Full Game Schedule Keeps Hawaii Select Team On Its Toes

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Between their summer league schedule and a tournament appearance that will bring them five additional games, the Hawaii Select boys basketball team figures to have played more games than the average all-star team when they arrive in Las Vegas next month for the Vision Sports National Basketball Tournament.

Hawaii Select coach Ryan Hogue also hopes the demanding schedule will help alleviate any awe his team might feel for the opposition, given the high-profile Mainland teams playing.

“One area of concern is being able to step onto the court and not have stage fright,” said Hogue, who shares the coaching duties with current Academy of the Pacific coach and former Kalaheo standout Alika Smith and longtime Kalaheo boys assistant Walt Marciel.

“The talent you’ll see there ranges from what you see here to a team of Division I prospects. It’s a different climate. Being able to go out there (to the Mainland) and play your own game is part of the whole experience.

“We don’t see a lot of 6-foot-7 guards out here. One thing we’re working on is playing really smart and hard on defense, which we’re going to have to do if we’re going to show we can compete with the best.”

As in past years, Hawaii Select has a talented roster for the high school division, highlighted by Windward standouts Aaron Fernandez (Kalaheo), Kona Makaula (Kalaheo), John Whitty (Le Jardin Academy) and Nehoa Akina, who led Kahuku to the OIA Division I title in February.

Matt Feldman (Punahou), Mika Dunhour (Honoka’a), Reece Racoma (Moanalua), Gabriel Stietzel (Kaimuki), Keven Amaral (Moanalua) and Jack Mayer (Maryknoll) round out the team.

“Our strength will be our speed,” Hogue said. “We’re real guard heavy, and we don’t have a lot of true size, as in 6-6, 6-7, but we shoot the ball well, and the big guys play very hard. We’re looking to spread out and push the ball off the break.

“We hope we can turn missed shots and turnovers into fast breaks with solid defense.”

At point guard especially, the team should have its share of depth by the end of the month. Six players were missing from its first summer league game while on the Mainland attending college basketball camps. That includes Feldman, and Akina currently is working out in Utah and is expected to join the team on July 2.

With both Akina and Feldman absent lately, Whitty has assumed even more minutes in the back court and has quickly established himself as an impact player, according to Hogue.

“He’s real intelligent. He’s been our starting point guard so far and may be later on. He passes the ball real well - he has a great sense of the (passing) lanes - and he knocks down 3s consistently. He’s a true point guard.”

Fernandez and Makaula both are coming off solid seasons for Kalaheo and will be seniors in the fall, while Akina was the catalyst for the Kahuku Red Raiders in their championship run.

“Aaron brings versatility - he’s a guard/forward who can step out and shoot. He’s becoming more aggressive in going to the basket, which we need him to be.

“Kona also brings some versatility, and he’s turning into a more aggressive defender also.

“Nehoa is fundamentally (sound), No. 1,” Hogue added. “He understands the game as you would expect from a coach’s son, and he’s a knock-down shooter.”

Hawaii Select currently is taking part in summer league at Iolani, where the team plays three games this week, beginning with Thursday’s matchup versus Saint Louis at 6:30 p.m.

Also on tap this week are games against Punahou at 7:30 p.m. Friday and versus Mid-Pacific at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Hawaii Select also hosts an eight-team Jamboree July 11-12 at Le Jardin Academy. Le Jardin also hosts a Hawaii Select basketball camp this Sunday for boys and girls 5-13 years old. Kahuku coach Hyram Akina is among the featured instructors. The camp is divided into two sessions (8-11 a.m.; noon-3 p.m.). Fee is $50 for both sessions or $30 for one. For more information on the camp, call 392-6359.