Been attending the Reebok/Sharks Tourney at Manoa. Well run and props to Darren Matsuda for putting on a showcase for the young ballers on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. The Sharks "A" team is unreal......looks like 5 -6 guys 6'4" and over and athletic. I found out through talking story with some Shark parents that a 6'8' poly kid on the team is going to Punahou...along with his brother! Was wondering if anyone else thinks this is getting to a point of overkill. Hey recruiting (under the guise of "financial aid" and "campus diversity") is going on at a lot of ILH schools (not just Punahou) and has for a long time. For the kids chosen it is a golden opportunity to get a great education and possibly a college scholarship. But man......can you imagine Punahou's starting line-up next year? Malik, Deforrest, this 6'8" kid and a player named "Nick" along with some other studs from their JV squad. WOW!! An All-Star team but running precariously close to being ringers. Nothing against the kids (they all seemed mature, humble and respectful at tourney) but is this "recruiting" system at Punahou over the top? Wonder if "tryouts" are out of vogue at school as if you weren't brought in to play ball you probably have no chance to make the team.
Hawaii High School Basketball Forum
Hawaii Hoops - Forum » High School Boys
Punahou "recruiting" over the top?
(21 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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u got it right screen. over zealous men like Darren Matsuda not good for hig shcool sports. Like the kind HF he has to much time on his hands.
Stay out of Kalihi Darren cause we grow our ownPosted 1 year ago # -
Yah Downtown I have some time, cuz I am not standing in line like you collecting welfare and government cheese.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Also, I think you are a coward for calling out guys like Darren behind a fake name. If you wanna call him out, at least have some integrity and use your real name or at least let people know ho you are behind your username.
But, I understand that you need to hide since you are probably shivering at the thought that people will understand your insatiable desire to be recognized.
Regardless if you believe Darren's so called recruiting is good or not, at least these kids are getting an opportunity for higher education.
What have you done lately for the youth of Hawaii? Oh yah, you are a role model. You teach kids how to blog behind a computer and fake name...oops, my bad.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@ Screen, could you imagine if Josh Taylor decides to play basketball? Right now Josh is supposed to sit out his senior year of volleyball (unless it is over turned). He could train, possibly move to the mainland where some states have different eligibility rules, or play bball, who knows.
Josh is a fine athlete, good in bball, and could possibly be 6'9 with a jump shot next year. Who knows, but it could be a possibility.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Which schools offer the best education and opportunity for future advancement towards a college degree?
If you have/had children who didn't play sports, what school would you choose to send them to? Given the fact that admission to "any" school was guaranteed.
Why is it different if your children play sports?
I'm sure there is back and forth that occurs.
But I think as previously mentioned, by one, over-zealous HF.
High school sports are not the sole star the world rotates around. I am of the mind that if I had a child, with an opportunity to enroll at a private school, I would do so. For whatever reason they would allow us to. Sports, or otherwise. That experience will last them (work ethic, discipline, respect and academics), their entire lives. Money, bills, are often times best provided for, by one's education, rather than their success in a sport during high school.
The even playing field? Absolutely right. It's swinging way off tangent. But in the end, who is to blame?
The parent? Who wants the best for their child.
The child? Who is benefiting academically and on the average, in life.
Or the school? Who provides the child the opportunity to take advantage of their academics, athletics and overall, well-rounded environments.I think that as long as those three parties win, then tough luck for us public schools.
I don't hold it against them in the slightest (or think it is overkill), either. It sweetens the pot for that miracle run that could happen, any year.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Okay, All Very Good Points of both Facts and Opinions!
And I don't think Screnn meant any Harm, just posting his opinion on a Public Website.
But, put My Child in thier Shoes and I'd Say WOW!
From the Inside Looking Out, It's a Different Attitude/Prespective.
It would be Such a Blessing and Fortunate Opportunity for for My Child, My Family and Friends and I would be Thankful that Hawaii has this Resource to Provide these Gifted Athletes an Avenue to Succeed!
The Honolulu Sharks take Local Kids to Vegas Tournaments to Compete yearly, have brought the ARC Tournament to Hawaii and are having the Championships of thier Sharks Tournament today in Manoa.
That Manoa Tournament has brought in Outter Island teams such as Kalaheo from Kauai and Oahu teams from as far as Kahuku whom usually have a hard time finding a place to Play.Darren's Honolulu Sharks is/have been a Resource for Future Punahou Basketball Players!
Such as Coach Ush/Hirata's Hawaii Raiders and Coach Chu's KBB teams have been for Iolani.
And Coach Won did it at Mid-Pac and so on and so on...Darren is also a Candidate For Punahou's Coaching Job.
They like him there.
Which is why You see Coach Johnson and Coach Keen making all of the Calls from the Shark's Bench as of Lately.Now, some Shark Players are not Future Punahou Stars.
Which may hurt thier Game against Punahou come the Regular High School Season being those Players have spent Court Time with each other Exposing Strength and Weaknesses!
