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Fayette senior basketball standout Kaleb Friebe signed a letter of intent on Tuesday, January 21, to play next season at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan.
A three-year starter for the Falcons, …
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Fayette senior basketball standout Kaleb Friebe signed a letter of intent on Tuesday, January 21, to play next season at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan.
A three-year starter for the Falcons, Friebe has averaged better than 10 points per game so far this season, so go along with three assists, four rebounds, and almost four steals per game. The night of his signing, he scored 31 points in the Falcons’ two-point loss to New Bloomfield in Fayette’s first-ever game as part of the new Central State 8 Conference.
Friebe said he had looked at several schools, but after visiting Tabor, said it just felt right.
While not initially on his list of schools, he heard from his former AAU coach who became part of a new coaching staff for the Blue Jays.
“It just kind of fell in my lap,” Friebe explained.
Tabor is in a rebuilding situation like that of the Fayette boys’ team. Friebe said it meant a lot that the college sought him out to be a part of that rebuilding process.
“Just from the beginning, it felt like the right decision,” he said.
Coach Mike Cambos, who coached Friebe on the Missouri Phenom travel team, said he is grateful his AAU player chose Tabor.
“He’s a fantastic kid,” Gambos said. “He did anything and everything that you asked him to do. Knowing his work ethic and knowing how dedicated he is, it was easy to take an interest in him and start the recruiting process.”
Currently a guard, Gambos said Friebe will be a multi-use player for the Blue Jays. “He’ll be a Swiss Army knife. Whatever we ask him to do, I know he’ll take it head-on. We’ll probably set him on the wing and give him an opportunity to shoot it.”
And while Friebe will likely start his college playing career on one of Tabor’s development teams, Gambos said he will have plenty of opportunities to work his way into the varsity lineup.
Friebe is finishing his high school career under unique circumstances. After three straight losing seasons under previous coach Jon Bishop, Fayette reached out to Kaleb’s father, Brandon Friebe, to helm the Falcons this year. Coach Friebe previously led the Falcons in the early 2000s.
Kaleb said having his father leading the rebuilding efforts for his senior year has been a special time. “We’ve had our ups and downs trying to figure out when coach and player turns off, and we go back to being son and father. But we’ve loved it. I’m glad I have a year with him.,” he said. “We’ve struggled this year. But it’s a rebuild here, and we’re seeing the right things. We’re headed in the right direction. We’re getting there piece by piece. We keep playing up and playing our best ball.”
A four-year letterman for the Falcons, Friebe is currently ranked 19th in assists per game, fourth in steals per game, and third in charges taken among all Missouri Class 2 players. He is Fayette’s three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Hustle Award winner. After last season, he was named second-team All-District. As a sophomore, he earned third-team All-Conference honors.
Coach Friebe was all smiles at his son’s college signing, proud both as a father and a coach. “It’s double the opportunity to be proud. Even now, it’s always dad first and coach second. It’s been an exciting ride.
“I’m so proud of how he’s gone about making his decision and how he considered his options,” Coach Friebe continued. “I’m really proud of him as my son, first and foremost. The opportunity to go to a place to play ball that will help him become a better man, a better person, and also a better basketball player is something we’re excited about.”
Kaleb has set the tone defensively for his team all four years of his career. New Tabor coach Josh Roach is seeking high-intensity, high-character players. “That’s what Kaleb has been,” said Coach Friebe. “You know when the game is over, he’s not going to have anything left in the tank. From the beginning, they were very adamant about Kaleb being the kind of guy they want in their program.”
When not on the court, Friebe said he intends to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He plans on attaining a doctorate in physical therapy, with the ultimate and noble goal of working with wounded veterans.
“I want to thank all my coaches from when I first picked up a basketball until now,” Friebe said. “I was born with a basketball in my hands. It’s been a fun journey but it’s not over with. And that’s the exciting part. I know it’s going to end one day, so why not go out and enjoy what’s left? Why not go play the game I love while getting an education?”
After coming up short the previous two games, Fayette picked up its first victory of the year and in the new conference on Friday, 50-46, at Linn. The Falcons compete this week as the eighth seed in the Harrisburg Tournament, opening against top-seeded Blair Oaks on Tuesday night after the Advertiser went to press.
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