Here are my predictions and outlooks on the ILH Division I...
1A.) Punahou - Don't think that the momentum of winning a state title does not translate over to the next season. With one shining trophy under Coach Hale’s belt some of the pressure is taken off his shoulders. Although Cameron Steinhoff is now at Hawaii Pacific University, the nucleus of players that guided the Buff N' Blue to glory are returning for a second serving. An athletic Dalton Hillard, who can defend and score at the rim, Robert Toma, and newly added Matt Feldman sharing duties at the point guard spot, combined with McFadden and Crabb at the 2 spot seems reasonable. Not to mention a man among boys named Manti Te'o, who with his size, power and agility will dominate the paint for put backs and strong finishes and be a representation of intimidation o the defensive side of the ball (Yes, he has mentioned that he will be playing this season). Although they do not have the strongest of coaching staffs, what they do have is talent, along with much needed depth at almost every position, which is a major key for a successful run at back-to-back trophies.
1B.) Iolani- Some say its Doc's last season at the helm, others say he's staying, but besides the gossip being thrown around the bush, this Iolani team has some redemption issues to pursue, especially as the defending ILH champion that got ousted in the Quarterfinals of last year's state tournament by Moanalua. The bad news, ILH POY Taylor Mounts is long gone, the good news, Iolani has Pablo Warner and a handful of younger players that received some much needed experience during last season. With the intensity Iolani plays with on defense due to its trapping capabilities they are able to get easy scores off turnovers and make other teams adjust to what they are trying to do, and that is pushing the tempo. Offensively, this team has a variety of weapons with Warner being one of them. Although he is a bit out of control he seems to finish around the basket at a high percentage, which also leads to a bundle of free throw attempts. Add that to his decent mid-range, 3-point game and energizer bunny endurance and you've got yourself a player. Kela Marciel and Andrew Skalman will handle the point guard tasks, but to me the biggest X Factor/s will be Kainoa Chu, Kainoa Scheer and Trevyn Tulonghari. Chu, who missed last season due to injury, is a dynamic scorer when he plays hard. He's crafty and very slippery, which allows him to get to the rim for finishes and kick outs. His shot is also a positive, but I would like to see him work on his mid-range a little more. This year will be Scheer's first year getting major minutes as Iolani’s few big men, and for this team to get back to its state championship days he will need to stay out of foul trouble. He skies above the rim for put backs, but needs to be a more intelligent player. Tulonghari showed glimpses of an all ILH performer last season. He's a stallion when he gets out wide on the break; he can nail shots, and can play some D in the process. The key to this team is finding a leader that can keep things together other than Doc. But with a solid coaching staff anything is possible.
3.) Kamehameha - You always see Kamehameha make an appearance in the state tournament. Their style is not very exciting, hence the amount of points they averaged last season, but what makes them very good is the fact that they play a very good zone defense that put the clamps on opposing offenses. In Hawaii basketball it is not often that you find shooters that are consistent on a game-by-game basis. Yes, they will hit three in a game, but if you can find and locate them with a hand up, most time it affects their shot. That is what Kamehameha does and that is effect teams' rhythm. Jesse Nakanishi does a good job with what he has. However, something tells me that they might pressure up a lot more than last season with a full court, or even half court trap similar to that of Iolani. The question is if Pi’i Minns will under, or over achieve. He is so talented, but lacks the intensity that it takes to be the best. He has the total package, such as height, skills, and talent to put his stamp as an All-ILH performer. Kamehameha just needs to find how to win in crucial situations in the states, and will be a definite contender for an ILH crown.
4.) Mid-Pac – If you think Mid-Pac’s 19 point victory over Punahou last season was a fluke, please think again. Marcus Holyfield is indeed the number 1 player in the state. Talk about a freak athlete. From baseline to baseline he is the fastest no doubt because he runs hard on every possession. From a jumping stand point he is impressive, and with those long arms it’s a bonus for put backs and offensive/defensive boards, along with contesting shots. He can also fly to the rim at will. The only thing he must work on is his outside jump shot. If he wants to play at the next level he must be more consistent because he will be playing against guys who are just as athletic, stronger and better. As for his supporting cast, Samson Won will be the #2 guy. He also needs to work on his consistency from the perimeter. He is a very smart player though, as are the rest of teammates that need to be to make up for their lack of athleticism. They also welcome a new coach from the Intermediate, who I believe will give them more freedom to trap, and play out on the break like they are used to in the outside leagues. Depth still will be a problem. And a question mark still lies inside with a big guy, other than some of the new guys brought up from the Junior Varsity. In my opinion this is Mid-Pac’s last season to make a run at a state tournament berth because after this year no Holyfied, and no Won.
5.) St. Louis – For the past three years St. Louis has been one of the most talented teams in the state. Only problem is that they don’t play very smart and are sometimes very undisciplined. The Crusaders were up by 21 points against Punahou last season at halftime, only to have a meltdown in the second half and lose. Not making the state tournament should leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the returnees. Guys like Micah McClinton, Lucas Gonsalves and Jameson Miller were very talented, but you have to sometimes question their decision making on the court. Taking shots on the break with no rebounders, throwing passes without looking who in the area, and dribbling way to much. However, with Mr. Moniz entering the building it is hard to say what direction this team is headed in. Now Gonsalves is out due to a collerbone injury suffered in football. Players need to be assigned roles on this team, and if they can stay within those roles and become a more disciplined and organized bunch, I think they will be right back in the mix of things.
6.) Maryknoll – Brian Mello, who was Coach of the Year at Damien a while back, will be entering his first year at Maryknoll. From my perspective he was the guy that had the most knowledge on the Punahou coaching staff last season because of his excelled experience. Point guard Tyler Terai will be asked to do a lot, but I don’t necessarily believe he can do everything. Maryknoll has a couple of big guys inside, but Terai is his best when can penetrate and kick to shooters for shots. Without shooters like a Richard Herring on the perimeter Terai will struggle at times, and will look good during other times when he can make some of his amazing shots around the cup. I like that Mello made an effort to coach at all three levels during the Summer League. It shows that he wants to build relationships with his players and establish a solid program that will grow for the future. Only time will tell, but that is what the Spartans need, and that is time.
7.) Damien – Well, you can’t say they don’t play hard. During the Iolani Summer League they did beat Kamehameha by a couple of points, but I don’t know if they can repeat the deed during the ILH Regular Season. It will be an uphill climb for the Monarchs, but one thing is for sure, and that is they are very hungry, and hungry means they have nothing to lose. Throwing your dice on the table and rolling without care is what Damien needs to do this year to become a nightmare to some of the ILH’s big dogs. If they do so I call their season a success.
