Former University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball point guards Darren Williams and Mandi Kawaha are heading halfway around the world to begin their professional careers in Europe.
Williams is heading to Poland for the HydroTruck Radom basketball club, and Kawaha will be moving to Wales in Great Britain to join the Cardiff Met Archers Basketball Club.
Both athletes recently finished their college careers as Vulcans after graduating in the spring. Kawaha received two bachelors’ degrees in kinesiology and exercise science and communication. Williams graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration.
After spending time playing in the Drew League this summer in Los Angeles, Williams, a three-time All-PacWest Team honoree, announced July 22 he would be taking his talents to Poland this fall.
“This is definitely a surreal feeling after all of the work leading up to this moment. To have all of it come to fruition feels very rewarding,” Williams said. “On the other side of things, I’m a rookie again, so it’s time to kind of start over and prove myself.”
Williams hails from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and has been playing ball since he was 5. Through high school, junior college and his UH-Hilo career, Williams always has had the goal to make it pro.
“The journey I’ve been on has been a surprising one full of hard work to get to where I am today,” Williams said. “Making these goals into a reality is a feeling I can’t really describe. I’m so excited for this unique opportunity to see the world while I get to keep playing the game I love.”
Williams is the only import player, which is a player from another country, on the roster for HydroTruck Radom.
“I do feel a big responsibility as the only import, and I am going to come out and do my best to help the team win,” Williams said. “The language barrier makes me a little nervous, but everyone I talk to has spoken English, and I’ve heard the country is friendly.”
While Williams has only recently left Hilo, he misses everything he’s experienced in Hawaii for the last three years, from basketball to the relationships he’s made.
“Truly from the bottom of my heart, I love Hilo, and I miss it already,” Williams said. “I felt like I was leaving half my family. I met the most genuine people who want the best for me, and it was an amazing experience.”
In addition to playing ball overseas, Kawaha, a Hilo native, also will be coaching and continuing her education by working toward a master’s in sport coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales.
“I have dreamed of playing professional since I was a little girl, and going into my senior year, I told my coach that I wanted to continue to play, and I wasn’t done yet,” Kawaha said. “College went by so fast for me. I mean all these years went by so fast, and I wasn’t ready to give up the game. It’s especially great I get to go international to play.”
Kawaha graduated from Hilo High School in 2018 and spent all five college seasons at UH-Hilo, so this will be the first time she’s lived outside Hawaii.
“I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m scared. I’m all three. I’m excited to be able to play in a different place, but it is halfway across the world from my home,” Kawaha said. “I’ve loved playing in front of my family and this supportive community. I’m definitely motivated to do a good job for them, for Hilo, my coaches, teammates and everyone who’s supported me.”
Kawaha was a three-time All-PacWest Team selection and set several program records including all-time marks for points (1,485) and assists (438).
Williams and Kawaha will be moving to their new homes next month as preseason starts at the end of August.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.