Kobe Paras Withdraws from UCLA: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

For the second time this year, a Kobe is leaving Los Angeles. UCLA announced Wednesday that incoming freshman guard Kobe Paras has withdrawn from the university due to academic issues. 

The school did not disclose which requirements Paras failed to meet, per Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. John Montgomery, principal at Los Angeles Cathedral High, said Paras is eligible under NCAA guidelines but there was “an SAT scoring issue.”

It's possible Paras did not fulfill UCLA's guidelines for entrance but would qualify for another school. Los Angeles Cathedral High head coach William Middlebrooks said Paras is still planning to play Division I basketball.

“They made their decision,” Middlebrooks said of UCLA. “He’ll be wearing another uniform.”

Paras had been committed to the Bruins since October 2014. He signed an early national letter of intent last November.

A 3-star recruit, Paras is the No. 141 player overall and the 24th-best shooting guard in the 2016 class. Paras came to the United States from the Philippines during the 2013-14 academic year to work on his game. He starred at Cathedral for his first two years before playing for Middlebrooks Academy during his senior season.

The son of Filipino basketball great Benjie Paras, Kobe is named after former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and garnered attention for his high-flying ability in camps. He excels at slashing to the hoop and has more spring in his step than his 6'5", 190-pound frame would suggest.

There is no word on where Paras is planning to play. He had offers from Cal and Arizona State, per ESPN.com, but it's unclear if those are still on the table. It's possible he will have to spend next season playing at a lower level—possibly at a nearby community college in Los Angeles—while he gets his academics straightened out.

Nevertheless, this is a bit of a blow for a UCLA class that was shaping up to be one of the nation's best. The Bruins still have starry names such as Lonzo Ball, T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu coming to Los Angeles, but Paras was the only guard in their class.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.

Recruiting information and star ranking courtesy of 247Sports.