The Middlebrooks Academy, where Kobe Paras spent his final playing year as a high school student, said he had no academic issues.

In a statement posted on Spin.ph, Middlebrooks refuted the report by the LA Times which quoted Cathedral High School principal John Montgomery as saying that “there was a SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) scoring issue” with Paras.

The SAT score was allegedly the reason Paras was denied admission to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

But Middlebrooks said Paras' SAT score "has been used as part of the process to evaluate his academic eligibility through the NCAA Eligibility Center, which has ultimately deemed Kobe Paras a full academic qualifier."

It added that the "UCLA Athletic Department has communicated to Kobe and his family that Kobe is indeed a full academic qualifier per NCAA Eligibility Center academic requirements."

However, the UCLA Admissions Department, which is a separate entity from the Athletic Department, "issued a corporate decision on June 28, 2016 to deny Paras admission to UCLA."

Middlebrooks conceded that the admissions department in any school was not required justify its decision denying entry to a student.

"The challenge is readers do not know that this [SAT scoring issue] was in reality made as part of a larger statement and unfortunately many people have construed this statement to mean something it does not," said Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks said Paras was a high school chemistry Star Scholar award winner, Physics and Calculus award winner, an inductee of the California Scholarship Federation, and a multiple semester Honor Roll student. Paras graduated from Cathedral High School with honors.

Middlebrooks, however, said Paras was moving on to find another Division 1 college.

At least 80 Division 1 schools have reportedly reached out to paras, signifying their interest to sign Paras.

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