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BOYS ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
Tolu
1 Smith
Kahuku
Forward/Center,
6-10, Senior
Averaged 21 points
per game ... The West-
ern Kentucky signee
was an instant dou-
ble-double producer.
Kameron
2 Ng
St. Francis
Guard, 5-9, Junior
Scored nearly 28
points per game,
shooting 89 percent
at the foul line. ... led
the Saints to a 29-3 re-
cord and a D-II title.
3
Zayne
Chong
Punahou
Guard, 6-0, Senior
Averaged nearly 16
points per game on a
deep, talented squad
that went 30-4, win-
ning the D-I state
crown.
Zoar
4 Nedd
Kapolei
Guard/Forward,
6-3, Senior
Averaged 16 points per
game, often leading the
team in rebounds, as-
sists, steals and blocks.
Everett
5 Torres-
Kahapea
Kailua
Guard, 5-10, Junior
A major breakout sea-
son ... averaged
nearly 21 points per
game and shot 76 per-
cent at the foul line.
Kobe
6 Young
Kamehameha
Forward, 6-6, Senior
An intriguing big man
in the ILH, a shot
blocker with 3-point
range and strong
low-post skills.
St. Francis’ Kameron Ng, clockwise from top left, Punahou’s Zayne Chong, Kailua’s Everett Torres-Kahapea
and Kapolei’s Zoar Nedd rounded out the top five players on the All-State team.
EVEN AT FIRST SIGHT,
SMITH LOOKED SPECIAL
By Paul Honda
phonda@staradvertiser.com
T
he first time Kelly
Grant saw Galen Tolu
Smith II really play, it
was a revelation.
The 6-foot-10 Ka-
huku senior was more than
a center. He was simply, un-
deniably watchable, a force
on both ends of the floor.
The length, the energy that
Hawaii really hadn’t seen in
a hoopster that tall.
“I knew he was a skilled
post player, but I didn’t real-
ize how quick he is for be-
ing 6-10,” said Grant, whose
Maryknoll squad eventually
lost to Kahuku in the quar-
terfinals of the state tourna-
ment. “His first step was
really impressive!”
Smith arrived from Mis-
sissippi with a lot of ques-
tion marks that eventually
turned into exclamation
points. He averaged 20
points per game despite the
constant swarm of double
and triple teams, finding
opening teammates, spin-
ning out of trouble for jump
hooks and dunks. His court
vision and big motor
sparked defending state
champion Kahuku, which
returned to the final.
When he wasn’t swatting
Kamren
7 Victorino-Kato
Kamehameha
Guard, 6-2, Senior
A hard worker on de-
fense, an explosive scorer
and a slam dunk cham-
pion (‘Iolani Classic, Rob-
inson Senior Classic)
HONORABLE MENTION
Liam Fitzgerald, Leilehua
Caleb Casinas, Moanalua
Marcus Tobin, Maryknoll
Micah Visoria, Roosevelt
Kaulana Makaula, Punahou
Duke Clemens, Punahou
Geremy Robinson, Moanalua
Colin Ramos, Mid-Pacific
Marcus Damuni, Kahuku
Kordel Ng, St. Francis
Jaymin Khansmith, Kaiser
Justin Genovia, ‘Iolani
Aukai Kama, Lahainaluna
shots into the walls or
bleachers, he was deftly al-
tering shots in the paint.
That skill was a major asset
for Kahuku in that win over
Maryknoll, the ILH cham-
pion. Smith also put his
double-double averages to
the test against Punahou,
finishing with 23 points, 14
rebounds and five blocks. It
wasn’t enough, though, as
Punahou took the state title
by double-, triple- and even
quadruple-teaming the big
man.
“I think his passing game
is really overlooked,” Puna-
hou coach Darren Matsuda
said. “He was an excellent
passer in the post and from
the perimeter. You had to
know who his favorite tar-
gets were — (Ethan) Erick-
son — and try to take away
the passing lanes to his tar-
gets when you double him.
