UHH’s Kaneshiro optimistic

By BILL O’REAR

Tribune-Herald sports editor

University of Hawaii at Hilo’s David Kaneshiro is optimistic heading into his third year as the Vulcans women’s basketball coach, blessed with a veteran team, some quality recruits, and good chemistry.

“I’m really excited to get started,” Kaneshiro said, noting today is Oct. 15, the official starting date for NCAA basketball practice.

“The last three weeks of conditioning, the girls have worked really hard with the weights, running and skill drills,” he said. “It’s a good group, the girls are very unselfish. A lot goes into being a good team but working hard, preparing the right way and having good team chemistry all helps.”

Kaneshiro has nine returnees, including eight seniors, and four newcomers on his 13-member 2012-13 squad.

“We don’t have overwhelming size, but we have enough size and talent to be successful,” Kaneshiro said. “We lost Hillary Hurley from last year and we’re a little smaller overall, but we should have enough size and athleticism to make up for it.”

Hurley, a 6-foot-2 power forward, averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last year while earning first team all-Pacific West Conference honors.

“Hillary was our bail out player when the shot clock ran down and we needed to get up a shot,” Kaneshiro said. “She could either get up a pretty good shot or get fouled. This year, we won’t have Hillary’s inside presence, we’ll be more of a perimeter team.

“That doesn’t mean we’re going to be shooting threes all game long. It just means we’ll do more cutting and penetrating to the basket to open things up. It also means we have less of a margin for error and will need to execute better.”

And instead of looking to one vital option on offense down low to Hurley, Kaneshiro will push for more players to contribute.

“It’s going to be more of a team effort,” the UHH coach said. “We need everyone to step up in what they can bring to the team. On defense, we’ll need to play solid and be in better finishing position to block out and rebound. On offense, we won’t have a down-low, back-to-the-basket player like Hillary, but we have some players who can finish strong in the paint.”

Kaneshiro, who is 23-27 overall and 16-18 in the PacWest in his first two years, likes having nine returnees on the squad because those players have been through his system and know what to expect, in practice and in the games as well as going on the road to play in the PacWest.

“The returnees worked hard over the summer and came back better players,” Kaneshiro said. “They’re quicker and stronger, and their experience from last year should help us this year. They’ve already developed good team chemistry with the newcomers, and they’ve all shown they’re willing to sacrifice for the team.

“Our message to them is: We’re not a whole lot different from the majority of (PacWest) teams, so it’s going to come down to how hard we work and execute.”

The Vulcans start official practice today and open their season with an exhibition game against NCAA Division I University of Hawaii on Oct. 26 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. It’s the second straight year that the Vulcans have played the Rainbow Wahine in the preseason.

“The girls are excited to be playing the Rainbow Wahine,” Kaneshiro said. “I wish we had more practice time, but it was a good experience last year.

“It will be difficult playing a team of that quality, but we’ll try to learn from the experience and get ready for our first collegiate game against Chaminade on Nov. 17.”

The Rainbow Wahine, under new coach Laura Beeman, have three former Big Island prep standouts on their roster — juniors Vicky Tagalicod (Hilo High), Kanisha Bello (Waiakea/Kamehameha) and Pua Kailiawa (Ka’u).

In playing UH so early, Kaneshiro’s Vulcans only have 11 days to prepare. Still, the soft-spoken Kaneshiro is upbeat about the 2012-13 season and to see how well his hard-working team fares in conference play.

“It should be fun watching our girls improve and seeing how well we can compete in the PacWest this year,” the Vulcans coach said. “We’ve got a good group to work with and we’re all looking forward to the season.”

Kaneshiro’s returnees include:

• Kirsten Shimizu, a 5-0 senior point guard from Sacramento, Calif. The quick-and-clever guard started all 26 games last season while averaging 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. She proved to be one of UHH’s most consistent perimeter shooters and a deadly free-throw shooter, and earned all-PacWest honorable mention honors.

Beside being one of the Vulcans’ leading scorers, Shimizu also had 63 assists and 44 steals last year.

“Kirsten came back stronger and quicker,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s shooting the ball really well and is in great shape. I think Kirsten will have a really good year for us.

“We’ll need her shooting and she’s someone who loves to compete.”

• Jameia McDuffie, a 5-2 senior guard from Bellflower, Calif. She started eight games last year while averaging 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She was one of the team’s sparkplugs with her fired-up style of play and had 55 assists and 43 steals in her first season at UHH.

“Jameia worked really hard over the summer and came back stronger, faster and quicker,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s shooting the ball better from the perimeter and should have a really good year.”

• Kirsty Imai, a 5-4 senior guard out of Waiakea High School in Hilo. She started 20 games last year while averaging 5.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game to go along with 46 assists.

