Kapa’a Warriors Coach: Michael Ban, third year 1999 record: 4-4 Key Players: G Kapu Hendricksen (Sr.); F Rhyan Greenleaf (Sr.); C/F Kekoa Chun (Sr.) With the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation season kicking off Tuesday, it is Kapa’a that has risen to
Kapa’a Warriors
Coach: Michael Ban, third year
1999 record:
4-4
Key Players: G Kapu Hendricksen (Sr.); F Rhyan Greenleaf (Sr.); C/F
Kekoa Chun (Sr.)
With the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation season
kicking off Tuesday, it is Kapa’a that has risen to the top of the island’s
preseason standings.
The Warriors finished their pre-KIF schedule 6-3, and
picked up two victories over Waimea in various tournament play.
Now, the
Warriors will look to continue that rise, both literally and
figuratively.
Kapa’a enters the KIF season heads and shoulders above both
Kaua’i and Waimea from a physical standpoint. Six Warriors stand taller than
six feet, and Kapa’a again will feature the league’s tallest player, 6-foot-6
center Kekoa Chun.
Third-year head coach Michael Ban is hoping that Chun,
and the rest of his Warriors, will excel to KIF-champion level, as they did in
1998 (the team finished second last year).
“We were champs and went over
and won in the first round of the state tournament,” Ban said. “That is
definitely an experience I’d like to have again.”
On paper, and based on
preseason performance, one would have to give his team the upper hand.
“I
guess you would say we might be the favorite,” Ban said. “But I don’t really
see us that way. Right now I’ll grade my team as a C.
“I’m very impressed
with Kaua’i High and you can never count Waimea out with their heart and the
way they battle.”
Despite not citing his squad as the favorite, Ban did say
he was happy with the progress his team has made since it hit the floor for
preseason workouts back in early November.
“Some of our basketball skills
and character is a little better,” the coach said. “There have been some
positive things happening. We’re looking forward to being more
consistent.”
The development of that team characteristic will depend
heavily on the play of point guard Kapu Hendricksen. The senior, who at times
tends toward flash where fundamentals might be better served, “has improved a
lot,” according to his coach.
“He has the ability to make our team better,”
Ban said. “He just needs to spread the ball around.”
He will have plenty of
options where that is concerned.
In the post, Ban said juniors Kaili Panui
and Eric Robbins are players to watch. He also said Jeffrey Giminez “will make
a nice swing player,” with the ability to post up or hit the outside jump
shot.
Though he may not have a lot of plays called for him, senior Rhyan
Greenleaf may be the most sound player on the Kapa’a roster. The forward plays
a fundamental brand of basketball appreciated by his coach, and often ends the
night as the Warriors’ leading scorer.
“He’s not too flashy,” Ban said. “He
just gets his job done, and does a lot of cleaning up around the rim. He plays
great defense and is a nice guy to be around, too.”
A consistent Chun would
go a long way to boost Kapa’a’s chances at a KIF title.
“He’s matured a
lot even since last year,” Ban said. “He has the potential to dominate, and I
think he’s finally trying to come into his own.
“He can play with his back
to the basket or take you outside and shoot the jumper.”
Chun has been
criticized plenty over the last couple of years for, at times, losing his focus
during the course of a game.
“We tell him not to worry about that,” Ban
said. “We just want him to go out there and enjoy himself.”
Opposite
Hendricksen at the guard spot will be senior Chris Lary. Senior Willy Carollo
can come off the bench and replace either player.