Just My Opinion, Matthews (Mid-Pac)and Keen (Moanalua)are Great Players.I do Enjoy watching the Sharks Play and can Appreciate the Abundance of Local Talent!
Come Regular High School Season they still gotta play the Game.
Punahou was a Heavy Favorite the Win it all last season and finished 3rd.I do Feel that most of the Shark/Punahou Players will be Recieving a College Ticket for Football rather than Basketball in the Long Run.
These are just my Opinions, Yes the Sharks are Fully Stacked!
Let the Debating Begin!!!
Come On Braddah Hoops, I know you have Something to Say Buddy! LOL!
Posted 1 year ago # -
2D, I couldn't have said it better myself. You touched so many issues and made so many great points.
The real issue is, "Where's Jones?"
Posted 1 year ago # -
Check His New Website My Bruthah!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Should probably weave this thread together with the "Iolani" thread as they both seem to involve "recruiting" issues.
Here are a few things to consider:
1) Every student that attends any private school is receiving some type of financial aid, due to the fact that the cost of tuition is not the actual cost of attending that institution.
2) Financial Aid is based on "need" and an independent body on the mainland determines "need," not the schools.
3) A few scholarships (most of them partial) are given to a select few students whom may qualify for such by ethnicity, exceptional extra-curricular talent (including sports), or academic achievement. Many of these "scholarships" are not awarded until the student is already enrolled in the school for several years.
It seems to me that schools like Iolani and Punahou can't win: If they take students based solely upon academic achievement, they're cast as "elitist." If they try to diversify their student population, they're cast as "recruiting unfairly."
Kamehameha serves a niche market and is, statistically speaking, the most difficult school to get into. In recent years, they're expanded their coverage of Hawaiian students by building more campuses-- most people know this. What people may not know is that they have introduced a program where they will pay the tuition of students of Hawaiian ancestry at OTHER private schools-- like Punahou and Iolani.
It seems to me that our private institutions have a "big picture" view on what it means to truly serve the needs of Hawaii's children. Punahou's PUEO program, Kamehameha's program mentioned above, and Iolani's "Stone" scholarships are all based on "diversity" and opening doors to some students that may otherwise be closed.
Let's not take the myopic view that life is all about basketball scholarships.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Bravo!
Excellent Insights DB!I just don't consider giving Scholarships to students the same as Recruiting Students.
You must be enrolled and excepted to recieve a Scholarship, and I consider Recruiting as Contacting an Individual or Family Member and Recommending those involved to enroll into the School, planting the "Seed" that they want/need that Individual with intentions to "Recruit" is what I am thinking.
The "bait" is a Prestigious School, and who wouldn't want that for thier Child!
Never the Less, it Certainly does Expand Beyond Basketball.
Posted 1 year ago # -
HF - If Josh Taylor DOES play Bball, Punahou would have the most physically intimidating frontcourt in Hawaii High School history IMHO. Not only huge but skilled as well. If they can get anything out of the guard positions this team will not be challenged locally. Too bad they have their own tourney and can't play in the Iolani Classic. To all, I throw this out....could is this be a situation of feeding the "beast"? I believe this has happened with St. Louis and their football program. I think a lot of the turmoil up on campus (shrinking enrollment, academic and athletic department issues) can be traced to the heavy emphasis on the gridiron and on winning. Loading up in one area not always a good thing and is athletic dominance Punahou's mission as a school?
Posted 1 year ago # -
DB this is one of the most well written pieces ever on Hawaii Hoops.
You are accurate to a T!
BTW, since you are so articulate and knowledgeable, what is your take on Helena's Hawaiian Foods?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey DB...great thoughts. Only couple things to add.
NAIS....the third party organization that calculates estimated financial need is only advisory and does not mandate what school must provide in aid. Thus, NAIS could recommend 25% aid....school gives 100% and vice versa. Many of the aid to athletes are 100% whereas NAIS recommended less. I've seen a few of these NAIS calculation notices and school award letters myself.
It IS subjective but balance is the key. Are some schools tilting the scales more to athletics than other areas? Just noticed that in recent years the number of financially aided athletes seems to have gone up.
Mahalos to all for your thoughts and observations.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Good points screen. I know of 2 basketball players at Punahou who grad in 2008. I believe tuition in 2008 was a little north of $17,000. Each paid $600 per year. Now that is great financial aid.....
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hoop, are you implying that these two basketball players' families did not qualify for the financial aid they were given?
Posted 1 year ago # -
DB, if I am not mistaken, I believe they got a scholarship (scholarship based on ethnicity) right upon admittance. I don't believe they even needed to apply for financial aid. I may be wrong, but that is what they both told me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I see.
Posted 1 year ago # -
For the last time. Punahou does not recruit. They offer financial aid to athlete/students that are 6'4" or taller!
Posted 1 year ago # -
thanks ed for clearing things up
Posted 1 year ago # -
You're welcome! I'm tired of people accusing Punahou of recruiting, when clearly, that is not the case.
Posted 1 year ago #
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