Thursday, January 31, 2002
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Mr. Short Stuff Yesterday, he was C.J. Williams.
Takaki hasn't let size stop him
from being a 'BowBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comNext week, he'll be Damon Hancock.
In his dreams, he'd like to be Shawn Bradley ... just for a day ... just to see how being tall feels.
There are a lot of BMOC (Big Men On Campus) in the world, but for the Hawaii basketball team, there is only one LMOC. The Little Man On the Court is Lance Takaki.
In the Rainbow forest, he is the bonsai. At 5-foot-4, Takaki is one of the smallest players in Division I basketball.
However, the junior walk-on out of Mid-Pacific plays a huge role for Hawaii during game preparation.
"He's a very smart player, and he understands basketball," said Hawaii associate head coach Bob Nash, who runs the scout team. "He picks up everything, recognizes the different offense that the other team runs and does a good job of remembering the different plays so that it makes it easier for the starters to remember.
"He's an intricate part of this team. He's one of my favorites because he embodies everything you want in a basketball player. His game day is every day and if he gets into a game, that's gravy."
Defense has been the meat and potatoes for Hawaii, as it takes a 17-3 record (and WAC-best 8-1) into tonight's home game against Boise State (7 p.m., KFVE-TV and 1420-AM radio). Part of that revolves on how good a job the scout team does during practices before a particular game.
This week, the guard nicknamed "Taco" took on the role of Boise State point guard C.J. Williams. When the Rainbows prepare for next week's game at SMU, Takaki will get to be his favorite WAC player, Mustang guard Damon Hancock.
"Hancock is a great player and I may shoot like him, but I don't make them like he does," said Takaki, who is averaging 1.8 minutes of playing time in five games this season. "Coach (Riley Wallace) isn't going to yell at me because I'm supposed to take the shots.
"I didn't come out thinking I'd play a whole lot. But there is a sense of pride, being the one local kid. Even getting in for just a minute ... you have to swallow your pride just to be in the (score) book."
Few will forget what was Takaki's proudest moment in his three years as a Rainbow. On Dec. 21, in the Rainbow Classic semifinal against Iona, Wallace called Takaki's name with a few minutes left in the first half and Hawaii holding a slim lead against the Gaels.
"I was shocked, I thought he was going to tell me a joke or something," Takaki said. "Then he told me to go sit by Coach Nash. When that happens, you know you're going to go in and that had never happened that early in a game for me.
"But when I hit that shot, it made everything worth it. The practicing for countless hours. The running. That basket made my career. It all paid off in that one minute."
The jumper with 20 seconds left was his first shot of the season and his first points. It gave Hawaii a 28-23 lead.
On the next play, Iona's Solomon Brown came down on Takaki, resulting in a gash to his forehead that forced him out of the game bleeding. No stitches were needed but the Rainbow has a scar over his right eyebrow that will always remind him of the moment.
"I think it showed that we are a team," said Hawaii sophomore guard Carl English, who passed the ball to Takaki on the right baseline. "The little guy got open and I got him the ball because he had the better shot."
Few gave Takaki a shot to make the team, let alone play. He was a terrific three-sport athlete for Mid-Pac, a member of two state championship baseball teams and the ILH Division II Player of the Year in basketball after leading both divisions in scoring as a senior.
Still, it was hard to overlook -- or underlook -- the fact that he is just 64 inches tall without his Nike heels on.
"I lot of people told me I couldn't play in college," Takaki said, "so this is a dream come true and I'm just riding the wave. I liked baseball my whole life, but basketball has always been my passion.
"It's been a blast the past three years, especially this year. Last year everyone was friendly but this year even more so. I have to say that this is the nicest team I've ever been on."
Takaki's one bad decision this year was trusting English with his hair. The two decided to dye their hair right before the last road trip: English's came out very blonde but Takaki's was more orange than he expected.
"I thought that it would just be a tinge of orange and Carl told me he knew what he was doing," Takaki said. "I don't know if I'll ever trust him again."
But there's no question the respect runs both ways. And runs deep.
"Even though I've been here for three years, I'm still amazed by them," Takaki said of his teammates. "Watching them shoot ... it's so easy for them. I wonder 'why can't I do that?'
"The best part about being a Rainbow is the friendship with guys from different countries. I think everyone now knows Yugoslavian swear words because Savo (senior guard Predrag Savovic) blurts them out. I really admire him. Even though he's a superstar in basketball, it doesn't get to his head. He works hard in the classroom, gets good grades. I admire that."
Takaki is a communications major, hoping to go into television sportscasting. He will be interning this summer with KITV.
"I can see that," said Wallace. "He's a personality, good in front of a microphone, good sense of humor. He makes everything into a light moment.
"And he's a very valuable part of this team. He's mature. You put him in a game and he's got confidence. He's not afraid of whatever situation he's in."
UH Athletics