NO surprise that Pete Smith was watching basketball last Sunday. The surprise was that Smith wasn't watching the Rainbows play basketball. Smith’s hobby
keeping his
basket fullThe Kalaheo High boys' coach has rarely missed a Hawaii game during the past four seasons where middle son, Alika, helped bring the Rainbows to national attention. Now with Alika playing for the Dakota Wizards in the International Basketball Association, Pete Smith is spending Sunday afternoons with his fledgling Hawaii Basketball Academy.
"It keeps me busy," said Smith, who literally holds court at the Kalaheo gym. "It's our first year and it's going well. We have about 42 in the younger group (ages 8-12) and 18 in the older (ages 13-18).
"We've often talked about putting together a camp that gives kids opportunity to play basketball year-round. One of the reasons we have this on Sundays is it doesn't conflict if they are playing something else."
Smith said his youngest son is the perfect example. Ten-year-old Kea didn't participate in the first camp because of his commitment to the Aikahi Tigers football team.
"I think kids should be able to play a variety of sports," Pete Smith said. "What we try to do at the Academy is touch bases with the whole game, from ballhandling on. One of the neglected areas is what I call the triple threat. You learn how to position yourself to either pass, drive or shoot. If kids can learn to create on their own, they'll have more fun."
IT'S easy to be impressed when walking into the Mustangs' gym. One has to stop and look at the overflowing trophy case and then to the OIA and state banners that fill one wall.
Even more impressive is the attention given to each of the youngsters, many of whom haven't noticed that there's no NBA going on.
They, too, can be Michael Jordan ... even if the ball is going nowhere near the rim during a free-throw drill.
"Not having the NBA hurts the exposure of the sport but you've got plenty of college ball to watch," said Smith. "I see basketball's popularity growing.
"I do have a life. It just has a lot to do with basketball. This is my hobby. One of these days, I'll start golfing but not until I can put in the time to be competitive."
While waiting for that ultimate tee time, the 45-year-old Smith keeps busy with hoops. Lots of it.
BESIDES coaching at Kalaheo, he helps run the Hawaii Select program. The Hawaii Basketball Academy is seen as a natural feeder to the Select team.
"I'd like to tie it all together," said Smith. "Target kids, eventually take some age-group teams to the mainland. We're also looking at going to the neighbor islands, putting on some clinics there.
"I don't get tired of doing this. Working with young players brings you back to your roots as a coach. It forces you to teach again. That's the fun part. And the really neat thing is seeing the kids improve over the six weeks."
Session II began last Sunday. Attendance was about double that of the first camp held in September.
"I've been pleased and the parents are pleased with how it's going so far," Smith said. "We've been doing it basically through word of mouth. We're not really advertising because we want to keep the ratio to about 8-to-1. We're going to bring in former players and coaches to help out. It depends on who's in town and who's available."
The summer camp featured Alika Smith, Anthony Carter, Jarinn Akana and Merv Lopes. Current coaches include Kalaheo girls' coach Chico Furtado, Ed Nishioka and Mark Hyde.
The cost is $125 and the next six-week sessions starts Jan. 10. Call Smith (261-5810) or Nishioka (597-8212) for information.
Sunday, Smith got home in time to watch the second half of the Hawaii-Cal game.
"It was weird not being there," he said. "I felt like we were missing something. It's been such a big part of our lives for four years."
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.