Philippine high school basketball star Kieffer Alas has left De La Salle-Zobel High School to try out for a US NCAA Division 1 basketball scholarship.
After training in Australia, he will travel to Utah to play at Layton Christian Academy, a highly regarded prep school with close ties to the NCAA.
Alas hopes to receive an NCAA offer and possibly fulfill his NBA aspirations.
First stop
Kieffer's first stop is practicing with the Warwick Senators, a reputable team in the semi-pro NBL1 West league, in Perth, Australia. The objective is to grow alongside more mature players.
He will then go to Layton Christian Academy (LCA) in Utah, in one of the most competitive high school basketball programs in the U.S.
The school's program is designed to push and improve under the direction of head coach Casey Stanley, a seasoned tactician with NCAA Division I expertise.
Filipinos’ NBA dreams
Filipinos have long dreamed of seeing homegrown talent succeed in the NBA—a goal rooted in passion, pride, and deep love for basketball.
Trailblazers like Kai Sotto have led the charge. At 7'2", Sotto trained abroad and played in leagues like Australia’s NBL and Japan’s B.League, aiming to break into the NBA. Others, like Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and RJ Abarrientos, are also gaining international experience to prepare for future NBA chances.
