By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Four-time selections Thomas Fairman and Sebastian Ohara-Saft of St. Joseph and Jaclanne Pagala of Keaau head the 2012 Hawaii Tribune-Herald’s All-Academic Basketball Team.
The 35-member squad includes 19 boys and 16 girls with first semester grade point averages ranging from 3.7 to 4.4.
Fairman, a 6-foot-6 senior center, and Ohara-Saft, a 6-1 senior guard, each carried a 4.4 grade point average for the first semester in making the mythical team for the fourth straight year. They become only the third and fourth boy in the 23-year history of the program to be honored four times during their prep careers.
Fairman and Ohara-Saft join only former Kamehameha standout Kealoha Kramer and former Keaau multi-sport star Richard Handy on the elite list.
Thomas is the son of Wanda and Paul Fairman of Hilo. He is currently weighing his options for college and would like to play basketball if the opportunity presents itself. However, his first choice for college is Stanford and his first priority is to get a quality education with or without participating in intercollegiate sports.
Sebastian, who goes by the nickname “Sebi,” is the son of Yumiko Ohara and Scott Saft. He is deciding on a college but is strongly considering an NCAA Division III school on the West Coast with the hope of getting a degree as well as playing basketball.
Jaclanne, who goes by the nickname “Jacy,” is the daughter of Brandi and Jun Pagala. During her outstanding four years at Keaau, she starred in basketball, soccer and softball. She is strongly considering Chaminade University for next year, to play basketball for the Silverswords.
Fairman, Ohara-Saft and Pagala are joined on the All-Academic team by two three-time honorees, six two-time recipients and 24 first-time honorees.
The three-time recipients include Kohala’s Andrew Trump (Sr., 4.2 GPA) and HPA’s Yuki Ainge (Sr., 4.2).
The two-time recipients include:
• Boys: Keaau’s Konnor Kanetani (Sr., 3.9); Konawaena’s Trevor Tanaka (Jr., 4.1), and Randall Berdon (Sr., 3.7), and Waiakea’s Owen Sandstrom (Jr., 4.3).
• Girls: Ka‘u’s Taylor Pocock (So., 3.8) and Waiakea’s Keani Shirai (Jr., 3.8).
The first-time honorees include:
• Boys: Hilo’s Austin Dante (So., 3.8) and Drew Kell (So., 3.8); HPA’s Kai Chen (Sr., 4.4); Wayne Vaoga (So., 3.7); Kamehameha’s Micah Carter (So., 4.0), Kamanaopono Aiu (Sr., 3.9) and Jacob Kackley (Sr., 3.7); Konawaena’s Kenan Gaspar (Jr., 3.7); St. Joseph’s Keoni Key (So., 3.7); and Waiakea’s Cody Kojima (Fr., 3.9) and Rylan Kawazoe (Sr., 3.7).
• Girls: Hilo’s Shawn Mori (Fr., 3.8), Kaily Harris (So., 3.7), Alyssa Perreira (So., 3.7) and Sydnee Yokota (Fr., 3.7); Keaau’s Maedina Ongais-Kilaulani (Jr., 4.0) and Randi Estrada (Sr., 3.9); Kohala’s Ellaine Mae Viernes-Obero (So., 3.8) and Chyler Imai (Sr., 3.8); Konawaena’s Amanda Varron (Sr., 3.8) and Makani Wall (So., 3.8); and Waiakea’s Kaydee Rapozo (Fr., 4.0).
Each year, private sponsors honor the top 15 varsity basketball boys and girls by first semester GPAs. In the previous 22 years, more than 750 student-athletes from around the Big Island have been honored.
Each honoree will be presented a plaque, a book and a certificate as well as being recognized with this T-H story on the 2012 All-Academic Basketball Team.
“We’re thrilled to honor these outstanding student athletes,” said Jimmy Yagi, one of the private sponsors. “They’ve excelled on and off the court, and they’ve been role models for other student athletes. We salute them, and wish them well in their future academic and athletic endeavors.”
Among the sponsors are Jimmy and Jeanne Yagi; Ted Dixon, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald publisher; and Sandy Wilson of Wilson’s Trophies.
This year’s list of 101 honorable mentions includes 42 boys and 49 girls with GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 3.7.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald’s
2012 All-Academic Basketball Team
(First semester grade point averages)
Boys
4.4
Kai Chen, HPA; Thomas Fairman, Austin Lee, Sebastian Ohara-Saft, St. Joseph.
