2007 FAB 15 ALL-STATE BASKETBALL TEAM
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kaimuki senior Keone Reyes , this season's Player of the Year, was one of the reasons the Bulldogs won the state title.
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Year of the ’Dog
Kaimuki's Keone Reyes and Kelly Grant top All-State boys basketball team
Reaching the pinnacle in any arena of life isn't always about a smooth path.
In fact, there was no easy road for the Kaimuki Bulldogs this year. In preseason, Sports Illustrated named Kaimuki the best team in Hawaii, creating more pressure for a team that hadn't won a state title in 14 years.
Coaches tabbed the Bulldogs, who had reached the state final a season before, preseason favorites in the Oahu Interscholastic Association. If anyone could see Kaimuki as the underdogs, it was only the Bulldogs themselves.
Kelly Grant saw a slippery slope ahead. The coach's 10-man rotation was severely depleted by graduation. Standout Keone Reyes was slow to heal from an infected boil on his leg. Young new starters and reserves had plenty to learn.
However, the consistency of Beau Albrechtson and Daniel Colon, as well as a test of Grant's own ability, as he said in December, to "push the right buttons" when it came to Reyes, that made the voyage much more memorable.
Coaches and media rewarded state champion Kaimuki (26-8) with Star-Bulletin player of the year honors for Reyes and coach of the year honors for Grant.
The top 5 players of the All-State/Fab 15 were Reyes, Miah Ostrowski of Punahou, Albrechtson, Spencer McLachlin of Punahou and Scott Smith of Saint Louis.
Reyes, a 6-foot, 255-pound senior, brought his leadership and tenacity when the 'Dogs needed them most.
"Keone knew how to rise to the occasion when the game came down to winning and losing," Grant said. "His will to win is second to none. If you look at the flip side of it, he hates to lose. When we lose, he really looks like a poor loser, but he just cannot stand losing."
The Bulldogs limped into the playoffs with a 7-5 OIA Red East record. Reyes then went on a tear, with 18 points against Waianae, 20 at Mililani, 18 against Radford and 16 in the league title game against Kalaheo.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Bulldogs' Keone Reyes was named the Player of the Year on the Star-Bulletin's Fab 15 boys basketball team; Kelly Grant of Kaimuki was the Coach of the Year.
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In the state tourney, Reyes was on a roll: 13 points and nine rebounds against Saint Louis; 27 points, six boards and four assists against Kamehameha-Hawaii; 21 points, including 10-for-11 accuracy from the foul line, and seven boards in the championship win over Punahou.
Punahou had been ranked No. 1 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10 for much of the season. "He's very physical, but he has really strong skills for his size," Punahou coach Dan Hale said. "He moves so quick. You forget how big he is until he gets inside, and he's basically unstoppable."
Reyes finished with nine votes in the balloting for player of the year, ahead of the six votes for Ostrowski. Albrechtson had one vote.
Punahou's bid for a state title came up just short, though Ostrowski didn't lack for effort or performance. The senior guard averaged 19 points per game.
"Without a doubt, the most talented kid we had in the state this year," said Moanalua coach Greg Tacon, who coached Ostrowski for three seasons. "He has an ability to change games with his ballhandling or penetration or shooting. I don't think we've seen a kid who can handle the ball like he can in a long time. A terrific player."
Hale and Tacon finished second and third, respectively, in the coach-of-the-year voting, followed by McKinley's Bob Morikuni, Nelson Wong of Kamehameha-Hawaii and Chico Furtado of Kalaheo. Grant received 16 of 18 first-place votes.
"I think Kelly absolutely deserves it," Hale said. "He did a fantastic job of bringing that team together. That team could've gone a bunch of ways. They could've been satisfied with the what they did the year before.
"With him in the lead, they believed in what they were doing, with that physical kind of basketball, and they were tough to try and beat."
Grant credited his staff and players, and especially their sense of showmanship.
"It was a good season, a season to remember," Grant said.
Miah Ostrowski
Punahou Senior guard
The senior guard led the ILH with 19 points per game. He was a combo terror, hitting from long range (16 treys in league play) and driving to the basket with savvy. "He probably has the best skills in the state," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said.
Spencer Mclachlin
Punahou Senior forward/center
The 6-foot-7 senior averaged 12.8 points per game in league play, nearly double figures in rebounds, and was one of the best shotblockers in the state. "Spencer was the Mr. Everything for Punahou," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said.
Stevie Austin
Moanalua Junior guard
Averaged 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game. For good measure, the slashing scorer hit 15 3-pointers, fourth in the OIA Red East. "I don't know if any guard played better than him late in the season," McKinley coach Bob Morikuni said.
Mea Wong
Kamehameha-Hawaii Senior guard
The 6-foot point guard averaged 10 points per game, a blend of discipline and NBA-range shooting skill. "He was the consummate floor general, doing all the things necessary to accomplish his coach's game plan," Kailua coach Tim Harrison said.
