The Sports Informant

Folsom High School’s Kori Babineaux, a junior at the school going into the fall, had a different summer than most of his friends. While they made trips to the lake, Babineaux made a splash on the courts all across the nation, and along the way, turned all the right heads.

Folsom's Kori Babinueax had a busy month of July. (Photo courtesy Greg Ashman)

Babineaux, a guard for the Folsom High basketball team during their back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section title-winning seasons the past two years, took his talents to the east coast before swinging back through Nevada and Arizona on his way home, playing basketball in front of college scouts everywhere he went.

“I’ve been all around the country basically playing a lot of basketball with not a lot of breaks,” he said. “I love it, but it’s a burden after a while. You get a lot of aches and bruises. In the long run, you gotta love it, because that’s what you’ve gotta do if you love the game.”

All in the month of July, Babineaux went to Philadelphia, Pa., for the Reebok All-American Camp, then went to North Augusta, S.C., for the Nike Peach Jam, before stopping in Las Vegas for the Big Time Basketball Tournament and Arizona for the Desert Duel Memorial Basketball Tournament.

“A long time ago I got the schedule,” Babineaux said. “I knew what I was getting into. I accepted it. I thought I was capable of doing it, so I did it. It was a long stretch and a lot of basketball, but I had a really good time.”

The trek was worth the rewards, according to Babinueaux, who said he was able to wow coaches normally unable to see him play during the high school season.

“It really boosted me,” he said. “I got a lot of looks from colleges around the country, from a different variety than the West Coast. I played with a lot of great players. You don’t get that opportunity often.”

Each tournament and camp brought the nation’s best athletes to participate, giving Babineaux competition he’s never seen before. He said it was exactly what he was looking for going into his junior year of play.

“All in all, it just made me better in every aspect of my game,” Babineaux said. “Out here, if you can’t hit a jumper you have to know how to get by a guy. You have to have a mid-range game. You’ve gotta be able to pass and play defense on quick guards. You’ve gotta play some post guys. You have to have the complete game to excel out in the circuit. I had to do everything.”

Babineaux’s performance in the Reebok All-American Camp also earned him an All-Star nod from the camp’s selection committee. Of the over 100 players in attendance, Babineaux was one of only 30 to be selected.

“Looking back on it now, I have had a really good summer,” Babineaux said. “I was seen by a lot of coaches, I’m getting letters from a variety of colleges. Some games I was tired because I didn’t have a break, but it helped my conditioning. Looking back, I couldn’t be happier.”

And looking forward, Babineaux is finally ready to take that summer break, even if it’s shortened.

“I’m going to take a nice little break before school,” he said. “I’m gonna sleep a lot and try to get in some swimming pools. I’m going to take a few weeks off for pure relaxation.”