LIHU‘E — The free clinic was inked onto the schedule as part of the County’s 13-and-Under basketball league on Saturday. Coordinated by Aaron Uyeda and Clyde Vito of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, Jimmy Yagi, the former University of
LIHU‘E — The free clinic was inked onto the schedule as part of the County’s 13-and-Under basketball league on Saturday.
Coordinated by Aaron Uyeda and Clyde Vito of the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, Jimmy Yagi, the former University of Hawai‘i-Hilo basketball coach, led both aspiring youngsters 13 and under as well as high school players and coaches in a free basketball clinic geared to help players learn the fundamentals of the game as well as hone their skills.
“The good thing about Jimmy is that he listens when you ask him something,” said Sean Andrade, who along with Vito, coach the Papalina basketball team. “I brought my notebook so I can learn some things since he’s going to chart the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation game for coach Ipo Yoshioka. I hope I can learn some tricks from this.”
More than four dozen young people turned out for the morning session which was open to the players in the 13 and Under league.
“I have been coming here for 17 years,” Yagi said in his welcome to the young players. “You folks weren’t even born when I started coming to Kaua‘i to teach players how to play the game of basketball.”
Yagi said he’s been playing basketball for about 65 years, and at age 74, continues to play.
“That’s the good thing about basketball,” Yagi said. “Once you learn how to play the game, you can keep on playing.”
Yagi said one of the fundamentals of playing basketball is balance, and throughout the morning, his drills, both with and without the ball, stressed player balance in being able to defend, assess and shoot the ball.
Uyeda said the clinics have been made possible through the generosity of Hawaiian Airlines who helps arrange the trip for Yagi, his wife and two assistants. Louie Abrams is also a key component of Yagi’s trip to Kaua‘i, making arrangements for Yagi’s accomodations, Uyeda said.
Also helping at the clinic were members of the Kaua‘i High School girls junior varsity basketball team with coach Sandi Tavares.
“He’s still able to come, and as long as he wants to come, we’ll welcome him,” Uyeda said.
When the tip-off for the first game of the county’s 13-and-Under takes place this evening at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, there will be eight boys teams and four girls teams, said Vito.
The boys teams will be playing on Monday nights and Saturdays. The girls teams will be playing on Thursday nights and Saturdays, Vito said.
The G-Unit will open the season against Papalina starting at 6 p.m. followed by Hanakila tipping off against Ho‘ouila starting at 7 p.m. The final game of the night will feature Lihu‘e going up against Central starting at 8 p.m.
Thursday night’s action will have the Kamikaze-Red going up against the Z-Girls starting at 6 p.m. and Kaulupono taking on the Kamikaze-White starting at 7 p.m.
The Monday and Thursday games will be played at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center. Saturday’s games move to the Kaua‘i High School gym starting at 9 a.m.
