[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kamehameha's Isaac Kneubuhl was the ILH Player of the Year and was the Most Outstanding Player at states last month.
Kamehameha’s ISAAC Kneubuhl is the epitome of a Kamehameha boys volleyball player under coach Pono Maa.
Kneubuhl in control
The 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter
Best of the ILH dominate 2002 first team
was the guiding force behind the
Warriors’ repeat championship
By Tim Crouse
tcrouse@starbulletin.comHe's cool, confident and he takes care of business.
Kneubuhl guided the Warriors to their second consecutive state championship last month -- the first time Kamehameha has won back-to-back boys titles. The senior outside hitter is the Star-Bulletin Player of the Year.
"He's great all around," Maa said. "He's extremely consistent, extremely coachable."
With Kneubuhl leading the way, the Warriors have won as many state championships in the past two seasons as they had in the previous 32.
"He plays within the system, doesn't try to be a Hollywood player," Maa said. "When players stay in the system they may not get the individual stats, but they get the wins."
Kneubuhl will look to continue his winning ways in volleyball at Cal State Northridge next year.
And, when Northridge gets to play the University of Hawaii in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match, Kneubuhl will have a chance to show Hawaii what high school teammates, coaches and fans have known for the past couple of seasons.
"He's a complete player," Maa said.
Kneubuhl -- the son of Buzzy and Robyn Kneubuhl -- was also courted by Arizona State, Loyola (Chicago), Rutgers and New York University before settling on Northridge.
"They play all the big boys," Kneubuhl said.
This past season, the 6-foot-3 Kneubuhl WAS the big boy for Kamehameha.
"His ability to pick up the game is fabulous," Damien coach Wayland Arruda said. "He's just an all-around volleyball player."
He averaged six kills a match for the Warriors in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
"He plays the game totally under control. Everything he does is to perfection," Pearl City coach Reid Shigemasa said. "He's a great player. We'll probably see him on TV someday."
Kneubuhl has never let his success go to his head, though.
"He's humble, not cocky," Maryknoll coach Blaine Gier said. "He never talks trash. He just tries to make his team better."
Kneubuhl can hit strongly from the back row, play good defense, pass and block.
"He was one of our primary passers," Maa said. "He really helped the team in a lot of different ways. As a captain, I really felt he handled the pressure (of being the defending champion) well. He did a good job of letting that go and focusing on this year."
Kneubuhl's favorite part of the game is getting a big block.
"The hitters are going in thinking they're the man, and once you shut them down, it's a lot bigger than (hitting a kill)," he said.
Kneubuhl felt his biggest contribution to his teammates was his mental game.
"I have alright skills, but I bring a strong mindset to the game, a steady one," he said. "I have that veteran experience since I've been here for three years. I've lost, and I've won, too. I know both parts of the game."
Kneubuhl has been playing the game his whole life -- from the beaches of Pukalani, Maui, where it all started for him, to the campus of Kamehameha.
His skills on the court and his leadership have helped the Warriors win two state crowns, and have earned him two Most Outstanding Player awards in state tournaments.
And now the cool, confident volleyball player is ready for the challenges of Cal State Northridge -- ready to take care of business.
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