Gary Satterwhite
Radford Senior guard
The lanky 6-foot-3 guard averaged 18 points per game, including 15 treys (fourth in the OIA Red West). "He has tremendous upside," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said. "He's another one who rises to the occasion."
Ryan Dung
Iolani Senior guard
Averaged 13 points, five rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. A tenacious defender, the 5-foot-10 senior was also a clutch performer. "He was the emotional leader for Iolani," Punahou coach Dan Hale said. "He'd step up, hit the big shot. He's a real experienced leader."
Daniel Colon
Kaimuki Senior guard
The senior averaged 11 points and 1.6 steals per game. His improvement as a long-range threat (20 treys, second in the OIA Red East) was widely recognized. "Daniel had a great year, I thought," Punahou coach Dan Hale said. "He's so clutch."
Tyler Caswell
Kalaheo Senior center
The 6-foot-6 senior nearly averaged a double-double for the Mustangs. "He plays within himself, a true post player," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said. "He understands the system, doesn't get rattled. He gave Keone (Reyes) fits, jumping and going for tips."
Tristan Sealy
Thompson Academy Senior guard
The highest-ranked Division II player averaged 25 points per game for the much-improved Sharks, including 13 3-pointers in OIA White play. "He may be the best pure basketball player in the state," McKinley coach Bob Morikuni said.
Case Miyahira
Iolani Senior guard
The Raiders counted on the 5-10 senior for clutch shooting. He averaged 14 points and 1.5 steals per game. "He'd be quiet and then all of a sudden hits several 3s on you," Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Nelson Wong said.
Rykin Enos
Kamehameha Senior guard
The 6-foot senior was second in ILH scoring (15 points per game) and first in 3-pointers (29 in 12 games). "Given the opportunity, he knocks down the open shot, the open 3, and he's really strong off the dribble," said Moanalua coach Greg Tacon.
Cheynne Lishman
Kalaheo Junior guard/forward
Lishman averaged 14 points per game in league play, hitting 28 treys in 12 OIA Red East contests. "The thing about Cheynne is he can offensively shoot you right out of a game in a matter of minutes," Punahou coach Dan Hale said.
Scott Smith
Saint Louis Senior center
The 6-foot-7 senior combined power and finesse to average 15 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. "Smith has to stand alone as the best defender in the state simply because of the intensity he brings to the court," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said.
Beau Albrechtson
Kaimuki Senior forward/center
The 6-foot-4 senior averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. "Without a doubt, the most consistent player all year," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said. "He will always get you 10-plus rebounds, 15-plus points."
Kelly Grant
Kaimuki Coach of the Year
The preseason favorite of OIA Red East coaches, Kaimuki had inexperience on the bench. Grant maneuvered his personnel masterfully. "With him in the lead, they believed in what they were doing," Punahou coach Dan Hale said.
Star-Bulletin 2007 All-State Fab 15
Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Yr.
|
Keone Reyes |
Kaimuki |
F/C |
6-0 |
Sr.
|
Miah Ostrowski |
Punahou |
G |
5-9 |
Sr.
|
Beau Albrechtson |
Kaimuki |
F/C |
6-4 |
Sr.
|
Spencer McLachlin |
Punahou |
F/C |
6-7 |
Sr.
|
Scott Smith |
Saint Louis |
C |
6-7 |
Sr.
|
Stevie Austin |
Moanalua |
G |
5-9 |
Jr.
|
Cheynne Lishman |
Kalaheo |
G/F |
6-1 |
Jr.
|
Mea Wong |
Kam.-Hawaii |
G |
6-0 |
Sr.
|
Rykin Enos |
Kamehameha |
G |
6-0 |
Sr.
|
Gary Satterwhite |
Radford |
G |
6-3 |
Sr.
|
Ryan Dung |
Iolani |
G |
5-10 |
Sr.
|
Daniel Colon |
Kaimuki |
G |
5-9 |
Sr.
|
Tyler Caswell |
Kalaheo |
C |
6-6 |
Sr.
|
Tristan Sealy |
Thompson |
G |
6-3 |
Sr.
|
Case Miyahira |
Iolani |
G |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Player of the Year: Keone Reyes, Kaimuki
Coach of the Year: Kelly Grant, Kaimuki
Honorable mention
Kameron Steinhoff, Punahou; Liloa Nobriga, Iolani; Nainoa Lessary, McKinley; Marcus Holyfield, Mid-Pacific; Kekai Cazimero, Keaau; Obie Woods, Aiea; Earvin Sione, McKinley; Ryan Bautista, Kohala; Solomona Aigamaua, Saint Louis; Cliffton Pires, Kalaheo; Josh Chung, Aiea; Christian Hernandez, Farrington; Mike Makinano, Campbell; Tri Bourne, AOP; Reece Alnas, Kam.-Hawaii; Kien Aveiro, Honokaa; Brandon Madamba, Kaimuki; Kelii Kimi, Kam.-Hawaii; Ryan Naluai, Kailua; Josh Kure, Moanalua; Ikaika Kahoopii, Kohala; Jesse Laufa, Waianae; Donovan Olmos, Mililani.