Nalu Kahapea, a recent Kamehameha graduate, signed to play basketball at Peninsula (Wash.) College, joining a small BIIF club with well-known members.
The Big Island is best known throughout the state for its basketball success, mainly due to the Konawaena girls dynasty.
On the girls side, there has been a long line of BIIF players who signed scholarships to play college ball but not so much for the boys.
In recent memory, notable players who signed were Aukai Wong (Hilo, 2005), UH-Hilo; Brandon Bautista (Kohala, 2010), Oregon Institute of Technology; Randan Berinobis (Hilo, 2011), UHH; Lanaki Apele (Kamehameha, 2012), Cal Lutheran; and Jalen Carvalho (Hilo, 2014), OIT.
“The scholarship means a lot to me from all those hours and countless amount of drills we do. It all pays off,” said Kahapea, who’ll major in business. “But the road doesn’t end here. I’m always thinking about the long term when it comes to basketball.
“Playing in the summer time with AAU ball helped get me more exposure. Playing at the next level always meant a lot to me.”
One of the reasons basketball scholarships are so difficult for the BIIF 6-foot crowd is that big guys are stuck in the post and don’t develop ball skills (shooting, dribbling and passing).
And most BIIF ball-handlers don’t have the elite skills that fit the college game or a strength to compensate for a shortcoming.
Bautista and Apele were undersized guards but court savvy ball-handlers, Wong and Carvalho were nice-sized sharp shooters (always a coveted commodity), and Berinobis was a defensive presence who could score.
The 6-5 Kahapea has a lot of parts to his game, such as the ability to post and back down defenders or extend his shooting out on the perimeter. He also has the football-body frame to muscle taller guys on the glass.
“Nalu possesses the size, strength, and skill-set to play at the college level,” Kamehameha coach Mea Wong said. “The two biggest adjustments he will have to make are the size of everyone and the speed of the game. His skill-set doesn’t call for him to rely on his size alone to be effective, and I have seen him be very effective against guys similar in size.”
Pirates coach Donald Rollman saw Kahapea play in a preseason tournament on the Big Island. That goes back to the old coach’s reminder: You never know who’s watching.
“The coach told me I would be a great fit, shoot the 3, has the handles and speed, strength and height to play in and out,” Kahapea said. “I’ve always had a dream to play Division I, but I want the right people to help me get there and develop my skills. Peninsula felt like the right fit, a great fit, and they have a great record to prove they’re an elite team.”
Rollman did his due diligence and communicated with Wong, who answered questions about the type of player and person Kahapea is. He got a thumb’s up from his old coach.
Last season, the Pirates finished with a 22-10 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. They last won a conference title in 2011.
Kahapea grew up playing basketball and baseball but found a passion for hoops. He played under Kimo Alameda, whose son Hilo guard Kekaukahi Alameda is a college prospect.
Then he played under Dominic Pacheco, Vince Ulloa, Wong, and AAU ball with Hawaii Select, coached by Alika Smith, the former Rainbow Warrior. Kahapea was also tutored by his cousin, Kanisha Bello, a former UH Wahine.
As expected, Kahapea is shooting for high goals.
“My plans are to go to a Division I school, finish up there and play professional ball anywhere in the world,” he said. “I don’t mind where I end up at college, but if I follow my path and stick to the game plan then I will end up where I want to be.”
By far, baseball scholarships through Kaha Wong and girls volleyball scholarships through the local club teams are far more common than other sports.
Not a lot of BIIF players of the year land basketball scholarships. But everything fell into place for Kahapea, who is working with weights, shooting and doing ball work.
Like the other notable players in his club — all former POY or All-BIIF first team picks — Kahapea is now a blueprint for others.
“If you care about any sport and you have the drive and dedication your options are limitless,” he said. “But you have to show up, no matter where you are or what team you play against. Every game counts, and you never know who’s watching.
“Play 110 percent every time, your workouts 110 percent, your recovery 110 percent. Character is the most important, to carry yourself properly and respect everyone.”
