Valparaiso Basketball: Beacons lose Thomas Kithier but gets back Kobe King
Valparaiso Basketball fans received good and bad news this week. Starter Thomas Kithier is out for the season and fellow starter Kobe King is back.
Valparaiso Basketball coach Matt Lottich received good and bad news this week. The Beacons’ fifth-year coach found out that starting center Thomas Kithier is out for the season, but forward Kobe King has been cleared to play another season.
Kithier was the team’s leading rebounder (6.6 per game) and the Michigan State transfer was Valpo’s fifth-leading scorer (10.1 ppg). The 6’8 postman was limited to 20 games last season with reoccurring back problems.
Recently, the Macomb, Michigan native told “Victory Bell” reporter Paul Oren he had suffered a career-ending back injury. A Valpo official has confirmed that report, stating that Kithier’s career is over, but will remain a part of the program this season.
Lottich’s good news comes in the form of Kobe King. Valpo’s second-leading scorer (14.7 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (4.7) have been granted an additional year of eligibility. The Wisconsin transfer missed last season’s opening nine games with eligibility issues. He played three seasons with the Badgers and sat out the 2020-21 season.
King was named to the Valley’s ‘all-Newcomer Team’ for the 14-18 Beacons. The 6’4 guard connected on .366 of his long-distance shots and has accumulated over 800 Division 1 points. Program officials confirmed King’s eligibility for the upcoming season.
Senior Ben Krikke and King were last year’s two top scoring options and are the only two returners from last season’s ‘starting five’. Krikke (14.2 ppg) is a two-time member of the Valley’s all-conference third team.
In addition to Kithier’s injury, Kevion Taylor (graduation) and Sheldon Edwards (transfer) are gone from Lottich’s starting unit. Sophomore Preston Ruedinger became a part of the top rotation and started 13 games last season. The former walk-on posted an outstanding assist-to-turnover margin (4.0) from the point guard spot.
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Valpo has added size during the offseason recruiting period. Maximus Nelson and 6’10 Jerome Palm hope to replace Kithier’s productivity. Lottich calls Nelson a ‘shot-maker’. While he struggles defensively, Lottich says Palm a true rim protector.
Palm has been competing this summer with the Dutch national team.