FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Alexus Foyle led the Pacific West Conference in scoring and was third in rebounding last year.
Foyle’s final flight Unlike many young boys who grew up to accomplish half as much in the game, Alexus Foyle had no plans to play in the NBA.
The BYUH senior hopes to
PacWest capsules
follow his cousin into the NBABy Markus Franke
mfranke@starbulletin.comBut after becoming the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, it's his most desired dream.
Foyle's talent exceeds his experience by miles, as he has only played the game of basketball for six years. But he won't let that stop him. He is one of the best players in the islands, and at first, he didn't even like basketball.
"I was never exposed to basketball (at a young age)," said Foyle, a senior at Brigham Young-Hawaii. "I didn't like playing basketball in the beginning, but after a while I liked it."
It's like a fairy tale. A young man discovers a new talent, moves away from home to seek fortune and fame. On the way, the man finds out that there is more to basketball than talent.
"It doesn't just happen by accident," Foyle said, emphasizing the many hours of practice he puts in every week. "I have talent and my coaches are helping me. God blessed me with talent."
BYUH coach Ken Wagner agrees.
"He's for sure one of the most talented players we've had here," he said.
The way Foyle has grown as a player impresses Wagner.
"He got better and better last year. He and Scott (Salisbury) play well together," Wagner said.
Foyle, a 6-foot-6 forward from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, is famous for his jumping ability. Wagner estimates Foyle's vertical leap to "easily" be over 40 inches.
"He gets up there higher than anybody I've been around," Wagner said. "He's one of the few that can dunk off a rebound."
On top of his talent, Foyle understands the importance of coaching, designed plays and teammates. He says he's just one man, and that doesn't make the whole team.
"They (the opposing teams) can't stop the plays. He (Wagner) designs a play, and exactly what he says will happen happens," Foyle said. "Our defensive coach is the best."
Foyle scored 570 points last year, averaging more than 20 points per game, but it only got the team to the first round of the west regional, where it lost to Seattle Pacific 82-57. He learned from the mistakes that ended the season earlier than expected. He and his teammates have worked hard on improving on the defensive part of the game.
"We picked up a lot of bad habits (last year) that we've been able to take away this year," Foyle said. "I love those who can (play) defense."
Coach Wagner agrees on his improvement.
"He's getting better at defense," Wagner said. "He's really matured. He used to look angry when he played. Now he seems to enjoy the game more. He's calmed down as he has learned the game."
Calming down on the court probably has something to do with his role model and cousin, Adonal Foyle of the Golden State Warriors. They try to talk to each other on the phone twice a week, and Adonal Foyle helps him with the part of basketball most people don't see.
"Half of basketball is mental, which he helps me with. Once my confidence is sky high, there's nothing that can stop me," Alexus Foyle said. "Playing with him gives me a lot of confidence. If I ask him how to do something, he'll tell me what to do."
Understanding the importance of a role model and mentor, coach Wagner appreciates the help Adonal gives Alexus.
"Adonal and Alexus seem to have a good relationship," Wagner said. "He flies over there for vacation (when he can afford it). He (Adonal) is real proud of him. He spends a lot of time with him during summer."
The two don't just talk about basketball, as Adonal Foyle cares about his school as well, and so do others.
"The whole school cares more about my schoolwork than basketball," Foyle said. "They tell me that a good student makes a good athlete. It's true! When I get good grades, I take it with me to the basketball court."
As improvement on his report card makes him play better, Wagner wouldn't mind seeing Foyle get straight A's.
"Hopefully things will go well for him (this season)," Wagner said. "If it goes well for him, it should for us."
According to Wagner, Adonal was a strong role model in that regard.
"His cousin was also a good student," Wagner said. "He (Alexus) has done better and better as a student. His grades have gotten better ever since he got there."
Foyle and Wagner are excited and optimistic about the season ahead of them. They set high goals for themselves, and are confident of reaching them.
"My goal this year is to get the ring," Foyle said.
This might come true this year, and maybe Foyle, as in the fairy tales, will beat the challenges set for him and reach his dream.
"I dream hours on end of playing in the NBA," he said.
BYUH Athletics
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Brigham Young-Hawaii
In charge: Ken Wagner, 13th year, 231-125Last year: 19-10, 10-5 PacWest co-champions
Last four years: 66-46 (.589)
Back: Alexus Foyle (6-6, Sr.), Scott Salisbury (6-8, Sr.), Pablo Broering, (6-11, Sr.) Jeremy Frampton (5-7, Sr.), Beau Nobmann (6-1, Jr.). Stats returning: 42.0 ppg, 21.9 rpg, 8.1 apg.
