Basketball League’s Summer Season A Bargain For Kids

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Summer basketball camps are the conventional route for young athletes wanting to maximize their talents, but those with access to Windward National Junior Basketball League may have found something even more valuable.

“This is even better than a camp,” said Gary Tanouye, longtime coach and league board member. “Typically, when you go to a camp, it’s a week and then it is over. For the money you pay, you can play in our league for the next 13 weeks. Camps are good, but there’s no substitute for a league where you can play another three months.”

Entering its sixth season, WNJB owes part of its appeal to timing.August, September, October and November always have belonged to football and some other sports, after all. But in an age of specialization, the one-sport basketball hopeful on Oahu now can play an entire season prior to his or her school’s winter season. (Both Kailua Basketball Association and Police Activities League conduct winter seasons, giving area residents the option of participating in all three.)

“If you’re not involved with football and soccer, and you’re one of those kids who really loves basketball, there’s a void there where you’re sort of on your own. For intermediate or high school, it’s a seamless transition into their season.”

Tanouye has seen the quality of basketball in the league multiply throughout the years. “Since we’ve been doing summer ball, the competition has gotten better,” said Tanouye, also the head girls varsity coach at Le Jardin Academy.“The kids are improving at a higher level. Now they’re playing three months with us and three months with their school.”

As is the case during the winter season where schools monitor the academic progress of their basketball players, WNJB also has an understanding that kids have to be doing well in the classroom in order to participate. This approach is widely endorsed by league parents.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,“said Tanouye, who likens the WNJB to a players’ league. “Parents are able to use it as a motivational tool for their kids if they want to play. You have to do well in school to play sports. It also keeps kids busy, and if you don’t keep kids busy, it can lead into other things.”

Among those who have played league ball every year is Le Jardin’s Kelsey Tanouye, Gary’s daughter and a Second Team all-star in ILH last winter.

“They encourage that it is all about how you improve as a player,“she said.“It isn’t just about winning. I like that it’s a close-knit group in the league. I’ve grown up with a lot of them.”

Since WNJB is co-ed, Tanouye found herself one of only two girls (the other was Siena Shupe of St. John Vianney School) on the Lakers team last season.

“Playing in a mostly-guys league has made me a better player,” Kelsey said.“I had to adjust to the speed of the game.”

Another benefit is that games are held Sundays at Kalaheo High School gymnasium. Players ages 8-17 also wear NBA replica jerseys for uniforms.

“Playing in a high school gym is obviously a treat for them,” Gary Tanouye said.“A lot of kids at that age are used to playing outdoors on a playground. There are no rain-outs here. We don’t have to worry about the weather.”

Signups for the 2010 season, which runs Aug. 2 through Oct. 10, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 12, 19 and 26 at Kaneohe District Park and Enchanted Lake Park. Early registration is recommended. Bring copies of a birth certificate and medical insurance. For details, call 216-8103.