Sky’s the limit for Coe senior Aleena Hobbs

CEDAR RAPIDS - When she steps on the court, it's almost always to make a point,

Actually lots of points.

Coe College Aleena Hobbs lives and breathes basketball.

'She's unstoppable,” Coe Coach Kayla Waskow said.

Hobbs enters her final season third on the all-time scoring list with 1,267 points and has been named first team all-Iowa Conference three years in a row. She's also the first player to score more than 400 points in back-to-back seasons.

'The sky is the limit with her,” Waskow said.

Waskow has seen Hobbs grow not only in her game, but also in her leadership role. Hobbs gave a speech at the opening of Coe's new basketball arena inside renovated Eby Fieldhouse a couple of weeks ago,

'She's a great voice for our department of student-athletes,” Waskow said.

Hobbs' love of basketball began after she started to become serious about it in middle school. Both her parents played at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, where Hobbs followed in their footsteps and eventually went to Coe College.

'My parents definitely inspire me,” Hobbs said.

But her coaches and teammates are her role models. Waskow, in her first season as Coe's head coach, holds the all-time scoring record at Coe and assistant coach Mickey Hansche ranks second. Hobbs is right behind them.

'To come this close to surpass someone like Waskow is pretty cool,” Hobbs said.

Waskow believes Hobbs will graduate as the career scoring and continue to positively impact Coe College.

'When she graduates there will be very big shoes to fill as a leader and strong competitor,” Waskow said.

Hobbs plans to get a job in marketing or communications at a sports network or sports information department. She doesn't want to be far from basketball.

Hobbs is hoping the Kohawks have a successful season, capture the Iowa Conference title and make it to the NCAA III tournament.

'I hope I go out with a bang,” she said.

Coe opens its season tonight against Iowa Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

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