4.3
Andrew Trump, Kohala; Owen Sandstrom, Waiakea.
4.1
Trevor Tanaka, Konawaena.
4.0
Micah Carter, Kamehameha.
3.9
Kamanaopono Aiu, Kamehameha; Konnor Kanetani, Keaau; Cody Kojima, Waiakea.
3.8
Austin Dante, Drew Kell, Hilo.
3.7
Wayne Vaoga, Honokaa; Jacob Kackley, Kamehameha; Randall Berdon, Kenan Gaspar, Konawaena; Keoni Key, St. Joseph; Rylan Kawazoe, Waiakea.
Honorable Mention
3.6
Kristian Martinez, Hilo; Lanaki Apele, Easten Tanimoto, Keoni Wong, Kamehameha; Bryson Ita, Waiakea.
3.5
CJay Carvalho, Keanu Freitas, Honokaa; Villiamu Uulopa, Konawaena.
3.4
Jodd Carter, Jalen Carvalho, Hilo; Tyler Van Kirk, HPA; Khalil Luis, Pahoa.
3.3
Sefa Rocha-Tufaga, HPA; Larry-Dan Al-Navarro, Ka’u; Christopher Roxburgh, Kohala; Sonny Miguel, Pahoa; Matt Fairman, St. Joseph; Michael Morikawa, Waiakea.
3.2
Kalan Camero, Keanu Yamamoto, Zane Gray, HPA; Kekoa Turner, Kamehameha; Paul Antonio IV-Ayoso, Kohala; Alsten Soria, Laupahoehoe.
3.1
Isaac Dylan Kaleiwahea, Hilo; Dakota Berman, Zach Greenbaum, HPA; Brooks McVey, Honokaa; Royden Esperon, Jansen Candaroma, Patacsil-Riley Del Rosario, Ka’u; Weston Cazimero, Kohala; Jordan Salboro, Laupahoehoe.
3.0
Isaiah Fonseca, Nathan LeBeouf, Hilo; Eigoro Akai, HPA; Darus Ignacio, Honokaa; Gregory Javar, Ka’u; Mike Rabara, Konawaena; Lexton Silva, Laupahoehoe; Koa Galves, St. Joseph.
Girls
4.2
Yuki Ainge, HPA.
4.0
Toni Beck, Ka’u; Jaclanne Pagala, Maedina Ongais-Kilaulani, Keaau; Kaydee Rapozo, Waiakea.
3.9
Randi Estrada, Keaau.
3.8
Shawn Mori, Hilo; Taylor Pocock, Ka’u; Ellaine Mae Viernes-Obero, Keaau; Chyler Imai, Kohala; Amanda Varron, Makani Wall, Konawaena; Keani Shirai, Waiakea.
3.7
Kaily Harris, Alyssa Perreira, Sydnee Yokota, Hilo.
Honorable Mention
3.6
Briahna Brooks, Hilo; Pilialoha Kailiawa, Leah Cariaga, Ka’u; Dawnyelle Awa, Hoku Liftee, Konawaena; Chelsea Poe, Kamehameha; Kristine May Antonio, Jovi Antonio, Kohala.
3.5
Anna Juan, Camille Kiyota, Tiana Tabac, HPA; Bobbi Arlette Montibon, Namele Naipo-Arsiga, Kamehameha; Jenna Gascon, Shaylin Navarro, Ka’u; Dezlie Gibo, Honokaa.
3.4
Kayla Okimoto, Aliyah Pana, Amber Vaughn, Hilo; Chancis Fernandez, HPA; Casey Koi, Janessa Jara, Ka’u; Jordelle Antonio, Kohala; Alyssa Ferreira, Nicole Antonio, Waiakea.
3.3
Eliyah Fernandez, HPA; Riana Arima, Britni Napihaa, Casey Poe, Kamehameha; Makayla Awa, Konawaena; Michelle Laguardia, Pahoa.
3.2
Shereena Bird, Jasmine Castro, Precious Chong, Honokaa; Randi Berinobis, Pahoa; Shaila Apele, Shaylyn Kahawai, Kamehameha.
3.1
Hao-Wen Chang, Nani Lum, HPA; Yvonne Daniels, Demi Liu, Honokaa; Courtney Kaupu, Konawaena; Jasmine Cummings, Laupahoehoe; Alexandria Mercado, Jade Sumoba, Lohe Kaawaloa, Pahoa.
3.0
Joyce Ibasan, Kiana Pascubillo, Ka’u; Kasa Wilson, Honokaa.