New Head Basketball Coach A Familiar Face Around Aiea
By Jack Danilewicz
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Isaac Avilla’s search for cohesiveness within his Aiea basketball team has been helped along by the fact that many were football team-mates at the school under Wendell Say.
That is all well and fine with the coach.
“They all get along,and they can play together as a team,” said Avilla, who is entering his first season as head coach. “They’re a very disciplined group and they’re organized.
We’re excited about them.”
Coaching changes often produce the dreaded transition year, but that’s not likely to be the case at Aiea, as Avilla has been a visible presence in the program and at the school for the past eight years. Most recently, he served as head JV coach under varsity coach Wyatt Tau, who led Aiea to OIA Division II titles in 2007 and 2008, including an appearance in the 2008 DII State Championship game. Tau returned to his alma mater, Campbell, in the off-season, leaving the head job at Aiea vacant. Avilla also has been a head girls JV coach and varsity assistant under Mike Yen and is currently in his seventh season as head girls bowling coach. He led Aiea to the state bowling titles in 2004 and 2006, and Na Ali’i have won three overall OIA titles during his reign.
He will build his current team mainly around returnees, including seniors Api Foumai, Lawrence Lagafuaina, Kory Naeole and Michael Hogan. Lagafuaina wasn’t expected to join the team until Monday, having been preparing for a football all-star game in recent days. Named the OIA Red West Defensive Player of the Year during the prep football season, Lagafuaina also announced recently that he will attend University of Washington on a football scholarship.
Avilla went with Foumai, Naeole, Hogan, sophomore Keano Kuia and junior Chucky Kaahanui as his starting lineup in Aiea’s preseason opener against Christian Academy. The same group figures to start Friday night’s 7 p.m. game at home versus University High.
While Na Ali’i's depth figures to get a boost when Lagafuaina returns, the inside game should remain solid with Foumai and Hogan,who is the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-4.
“Michael plays good, hard defense inside, and he’s able to post up and make some shots for us,” Avilla said of Hogan.“Api is strong, but he also has some finesse with his shot. He sees the court really well for a big man on the bottom.”
In the back court, Kuia and Naeole bring athleticism to the fold - as does Kaahanui at the three-spot. “Kory is a good all-around player,“Avilla said of Naeole. “He’s pretty much a team leader, and he’s able to score quickly if we need him to.
“Keano is patient and he’s very smart as far as court awareness. Chucky’s very aggressive,and he’s quick.Like Kory, he’s a threat to score quickly if we need him to.”
Avilla also is high on Braxton Fukutomi, Branden Abiva and Phillip Madriaga. The trio all are expected to play significant minutes.
As expected, Avilla has found the transition to head coach smooth. “We’re still in the early stages, but they’re adapting very well,” he said.
On the heels of Friday’s home date with University High,Aiea will play in the Saint Louis Pre-Season Tournament, which will run Sunday through Tuesday. It will feature two teams from Saint Louis School as well as long-time OIA power Kalaheo High.
Aiea also will host Waialua Dec. 30 in the team’s last pre-season tuneup before beginning its regular season Jan. 5 at home against Tau and Campbell.
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