Smith not looking
too far ahead
Hawaii basketball fans got an early Christmas present last week at the Iolani Classic.
They saw several players who are headed to Division I schools, including one who looks like a lock for the NBA.
That would be Josh Smith, the 6-foot-8 Oak Hill Academy forward, who signed to play at Indiana. He flew back to Virginia with the rest of the team yesterday, two days after capturing the tournament title over two-time defending champion Fairfax of Los Angeles.
"Right now, all I'm worried about is college," Smith said when asked if he'll enter the NBA Draft instead. "I'm not worried about that other stuff. Sure, it's (the draft) on my mind, but really my main concern is improving on my basketball. I'm not sure on exactly what I'll do."
The post is where Smith is dominant -- at least at the high school level. He showed off those skills for the nation's top-ranked Warriors throughout the Iolani tournament.
He also won the tourney's slam-dunk competition, easily outperforming all of the other contestants.
Major League Baseball veteran pitcher Mike Fetters, an Iolani graduate and assistant coach of visiting Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), was one of the slam-dunk judges.
"There's a reason why they're talking about the NBA for him," Fetters said.
"This was one of the better fields Iolani has had, but Oak Hill was so overwhelming that it wasn't the most competitive tournament. I was real happy for our kids, who got a chance to play against teams that are at that high level."
Fetters also had high praise for Iolani guard Derrick Low, who signed to play for Washington State.
"He gets better and better every time I see him play and he still hasn't peaked," Fetters said. "Derrick is by far the best player to come out of Hawaii. He reads the flow and let's things come to him. Sometimes, all the players you hear about who are really good basketball players try to force things when things aren't open. Derrick does things when the time is right, and takes over when he needs to. He doesn't have to score. He can pass, rebound or direct."
The 39-year-old Fetters, who is coming off Tommy John surgery on his elbow, was a reliever for the Twins last season. He was limited to six innings in five appearances because of the injury, but he's primed to return to the game he loves as a free agent this year.
"The doctors say I'll be 100 percent by July, but I personally think I'll be ready by March or April. I feel so good, like I didn't even have the surgery," he said. "I'm refreshed after having been off for a long time and I plan on playing. I'm just not sure which team, yet."
Fetters is amazed at how long he's lasted.
"I'm going on 16 years and that's a long time for someone who is by no means a superstar. I have a desire and a passion for the game and no one expected me to still be around."
Bowl trip: Forty Hawaii high school football players of Samoan ancestry leave Friday for American Samoa.
They'll play a Samoan all-star team Jan. 1 as part of the cultural trip.
Kahuku's Darren Magalogo, who scored the winning touchdown in the 27-26 Division I state championship victory over Saint Louis, is among six Red Raiders on the Hawaii team.
Farrington, Kapolei, Kalaheo, Kealakehe, McKinley and Pac-Five all have at least three players participating.
More tournaments: Two basketball tournaments are scheduled for this week. The Punahou Holiday Classic runs Dec. 26-30 and the Walter Wong Holiday Classic is Dec. 26-29.
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