Knights’ Secondary Has A Champion In Captain Alimoot

Wednesday - August 25, 2010
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share Del.icio.us

Among Kui Alimoot’s gifts as a cornerback in the Knights’ secondary is the senior’s uncanny ability to anticipate a play. But nothing equaled the anticipation he felt for starting the 2010 season itself.

The drudge work of football, after all, is between January and July, when conditioning, weight training and pass league fill the time with no game to look forward to. Most regrettable to Alimoot is that there’s no full contact.

“I was pumped,” Alimoot said of Castle’s Aug. 15 public unveiling, a 21-3 preseason win over Radford. “I just wanted to get out there and hit someone. It’s hard in the summer to watch (opposing receivers) just catch the ball in (7-on-7) pass league and not be able to hit them.”


Castle hosts Damien at 7 p.m. Saturday and is banking on solid play from its secondary, whose rotation also includes William Oku, Josh Kong and Lane Suyat.

As one of four team captains, Alimoot is quick to break down the group. “Josh is kind of an all-around player,” he said. “He comes up to make a lot of tackles, and he’s a great team player. Lane brings height to our defense - he’s about 6-2, and he hits pretty hard. William is a cover-type of guy, and he can come up (and stuff the run).”

Alimoot is coming off a monster junior season of his own as the lead play-maker in an agile and cat-quick secondary. He’s been clocked at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and has delivered his share of hits.

“He was our best cover corner and led our team in interceptions (in 2009),” coach Nelson Maeda said. “He provides solid senior leadership, leads by example, works hard and is a good student.

“He has some of the best hands on the team. He’s been under the radar in terms of media recognition, but he’s one of the state’s best DBs.”

Alimoot loves the challenge of the spread offense. “I like when they run the spread so we can defend the pass more. There’s more action. You have to constantly be guarding someone.”

He played basketball in the winter but was hard at work on football as soon as the season ended, lifting and running on his own as well as training with the team. His work-manlike presence in the locker room prompted his being voted captain by teammates.


“I worked on becoming a better cover corner so I can keep up with the fastest receivers,” he said of his summer workouts. “I love the challenge of football. It’s given me good competition, and I like trying my best to get the ball back for our offense. I like the team bonding. For us, we need to be close. We do everything as a team.”

Alimoot was slowed earlier by a groin injury but is back to 100 percent now.

Football has been Alimoot’s main sport since he joined the Kaneohe Knights at age 8. Stepbrother Nuipitane Alimoot was a standout at Saint Louis School and a role model. and his father, Moses, influenced him to play, and attends every game with wife Cynthia.

Alimoot also is assertive in the classroom, which could pay off next year when he chooses a college.

E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS

Most Recent Comment(s):

Posting a comment on MidWeek.com requires a free registration.

Username

Password

Auto Login

Forgot Password

Sign Up for MidWeek newsletter Times Supermarket
Foodland

 

 



Hawaii Luxury
Magazine


Tiare Asia and Alex Bing
were spotted at the Sugar Ray's Bar Lounge