Knights Start Hoops With Full Roster
By Jack Danilewicz
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The effects of Castle’s OIA championship season of last year were perhaps more far-reaching than Knights basketball coach Jeff Hiro had anticipated.
“We had over 70 kids (including varsity and junior varsity hopefuls) sign up for tryouts,” said Hiro, who led Castle to a 17-3 overall record in his first year as head coach. “To be honest, I was surprised. That was promising.
“In past years combined,we didn’t even have 40,” added Hiro, whose team also made the DII state title game last year where they were defeated by rival Kailua.“That was the toughest thing - we had to turn away over half of them.”
With his roster now settled, Hiro next begins the task of developing cohesiveness among what he concedes is “basically a brand-new team.”
Junior Jordan Aleki and senior Adam Canne are the lone holdovers from last year to have seen significant minutes. Both will move into the starting lineup this time around. “They were both in and out (of the lineup), so both played a lot,” he said.
Aleki is an imposing presence, as he packs 240 pounds into a 6-foot-1 inch frame. “He’s very athletic for a big guy. He moves well, he’s very agile for his size, and he has a toughness - he just has to play with that toughness, consistently.
“He also has soft hands and a soft (shooting) touch - everything you would want in a big guy. As a junior, he’s ahead of the game, skill-wise. We’d like him to play more aggressively.”
Canne also is 6-1 and will move from a post position to the No. 3 spot in Hiro’s scheme. “Adam is fundamentally sound as far as ball-handling, playing defense, shooting ...,“Hiro said.“The one negative is that we want to see him apply it better in game situations.”
Canne is among the players Hiro will look to for some perimeter scoring. “We’re looking for some guys who can shoot ‘em up from the outside. He has the potential, along with some guys we have coming up from the JV team, but they’re not as consistent right now as what we lost from last year. (Recently graduated standouts) Isaiah Tilton and Nick Tuamoheloa were pure shooters.”
Another position of emphasis will be at the point guard spot, where the Knights look to replace Michael Santos, who also completed his eligibility.“Michael is a big loss,” Hiro said. “We’ve been rotating a couple there, and the potential is there, but you can still see the inexperience. We have a lot of basketball skill. If we can get the chemistry together, we’ll be OK.”
The Knights were stout on the defensive end last year, and Hiro is preaching putting forth the same kind of effort again this preseason.“With an inexperienced team, we’ll need that again, more so than we did last year.” said Hiro, who is assisted by coaches Dave Parker and Reynaldo Acoba.
Castle will play a total of seven preseason games prior to their OIA opener, which is Jan. 9 versus Anuenue at home. The Knights were to open their preseason last Thursday against Word of Life. On Tuesday,they were to meet Kamehameha II, with a matchup at home against Leilehua set for 1:30 p.m. this Saturday.
Castle’s only other preseason games will be part of the Merv Lopes Classic at the end of December.
“How much we progress in a short period of time will be a key,“Hiro said.“We’re a work in progress, but the upside is good. It’s there.”
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