Gone: Yuta Tabuse, Tyree Gardner, Keli'i Naihe, Brian Skinner, Dallas Jensen, Shawn Broadnax. Stats lost: 41.1 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 12.6 apg.
New: Sean Opunui (5-11, Fr.), Matt Winans (6-6, Jr.), CJ Fellars (6-5, Fr.), Micah Smith (6-8, Fr.), Cameron Heide (6-6, Jr.), Walter Gates (6-7, Jr.), Spencer Lynn (5-11 So.), Eric Byung-Chul Kim (6-1, Jr.), Austin Smylie (6-7, Fr.).
Outlook: The Seasiders return two of the league's premier players in Salisbury and Foyle, but they will need a little more help than they got last season.
Despite being the biggest team in the conference, the co-champions were actually outrebounded last year. They could afford that disparity because they were the they best shooting team from the field -- and the worst from the line -- but lose sharpshooters like Naihe and Skinner.
They also lose Tabuse, who decided to return to Japan and play professionally after just one season of college. That is no big problem, though, as BYUH went out and got a floor leader nearly as talented from NCAA Division I.
Opunui transferred from BYU-Provo and is expected to run the show as a freshman. He sat out last year with a medical redshirt, and may be the team's best defender.
Montana State-Billings
In charge: Craig Carse, eighth year, 132-62Last year: 21-7, 10-5 PacWest co-champions
Last four years: 68-41 (.624)
Back: Jerett Skrifvars (6-5, Sr.), Dan Thompson (6-6, Sr.), Dave Carse (6-0, Jr.), Kyle Stirmlinger (6-11, Sr.), William Davidson (6-3, Sr.), Joe Cook (6-7, So.). Stats returning: 48.1 ppg, 19.6 rpg, 13.2 apg.
Gone: Jason Skrifvars, Keith Krause, Danny Phillips, Jethro Wilson, Brian Cook, Adam Tudor, Ryan Stirmlinger. Stats lost: 43.3 ppg, 18.9 rpg, 6.8 apg.
New: Cameron Munoz (6-3, Fr.), Bill Day (6-8, Jr.), Justin Hassell (6-4, Jr.), Buddy Windy Boy (6-6, Fr.).
Outlook: Billings owns the nation's second longest home winning streak, but has the same road woes as the rest of the conference, especially when it comes to Hawaii.
The Yellowjackets are traditionally among the leaders in the nation in team offense, and this year figures to be no different.
They averaged more than 90 points per game last season, but to match it they will have to do so without Phillips, the league's fourth-leading scorer last year. They also lose Cook, who led the team in rebounding.
But their point guard returns to run the show. David Carse, the son of the coach, trailed only Tabuse in assists last year and led the team with a .402 percentage from 3-point land.
Chaminade
In charge: Aaron Griess, third year, 32-22Last year: 16-11, 8-7
Last four years: 58-49 (.541)
Back: John Kirk (5-10, Sr.), Kashif Reyes (5-10, Sr.), Mike Donegan (6-6, Sr.), Leon Ballard (6-5, Sr.), Jaborri Thomas (6-4, Sr.), Rashaw McAfee (6-3, Sr.), Donald Rogers (6-2, Jr.).
Gone: Albert Powell, Igor Beljanski, Willie Davis. Stats lost: 26.4 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 4.2 apg.
New: Bryon Sykes (6-1, Jr.), Roy Stigall (6-0, Jr.), Donald Makupson (6-1, Jr.), Doug Sobotta (5-11, Jr.), Tony Royce (6-1, Fr.), Jason Walters (6-5, Jr.), Ryan Bishop (6-6, Jr.), Michael Ross (6-9, Jr.).
Outlook: Chaminade's roster is stocked with familiar names, having lost only three players from last year's 16-11 team.
Ballard, who was limited to three conference games because of injury last year, returns to join a group that grew into a contender in his absence. The Silverswords put together their second straight winning season last year.
Chaminade will have to replace last year's top scorer (Powell), but several players showed the ability to take his spot. It is well established that Ballard can take over a game, but last year Thomas, Donegan, Reyes and Kirk all scored in double figures.
It won't be so easy to replace the team's top rebounder from last year. With Beljanski gone, the tallest player left in Chaminade is 6-9 junior college transfer Ross. The next tallest player is 6-6.
