PERSONALHis
parents named him after a type of steak (kobe) seen on a restaurant
menu prior to his birth ... Spent eight years of his childhood in Italy
and is fluent in Italian ... Has two older sisters, Sharia and Shaya
... His father, Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant, averaged 8.7 ppg in 606 career
games in the NBA ... Lists "Star Wars" as his all-time favorite movie
PRE-NBABryant was the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania
schoolboy history with 2,883 points, breaking the marks of NBA legend
and Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (2,359 points) and former St.
Joseph's player Carlin Warley (2,441 points) ... Bryant led his high
school team to a 77-13 record in his last three seasons and was a
four-year starter ... His father, Joe, played eight NBA seasons for the
Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets, and is a
former assistant coach at La Salle ... As a senior at Lower Merion High
School, Bryant was selected by USA Today and Parade Magazine as the
National High School Player of the Year ... He was also named Naismith
Player of the Year, Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of
the Year and to the McDonald's All-America Team. Bryant averaged 30.8
ppg, 12 rpg, 6.5 apg, four spg and 3.8 bpg ... He led Lower Merion to
Class AAAA state title with a 31-3 record. Bryant scored a career-high
50 points vs. Marple Newtow and scored 34 points to go along with 15
rebounds, six assists and nine blocks to lead Lower Merion to District
I Class AAA title over Chester ... He scored 117 points and was named
Most Outstanding Player in Prestigious Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle
Beach, S.C.
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