MODE Prep brings its show to NIC

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

COEUR d’ALENE — One year ago, Collin Simon was preparing for his freshman year in the Coeur d’Alene High basketball program. 

One season later, he’s earning minutes on a prep school boys basketball team playing in exposure tournaments throughout the country. 

On Thursday, Simon sank four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points as MODE Prep of Liberty Lake, a first-year prep school program, eased away from the Elite Prep Futures from the Seattle area 82-57 in North Idaho College’s Rolly Williams Court. 

"I knew the head coach here (Jon Adams), and I really liked him,” Simon said. “I’m trying to go D-I one day, and this is my best shot for exposure. 

“The kids are a lot bigger here,” Simon added. “I was just playing freshman and JV last year, and now I’m playing against 6-9 guys. I have to get more physical, work hard and things will work out.” 

"Everybody on the team loves Collin,” said Adams, who coached the Coeur d’Alene boys basketball team the past five seasons. “You see kids are looking to get Collin shots because he really is a knockdown shooter. Our guys will penetrate, and try to find him.” 

Alassane Doucoure, a 6-foot-10 junior post from Mali, Africa, showed some smooth moves around the basket and affected some shots at the defensive end, finishing with 23 points. 

“Doesn’t speak a word of English,” Adams said of Doucoure. “But he knows how to dunk it, he knows how to rebound, he knows how to run the floor, defend, block shots. He’s terrific.” 

Zuby Toms, a 6-2 junior guard from Las Vegas, added 17 points for MODE Prep before an estimated crowd of 125.  

Matt Cummins, a 6-1 junior point guard from Las Vegas, capably ran the MODE Prep offense and finished with 11 points. 

Vuk Zelic, a 6-7 senior wing from Serbia, also had 11 points. 

Cummins came to MODE Prep after playing at Utah Prep of Hurricane, Utah, last year. 

“Our strength coach here, coach Vaea (Fiefia), was a big part of my growth last year at Utah Prep, so when he got the job here he hit me up, and I’m going to follow him; that’s my guy.” 

As a freshman, Cummins was at Lake Mead Christian Academy in suburban Henderson, Nev., and knew the head coach at Utah Prep, and said the drive from Vegas to St. George, Utah was less than 2 hours. 

“Exposure is a lot different on the prep circuit,” Cummins said. “It’s a cool experience (at MODE Prep)."

“Matt has some Logan Orchard in him,” Adams said, referring to the former Coeur d’Alene High star who Adams coached with the Vikings, and who graduated in 2024. “He’s good at everything, he’s a highly efficient player, he’s our team captain, he’s a coach on the floor. He’s invaluable to us.” 

Prep basketball being what it is, rosters are often in flux. 

MODE Prep had eight players, and has played in three events, but two players recently left the program. 

MODE added a seventh player earlier in the week, Rayan Elghaly, a senior who came to MODE Prep from Utah Prep and is on his third prep school, and he played briefly on Thursday. 

“Technically, we’re still in our preseason,” Adams said. “Our first tournament is Dec. 3 (MODE Prep’s first official adidas-sponsored Grind Session tournament, in Ohio). The prep world is so different; we have one kid (Elghaly) who just showed up here 48 hours ago. Hats off to him; he’s had all of two practices and he made a ton of defensive plays.” 

Adams said this was likely MODE Prep’s lone game in the Inland Northwest this season. Next year, once the program’s on-campus facility is ready, Adams said MODE hopes to host some games/tournaments in Liberty Lake. 

“To be able to play at home, in front of my family and friends and former players ... it’s very rewarding,” Adams said.  

Elite Prep Futures     12    10    22    13    —    57 

MODE Prep    23    13    25    21    —    82 

ELITE PREP FUTURES — Myles Moore 3, Yunis Ali 4, Mono Bomat 25, Kaetonn Washington 4, Ryhdian Batersby 5, Dakota Jeffcoat 3, Marco Varani 10. 

MODE Prep — Vuk Zelic 11, Hudson Reid 0, Matt Cummins 11, Zubi Toms 17, Collin Simon 14, Rayan Elghaly 5, Alassane Doucoure 23. 

    MARK NELKE/Press Matt Cummins (5) of MODE Prep shoots between a pair of defenders from Elite Prep Futures on Thursday at North Idaho College.

    MARK NELKE/Press Collin Simon (22) of MODE Prep launches a 3-pointer as Marco Varani (35) of Elite Prep Futures defends on Thursday at North Idaho College.