“This is Kirsty’ fifth year in the program and she’s showing good leadership,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s tough and competitive as anyone on the team, and never backs down from a challenge.”

• Natalie Mata, a 5-6 senior guard out of Farrington High on Oahu. She averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last year while providing the Vulcans with a valuable spark off the bench. She’s one of UHH’s best scorers and shooters.

“Natalie is shooting the ball well and has been one of our best shooters over the past two years,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s hit some big shots for us, especially last year in some really good conference wins. If she can shoot the ball likes she’s capable, it’s going to be a big help for us.”

• Shannon Rousseau, a 5-7 senior forward from Colorado Springs, Colo. She averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 assists per game while starting 18 games last year.

“Shannon came back in good shape,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s more confident and more relaxed, and she’s shooting the ball better.”

• Jazz Corpuz, a 5-5 senior guard from Kihei, Maui. She saw limited time last year while averaging 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. But it was her contributions in all areas that impressed her coach.

“Jazz has been great, especially last year when she didn’t get much playing time,” Kaneshiro said. “But she was always ready to play and always ready to support her teammates. She was one of the reasons why we had such good team chemistry last year.

“We’re just happy to have someone like Jazz in our program.”

• Jazlyn Afusia, a 5-10 senior forward from Torrance, Calif. She averaged 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while starting 25 games last year.

“Jazlyn is a good, smart, tough all-around player who can guard any position,” Kaneshiro said. “Her versatility will really help us again this year and how she can play different roles well.”

• Elise Spain, a 5-10 senior forward from Fremont, Calif. She started 14 games last year while averaging 2.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

“Elise came back stronger and more confident in herself,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s one of our taller players and is a really important part of the team. We’ll need her to rebound and defend again, and provide us with a physical presence in the paint.”

• Thea Hanato-Smith, a 5-6 sophomore guard out of Konawaena High. She started six games last year while averaging 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds as a true freshman. She also showed her confidence in shooting the ball, winning a PacWest home game on a long shot at the buzzer last season.

“Thea had a solid freshman year and came back stronger and more confident,” Kaneshiro said. “For a younger player, she has a good understanding of the game and plays with a lot of poise. I think she’ll have a really good year for us.”

The newcomers are:

• Kamie Imai, a 5-9 junior guard/forward out of Waiakea High and a transfer from Utah State. She played limited minutes for two seasons under coach Raegan Pebley and returned to play at UHH with her older sister, Kirsty.

The promising Vulcan junior was a two-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation player of the year and all-state selection while leading Waiakea to back-to-back state berths in her final two seasons.

“We’re really happy to have Kamie in the program this year,” Kaneshiro said. “She brings in size, athletic ability and a skill set that we haven’t had in that position during my time as the Vulcans coach. She can penetrate and score or pass off to an open teammate, and she’s also a good perimeter shooter. She should be able to do a lot of good things for us.”

• Jazzmyn Davis, a 5-10 junior forward from Pacoma, Calif. She played her first two seasons at College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif. under coach Greg Harrick. She earned all-state honors and helped lead her team to consecutive league titles. She averaged 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season.

“Jazzmyn is a good athlete who works hard and runs the floor really well,” Kaneshiro said. “She’s also a good rebounder and a good perimeter shooter. She’s very coachable, has good size, is strong and versatile, and finishes strong inside the paint.”

• Briana Smythe, a 5-10 junior forward from Winnetka, Calif. She played her first two seasons at Los Angeles Valley College under coach Monica Hang and earned all-conference honors last year. She averaged 9.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season.

“Briana is a hard worker and has a good perimeter skill level,” Kaneshiro said. “She finishes well inside and like Jazzmyn, she also complements our other players’ skills.”

• Mandi Lum, a 5-4 freshman guard out of Hawaii Preparatory Academy. She played for longtime HPA coach Craig Kimura as a prep and was a standout for the Ka Makani in basketball, volleyball and softball.

“Mandi is a really hard worker and has a great attitude,” Kaneshiro said. “We’re happy she’s on the team.”

Kaneshiro also announced that Tricia Amuimuia, a promising 5-8 freshman out of Waiakea High, will redshirt this year.

Kaneshiro will be assisted this season by returning coaches Fred Collins, Wayne Kaneshiro and Donn Kansako.

Hoops note: Both the UHH men’s and women’s basketball teams open practice today. However, there is no Midnight Madness or other season-opening celebration planned since UHH halted that event two seasons ago.

The Vulcan men, under coach Jeff Law, open their season on the road, playing at NCAA D-I Pittsburgh and Duquesne University in exhibition games on Nov. 2 and 4, respectively, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Email Tribune-Herald sports editor Bill O’Rear at borear@hawaiitribune-herald.com.