Christopher Acosta Koon, a talented 6’5” Fil-American guard gave Ateneo a big surprise this week when he finally accepted its offer to come aboard and join the Blue Eagles’ program for the next six years.
The 19-year-old Koon said he finally made up his mind to suit up for the Blue Eagles after giving it a long hard look over the weekend.
“It happened real quick, just a few days ago. It’s been in my mind for a while,” said Koon in an online web conference following talks with Blue Eagles’ coach Tab Baldwin, manager Epok Quimpo, and Koon’s contact, Moncho Manaloto.
Last year, Baldwin already forgot about Koon when he was recruited to play and study for Cal Poly Pomona in Los Angeles, California.
They have been asking him to come over the Blue Eagles after playing four years in Rolling Hills Preparatory in high school.
Koon, whose mother is from Novaliches, said the big opportunities that he will have while playing collegiate basketball in the Philippines excites him.
“On top of that, it’s the exposure that I will get when I come there, the international scene. And that’s the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), or maybe somewhere else,” added Koon, who will have five playing years with Ateneo once he completes a yearlong residency period.
The Blue Eagles’ culture and environment attracted him, when Koon came over to the Philippines and paid the Blue Eagles’ camp a visit last year.
“It was the culture. It was the coaches and coach Tab. I could feel being part of a family when I was there,” Koon continued.
In high school, the Toranse, California-born Koon averaged 16.0 points, 6.6 boards and 4.0 assists per game, leading Rolling Hills Prep to three straight Southern Section championships in the California Interscholastic Federation and a CIF state title.
Baldwin, in looking at Koon’s credentials back in high school, believes that Koon will be able to blend well with the team, after observing his growth in high school.
“At 6’4” or 6’5”, he can go for a variety of positions. He has a variety of skills, and probably his greatest attribute is his basketball IQ. His transition to the program will be seamless and won’t require a lot of adjustment and adaptability,” said Baldwin.
Koon’s colorful achievements in high school attracted him to the Blue Eagles, as he is a two-time John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year awardee, CIF-SS Division 5AA Player of the Year, Coastal League MVP, and MaxPreps All-State Division 5 First Team.
“It started three years, when he started visiting the Philippines while in high school. Now, he got bigger. But we kept in touch since then,” said Quimpo.
While playing, Koon maintained a 4.5 GPA in his academics. Koon, though, red-shirted his freshman year in Cal Poly Pomona in 2019.