Nalu
8 Kahapea
Kamehameha-
Hawaii
Forward, 6-5, Senior
Able to post up with
either hand, handle
the ball and stroke
the open 3.
Coaches and media
didn’t forget the prowess of
Smith, who signed to con-
tinue his academic and bas-
ketball career at Western
Kentucky. Smith was
trained from Day 1 in the
nuances and work ethic of
life on the post by his fa-
ther, Galen Smith Sr., and
mother, Shanelle — both
former college players.
That extended to defense,
which was clearly recog-
nized by the panel, the hus-
tling shot-blocker was also
voted No. 1 on the All-De-
fensive Team.
Kameron Ng, the dazzling
long-range shooter and
playmaker with a penchant
for crafty work in the paint,
was voted No. 2 by coaches
and media. Though much of
his team’s schedule was in
Division II — St. Francis de-
fended its state champion-
ship in D-II — he was at his
best against the top D-I pro-
grams.
Ng, a junior, finished at
nearly 28 points per game
and 89 percent at the free-
throw line. He scored 33
points on seven treys in a
close loss to Kamehameha.
He poured in 29 points, in-
cluding 10-for-11 at the foul
line, in a close defeat at the
hands of Punahou. Against
Sequoia (Calif.), Ng pumped
Andrew
9 Kearney
Kalaheo
Guard/Forward,
6-4, Senior
The explosive senior
and rim defender led
the Mustangs to a stun-
ning title run in the OIA.
SPORTS
Jaylen
11 Cain
Maryknoll
Forward, 6-3, Senior
His ability to drive
through creases of
any defense gave
Maryknoll the consis-
tency it needed.
Jordyn
12 Perez
Maryknoll
Guard, 5-10, Senior
A true defensive ball-
hawk ... directed one
of the top programs
in the state and
stepped up his scor-
ing late in the season.
STAR-ADVERTISER PHOTOS
13
Micah
Mitchell
Hawaii Baptist
Guard, 6-0, Senior
Scored 27 points per
game as a senior de-
spite being the focus
of every defensive
scheme.
in 31 points for a Saints’ win.
Punahou’s scintillating
scorer, Zayne Chong, was
third in the voting for Fab
15. The 6-foot senior was
nimble and quick defen-
sively in Punahou’s suffo-
cating fullcourt press, and
his ability to attack the rim
balanced out his 3-point ac- Isiah
curacy. Chong averaged 15 14 Gelacio
points per game for the Maryknoll
state champion Buffanblu. Guard, 5-8, Senior
Coach of the year honors
Trusty long-range
was extremely close be-
bomber averaged
tween McKinley’s Duane
nearly 10 points per
Omori and Matsuda. Omori
game in Maryknoll’s
earned the honor, guiding
diversified offense.
McKinley to a 6-4 mark in
the OIA East and a state
tournament berth despite
having one of the smallest
lineups in the league.
Matsuda’s squad was out-
standing from the first day of
preseason, then lost to Mary-
knoll for the ILH champion-
ship. Then came the title run
at states, winning four games
and routing Kahuku to cap-
ture the koa trophy.
Kyle
Grant, the Maryknoll
coach, was third in the bal- 15 Moraga
loting. Also receiving votes McKinley
were Rob Pardini, who led Guard, 5-10, Senior
Kalaheo to the OIA title, Ev- Scored 12 points per
erett Frye of Kalani, Gary El- game, but his respon-
lison of Kapolei, Brandyn sibilities included
Akana of Kahuku, Steve Ha- point guard, scorer,
thaway of Roosevelt and rebounder and rim
Ron Durant of St. Francis. protector.
Cole Duane
10 Arceneaux C Omori
Punahou McKinley
Guard, 6-0, Senior Coach of the Year
A key playmaker as Led the Tigers to a
an accelerator, scorer, state tournament
passer and defender berth despite having
for the state one of the smallest
champion Buffanblu. teams in state