KAPA’A — “Looking good, is what you want to be out on the court”, former University of Hawai’i Hilo basketball coach Jimmy Yagi told a group of about a hundred youngsters who turned out Saturday for his annual free basketball
KAPA’A — “Looking good, is what you want to be out on the court”, former University of Hawai’i Hilo basketball coach Jimmy Yagi told a group of about a hundred youngsters who turned out Saturday for his annual free basketball clinic.
“Whether it’s your girlfriend, or your parents who are watching you, you are out there looking good,” Yagi explained.
His trip, coordinated through the county of Kaua’i’s Recreation Agency, was offered free to basketball enthusiasts on the island at the Bernice Hundley Gym on the campus of Kapa’a High School.
Youngsters, many of whom sported jersies of the county’s just-completed Girls 14 Under, as well as the ongoing Boys and Girls Under 12 program were in attendance along with their coaches, their attendance made possible due to scheduling around the appearance of Yagi on the island.
The afternoon session was geared towards the more experienced ball players up to the age of 18, and a special coaches’ session completed Yagi’s itinerary Saturday.
Jerry Refamonte of the Recreation Agency, noted that Ed Phillips, basketball coach for Kapa’a High School, expressed an interest to host the clinic this year.
Yagi, who was in the company of Linda Lopez, a BIIF official, also took in the KIF basketball game in Waimea on Friday night where Lopez joined KIF referees in officiating the game.
Aaron Uyeda, also of the Recreation Agency, noted that this is Yagi’s 13th year of providing instruction and help to aspiring Kaua’i youngsters, and many of the players involved in the KIF game Friday night had previously come through the developmental program.
Also helping Yagi were coaches Hoku Haliniak of Waiakea High School, and Harry Scanlan-Leite, formerly of Waiakea High School, and a potential coach for St. Joseph’s on the Big Island.
