Iolani proving there’s
life after Low

There are two fascinating surprises so far in the young prep boys basketball season.

One, the three-time defending state champion Iolani Raiders are proving there is life after Derrick Low. While the three-time state Player of the Year has returned to the floor for Washington State, Iolani has merely gone unbeaten through two tournaments.

Aside from Iolani's early dominance, which includes a 71-52 rout of Punahou on Saturday, the first Star-Bulletin Top 10 of the season unveils five teams that weren't in last year's state tournament.

Hilo, Campbell, University, Konawaena and Roosevelt are rising quickly to the surprise of fans who haven't had a chance to take in the multitude of December tournaments thus far.

They'll get their chance this week when the Campbell Invitational, Hilo Prep Classic and Iolani Classic tip off.

Iolani, behind clutch shooting by Kyle Pape and Vinny Nip, has wowed foes and fans en route to a 6-0 start. Almost unfair, it would seem. However, the Raiders' pressure defense is 100-percent blue collar, and no team has been able to figure it out for more than a couple of possessions in a row.

Hilo, which knocked off Campbell at the Waiakea Invitational, is at No. 3. Keaau's top players, Aukai Wong and Sam Watson, transferred to Hilo in the offseason.

Campbell, with 6-foot-8 transfer Daniel Phillips and returning forward Tristan Bailey, woke a lot of voters up early with an upset of Punahou during an early December tourney.

University, behind the inside punch of David Johnson and John Duro, landed at No. 6 after winning McKinley's Black and Gold Invitational tourney.

Konawaena won the Waiakea tourney behind 6-6 Max Watson and versatile T.J. Akina. Voters pegged the Wildcats at No. 8.

Roosevelt, which finished third at the Black and Gold, nudged in at No. 10.

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