Welcome to Gotham Prospects: 2027 PG Kobe Plata!
Southern Wake Academy (NC) starting point guard Kobe Plata is the latest member to join the Gotham Prospects fold and he's got a bright future ahead of him!
Southern Wake Academy has a talented roster to keep an eye on in the state of North Carolina and 2027 point guard Kobe Plata is the tip of the iceberg. Plata is a 5-foot-11 floor general with a strong frame already and good instincts on more than just scoring the ball.
Defensively, he looks to set the tone the entire court with his ability to force turnovers and make things happen on the ball. He was pivotal in their comeback victory over Cary Academy which saw them trailing by as many 12 points before surging to a seven-point victory.
In the Lions’ season opener this past Friday, Plata was more than impressive, producing 17 points, five rebounds, five steals and five assists to lead the way in a comeback victory. Plata showed his poise and maturity after two early fouls had him sitting late in the first quarter. He bounced back in a big way in the second half, recording four steals and no fouls, showing his ability to adjust under pressure.
The future is very bright for Plata over the next few seasons. He averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a freshman and looks prime for a breakout sophomore year in the NCHSAA 1A as Southern Wake Academy looks to build on their big season.
The Lions fell in the NCHSAA 1A Elite Eight of the State Playoffs in 2023-24 under first-year head coach Quintin Austin. This past season, they finished the year with a record of 23-10 and 10-2 in the 1A Central Tar Heel Conference. In Year 2, expectations are certainly a lot of higher and after avenging last year’s season-opening loss with a victory over Cary Academy, it looks like this year’s squad is ready to respond.
With Plata leading the charge, the future is certainly bright for Southern Wake Academy and things should get even scarier when 2026 Jalen Sheppard returns to the court this spring.
On the grassroots scene, Plata has already built his resume on the 3SSB stage with Garner Road as well. As he gets more experience on the hardwood, look for his stock to grow in the Gotham Prospects fold over the next few months!