Photo: Kieffer Alas/IG

Kieffer Alas is coming home to play for Ateneo de Manila University.

One of the hottest high school prospects in the country, the 20-year-old phenom formally announced his intention to play for the Blue Eagles starting Season 89 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Alas said he chose Ateneo over other elite schools like University of the Philippines and De La Salle University after Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin visited him in the United States to signify his willingness to groom him as a vital piece in his program.

“Coach Tab visited me multiple times here in the US, and I could tell he was really interested in me. They laid out their plan for me, what I could do in the future, and how they saw me as a big part of their program,” said Alas, who is set to graduate from the Utah Prep Academy this April.

“That was the main thing for me — the management and especially Coach Tab putting in the effort just to visit me here multiple times.”

At Ateneo, the 6-foot-2 Alas will not only get to play for an international coach like Baldwin but also for his father, multi-titled collegiate mentor Louie Alas.

He will also get to play with his fellow high school sensation Jared Bahay as well as Waki Espina, who used to be his teammate at De La Salle Zobel in the juniors division.

Ateneo has been making a big splash in the offseason.

The Blue Eagles had also landed Mark Esperanza from San Sebastian College as well as Ateneo de Davao standouts JM Leal, Macky Pelegrino, JM Sanoria, and Matt Cayetano as well as Rene Baterbonia, who emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the Palarong Pambansa last year.