Jamboree starts
Saturday at Iolani
This one is for the ages -- all of the ages.
The 10th Annual Mufi Hannemann Girls Basketball Jamboree is upon us.
The showcase, at Iolani School on Saturday and Memorial Day, brings together females from all age groups for competition.
As usual, every roster in the High School-Collegiate division is loaded.
Former University of Hawaii star Nani Cockett is the player/coach for Team 3, and among her charges are several players coming off outstanding high schools seasons: forwards Ginger Gravelle of Iolani, Cheryl Lee of Maryknoll and Taylor Smith of Kalaheo and guard Amy Kotani of Moanalua.
"Through the years, the players will start playing in the tournament and then go away to college and not play in it and then come back to play again," Hannemann said. "A few good examples of that are Lisa Kowal and Onaona Miller (former Punahou stars and current Buffanblu assistant coaches who completed collegiate careers in the past few years). And then we've got players this year like Becky Hogue and Rachel Kane of Punahou and Amy Kotani of Moanalua who all started playing in this when they were 12.
"This is a chance to see the stars of yesterday, today and tomorrow."
Many of the girls in the tournament look up to Cockett, according to Hannemann.
"They want to play with her or against her because of the respect she commands. They say, 'If Nani can do it (play for UH), so can I.'
"Now the younger girls (in the 12-and-under and 14-and-under divisions) are making comments like, 'I want to be like Rachel Kane and I want to be like Amy Kotani.' "
Kane, who won the tournament MVP in leading the Buffanblu to the state championship last week, is a guard on Team 6 along with Kahuku rival Latoya Wily, a power forward, as well as Kowal, McKinley sharpshooter Bre Carson and Farrington post Mele Mateaki.
More stalwarts from the state tournament can be found on Team 5, which features forwards Marleen Leautu of Moanalua, Laosamoa Misa-Uli of Farrington and Mona Ale of Kahuku. Guard Shannon Nishi of Mid-Pacific is also on that squad.
Former UH players Michelle Gabriel and Dainora Puida are on Team 2, along with six players who excelled at states -- Kahuku's Karla Tailele, Moanalua's Patti Hardimon, Baldwin's Kami Kapaku, McKinley's Amber Lee, Lahainaluna's Fatai Halaapiapi and Farrington's Revelyn Cabaya.
Lee, who joins Vince Goo's Hawaii squad next season, is a good example of the learning process that goes on every year at the tournament.
"One year, (former UH forward) Nani Flores did a hook shot against Amber," Hannemann said. "So she asked (McKinley coach) Jesse Victorino about it, and lo and behold, she was shooting hook shots this year."
State runner-up Kahuku coach Wendy Anae is a player/coach for Team 4. She has Punahou's sparkplug guard Elyse Umeda, Moanalua's clutch shooter Kepua Lee, Nanakuli's prolific scorer Lehua Yap and Konawaena front-court standout Nancy Hoist. Kaimuki's Dalia Solia, who will play for UH next year, is also on Anae's team.
Hogue and Miller join standouts Jessica Hanato of Konawaena, Christie Ayers of Pearl City, Mounia Nihipali of Kamehameha and MPI's Caroline Beddow on Team 1.
Saturday games run from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.
On Monday, games start at 8:30 a.m. and run through three championship games --at 1:30 p.m. (12 and under), 3 (14 and under) and 3:45 p.m. (high school-collegiate).
Hannemann said the sophomores and juniors will draw attention.
"It's an opportunity for them to show their stuff," he said. "And it gives them a running head start (into next season)."