound and I'm more confident using them.

"I can see the floor a little better this year and I can find open guys."

Kale helps his teammates get open by virtue of his inside presence.

"When teams pack it in on him, it helps us get better looks outside," Berg said. "He moves real well without the ball. He's got real good feet. A lot of kids his size aren't as mobile as him, and he's very confident with the ball when he catches it down there."

Kale, who has season highs of 34 points and 21 rebounds, also excels in school, where he has a 3.7 grade-point average, and he gets along well with his teammates.

"He's a good teammate. We try to create a family atmosphere and become a tight-knit group, and he fits in well that way. He makes the newer kids feel welcome," Berg said. "I don't want to sound corny, but he's a true team player. He's not a kid who looks for a lot of credit."

Whether Kale leads Coronado to state or not, it's likely his best days on the hardwood are ahead of him.

"I think Mike can play at the next level and he's a great student, too," Berg said. "I think he's still got a chance to blossom and get stronger."


<<--[back]