Hawaii Hilo
In charge: Jeff Law, fifth year, 53-53Last year: 18-9, 8-7
Last 4 years: 53-53 (.500)
Back: David LaQua (6-2, Sr.), Derek Mgbeke (6-3, Sr.), Kyle Bartholomew (6-4, Sr.), Ryan Hogue (6-7, Jr.) Stanley Ballo (6-1, Jr.), Brady Hyde (6-1, Jr.), Albert Keim (6-5, Sr.), Dave Wiggins (6-11, Sr.). Stats returning: 50.8 ppg, 23.7 rpg, 1.3 apg.
Gone: Scott Prather, Garreth Read, Michael Shumate, Karl McGuire, Michael Palmerston. Stats lost: 27.1 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 12.9 apg.
New: Ryan Abrahams (6-3, Jr.), Osadonor Esene (6-6, Jr.), Nolan Hall (6-6, Fr.), West Hawthorne (5-11, So.), Kimo Keiter-Charles (5-10, So.), Joe Marsh (6-5, Jr.).
Outlook: The Vulcans lost all-conference point guard Prather, but return four starters and five players off the bench.
Because he has so much to choose from, Law will mix and match his lineup to fit specific situations. One thing is sure though -- whatever the situation, forward Bartholomew will be on the floor. Bartholomew put together a conference-high nine double-doubles last year and was on the All-Conference second team.
After Bartholomew, there is no telling who will be on the floor, but guards Laqua and Mgbeke figure to be in the mix at forward with Hogue, who needs to have a breakout year on the boards for the conference's second-worst team in the category last year.
Hawaii Pacific
In charge: Russell Dung, first yearLast year: 18-9, 9-6
Last four years: 63-47 (.573)
Back: Nic Walters (6-0, Sr.), Nate Block (6-7, Sr.), Leandro Maruoka (6-8, Sr.), Ty Riley (6-4, Sr.), Jacob Avilla (5-10, So.). Stats returning: 14.4 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 3.6, apg.
Gone: Nash Subotic, Nick Spajic, John Avilla, Alvin Stephenson, Zach Anderson, Jeff Jensen, Larz Stewart, Dragan Karanovic. Stats lost: 58.9 ppg, 26.0 rpg, 10.3 apg.
New: Aaron Abrams (6-4, Jr.), Mike Baron (6-6, Jr.), Jay Bussey (6-5, Jr.), Rashad Davis (6-8, Sr.), Fabrizio Mendiola (6-2, Jr.), Marvin Noble (5-11, Jr), Derek Noyes (6-4, So.), Albert Tecul (6-4, Jr.), Zach Stephens (6-1, Jr.).
Outlook: Dung is not the only new face in a new place for the Sea Warriors.
Dung takes over the program from Tony Sellitto, and will have nearly a whole new crew to work with, as eight players from last year used up their eligibility and rode into the sunset with Sellitto.
Even with the new group, expect the Sea Warriors to use the same formula it did last year to win games -- defense.
The Sea Warriors have long been thought of as an offensive powerhouse, but last year big names like Subotic and Spajic led the way for the league's fifth-best offense while the defense was the class of the conference.
Look for the Sea Warriors to try to get back to pounding the ball down low again, as Dung believes Maruoka and Block have the ability to balance out an offense that was trigger-happy from 3-point land last year.
Western New Mexico
In charge: Joe Mondragon, second year, 2-22Last year: 2-22, 0-15
Last four years: 17-86 (.165)
Back: Joey Ramirez (5-9, Sr.), Malcolm Connor (6-6, Sr.), Brendon Malone (6-2, So.). Stats returning: 29.6 ppg, 13.47 rpg, 6.18 apg.
Gone: Brian Jackson, L.T. Williams, Mike Witkamp, Jeremiah King, Mason Heffleman, Aaron Aceves, Nick Scholtz, Ben Wallace, Zane Howard. Stats lost: 40.5 ppg, 19.63 rpg, 9.12 apg.
New: Arnold McCrary (6-0, Jr.), Matt Enriquez (6-2, Fr.), Jason Jackson (6-2, Fr.), Ivan Jackson (6-4, Fr.), David Walker (6-5, So.), Anthony Moncrieft (6-6, Jr.), David Harris (6-2, Jr.), Jury Simien (6-6, Jr.), Adam Grimes (6-10, Fr.), James Newell (6-7, Fr.).
Outlook: The good news is that things can only get better for the Mustangs.
Western New Mexico went winless in the conference last year and has only won 17 games in the last four years. They return only three players from that group though, and it is three of their best.
Ramirez was the lone bright spot for the team last year, finishing third in the conference in scoring with 16.6 points per game.
