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Subscribe to our NewsletterWilsonville's Kyle Counts commits to play
basketball at University of St. Thomas
The current Wildcat will travel to Saint Paul, MN sometime after graduating next
spring to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level
- Updated
Rising Wilsonville senior Kyle Counts has committed to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level, he announced on Instagram on Saturday.
The 2023 5A All-State honorable mention will head to the University of St. Thomas sometime after graduating next spring, where he will challenge top-notch competition in the Division I Summit League.
“St. Thomas felt special to me from the start,” Counts said. “I’ve talked to a lot of coaches and been to a few campuses, and nothing felt like home like St. Thomas did.”
Thanks to a standout AAU circuit this summer, Counts saw his recruitment skyrocket and ultimately received an offer from St. Thomas on August 8.
From there, it was a quick decision for the current Wildcat, who credits the coaching staff in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for making his decision easy.
“I’m very close to the coaching staff at Wilsonville, so it would be hard to transition to a staff that I didn’t feel a connection with and trust,” Counts said. “St. Thomas has a special story and is doing great things in the Summit League, so it was something I thought would be foolish to pass up.”
While Counts’ future with the Tommies is clear on the horizon, his senior year at Wilsonville and last dance with the Wildcats comes first.
“I’m beyond excited for this upcoming season,” Counts said. “It’s the last ride with all of my best friends that I’ve grown up with.”
According to Counts, the environment he and many of his friends will be leaving next summer has everything to do with the opportunity he’ll be leaving it for.
The rising senior credits multiple figures throughout his life for fostering his basketball skill, and consequently, his opportunity to play at the next level.
“Basketball was always something that was around me. It was something I saw my grandpa and uncle play, but most importantly my dad,” Counts said of his father Brian, who played at Western Oregon University after his father Mel starred for the Boston Celtics.
“My passion for basketball is all because of him. We had a lot of healthy arguments and one-on-one games in the driveway that made me the player and man I am today.”
Similarly, Counts hands a lot of credit to his current coaching staff at Wilsonville, which created a winning environment for the rising senior to thrive in.
“I tell people all the time, coach [Chris] Roche makes winning easy,” Counts said. “The work our entire coaching staff does would shock you, and the concepts that coach nails into our head throughout the year just make the game easier.”
Now, after being subjected to some top-notch leadership from both coaches and relatives, Counts’ personal goal for his senior season naturally has nothing to do with a stat sheet.
“A personal goal for me this year is to be the best leader I can be,” Counts said. “I’ve been a part of some teams that had great leaders that I’ve looked up to like Cason Dougal, Kellen Hartford, Ryan Soderlyn and most importantly [Coach Roche]. We just need to buy into Wildcat basketball and play together, and I think it could be a fun year.”
Even with his collegiate future looming, the 6-foot-7 wing remains wholly focused on the program that’s landed him two state championships in the last two years.
For now, thoughts of a three-peat trounce those of the St. Thomas Tommies.
“It feels great to find a place to call home for my college career, but I don’t think it changes much about how I'll play for my senior season,” Counts said. “Either way, I’m going to buy into what coach Roche says and play my game. I have great teammates that have all improved a lot this summer and I'm excited to take the floor with them this year and see what we can make happen.”
