Koby McEwen (193-G-1997, college: Weber St.) is a 25 year old 193cm guard from Canada that played his rookie season overseas with the Norrkoping Dolphins (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging his first season overseas with the Norrkoping Dolphins (Sweden-Basketligan). He began his professional career with the Hamilton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 14.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 54.2%, 3FGP: 34.2%, FT: 82.8%, and finished the season with the Raptors 905 Missisauga (NBA G League) averaging 4.0ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.0apg. He got his first professional experience with the 2: Hamilton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 10.4ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 80.0%. He began to play basketball at Wasatch Academy. He then played at 3 NCAA schools with Utah State, Marquette and Weber State where he averaged 18.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 83.2% in his senior year. He was able to average in double figures in a NCAA season 4 times. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Koby for talking to germanhoops.com. You played your first season overseas with the Norrkoping Dolphins (Sweden-Basketligan). What did you appreciate most about your time in Sweden?

I appreciated how well people speak English here, because I know it’s not like that in some parts of Europe. It kind of makes me feel more at home and it’s way easier to adjust to a life overseas.

The organization has won 5 league titles and have won the last 2. Do you feel like there was pressure on the club now? The club didn’t start off as good as a few other teams?

I don’t think there’s any type of pressure, there’s definitely expectations for the club to do well because the fans and the organization are used to winning, but that’s what comes with the territory of being a part of a winning culture.

You have put up solid stats in Sweden and Fiba Europe Cup. What was the biggest adjustment for you coming from the NCAA?

The physicality is a lot higher, and it’s hard to be a physical player in college because the rules eliminate that. But here you’re allowed to use it to your advantage, so just realizing that and getting used to that aspect of the game is something I’m getting used to.

Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 193cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I don’t think I play like anybody, I play the game like Koby McEwen. Big guard, who can shoot, create shots for himself and others, who can defend and rebound at his position at a high level.

Is fair to say that you are the classic combo guard? Are you more a shooting guard than point guard? Please talk about your function as a combo guard since you began in the NCAA?

I would say I’m a combo guard, not a shooting guard. Someone who can run a team, but also score the ball at a high level. I can take pressure off the point guard and set him up for shots or even run the team when he’s out the game.

You have always been a scorer, but also a guy that can fill the stat sheet. How versatile in general would you describe your game?

I think my versatility just comes from my competitive nature and my will to win. I don’t really focus on stats too much, I just focus on winning. Once you focus on winning stats will come, but I would just say I’m a real two way player, I can I can defend as well as I can score.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most now so you can keep moving up the basketball ladder?

I think just being able to take over a game with my passing, if I get that area of my game to the point where I don’t have to score to dominate along with my ability to put the ball in the basket, I think I can play at the highest level.

You had your first professional experience last summer in Canada with the Hamilton Honey Badgers (CEBL) averaging 10.4ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 38.5%, 3PT: 41.9%, FT: 80.0%. What kind of an experience was that and what do you remember being your wake up call to being a professional player?

It was a great experience playing against high level players that play in Europe and the G-league. It taught me a lot about the pro game and I was able to win a championship in my first pro experience.

You played at 3 NCAA school with Utah State, Marquette and Weber State. How beneficial was getting experience at 3 schools over just having played at 1 school? What kind of player were you in 2016 and what did you become in 2022 when you left Weber State?

I benefited from playing under different circumstances and different coaching staffs, different players and programs. I got to see all aspects and all sides of how things go and I am grateful for all the time I had at each stop. The player I was at the beginning was a dynamic scorer who would shoot any type of shot, but at Weber I became a lot more consistent and efficient, and was able to evolve into an even better basketball player.

You began your NCAA career at Utah State University in 2016 and played 2 seasons there. You needed no adjustment time there averaging 14.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.0%, FT: 72.6% and 15.6ppg, 5.4rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 72.5%. You had some huge 30 plus games against Nevada and New Mexico, but where do you rank your 28 points in the exciting 81-79 win over Fresno State in your most memorable games at Utah State?

I think that game is top 10. I remember that game, it was a lot of fun and especially getting that win in overtime I believe. I was in a tremendous rhythm and had confidence to do pretty much anything on the court.

How vital was it having the daily battles with Sam Merrill. After you left would you have thought that he would make the NBA?

It was great, I learned a lot from Sam that I still carry with me till this day. With Sam’s shooting ability he’s a specialist, so I’m not surprised he’s in the NBA and he had a great college career to back it up.

You then played at Marquette (NCAA) from 2019-2021. You didn’t have the kind of stats like at Utah State, but what steps did your game take there?

I think I improved my work capacity at Marquette, just being able to work past pretty much anything and show up everyday and give it your all.

You finished your NCAA career at Weber State University (NCAA) averaging 18.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 35.2%, FT: 83.2%. You made another jump in your game. How did your game grow and was this decision to leave Marquette the best decision ever?

I worked a lot with coach marek, and Jorge Ruiz everyday just adjusting my shot, and working on my game. Coach rahe also gave me the opportunity to come in and just be me, and allow me to be the player I know I am and didn’t judge me and welcomed me with open arms. I think the decision to leave was really smart, just needed a fresh start to gain some new momentum.

How did Tim Duryea, Steve Wojciechowski and Randy Rahe groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

I think all three did the best they could to prepare me for what’s to come.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jawara Seikou?

Definitely my boy Sigu would win most of the time!

You were a U-16 national player for Canada and was teammates with Jamal Murray. What memories do you have of his game? How have you observed his development over the years?

I really just remember the off court times we had in Dubai, and how crazy of an experience that was. But Jamal has always been who he was at every place he’s been at, and he’s always been one of the best players on the court whether the opponent knows it or not and if they didn’t know they soon found out.

You played at the U-16 Fiba Americas and U-17 World championships where you had a great game against Angola with 23 points. How has Canadian talent grown since your days? You didn’t play for any more youth teams after that. The guard competition in Canada is big now.

The Canadian talent is growing every time we look up, more and more players are getting drafted and signed into the NBA.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I didn’t face him, but I have to give it to my ex teammate Markus Howard. Playing him in practice everyday was a great experience.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Sam Hauser
Sam Merrill
Sacar Anim
Julion Pearre
Markus Howard

Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Michael Jordan
Derrick Rose (for personal reasons)
Hakeem The Dream

What is your personal opinion of the neverending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Jordan or Lebron?

I think basketball is an ever evolving game and I think it’s hard to compare eras and times where players played. To make it fair Lebron will end up being top 10 in every statistical category so I think that makes him the undisputed number 1. But Jordan obviously was amazing in his time in the NBA.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I did not see that movie, so I can’t comment on it haha

Thanks Koby for the chat.

Tags : KOBY MCEWEN, RAPTORS 905 MISSISAUGA, GERMAN BASKETBALL