Nash takes his game to the national level

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Already considered among Hawai'i's prep basketball elite, Bobby Nash is getting a chance to prove it nationally this summer.

Iolani's Bobby Nash, already a rising star in Hawai'i, has been developing his skills this summer against some of the top players in the nation. Advertiser library photo • January 2001

This week, he will begin a two-week stint with the Elite Basketball Organization (EBO), a nationally recognized AAU team that travels around the country to play in summer tournaments. Before his "summer tour," Nash was the only high school player participating in the local NCAA Summer League.

"My main focus is improving my basketball," said Nash, 16. "The camp I went to and the tournaments coming up are really big. Every college coach is there, so it's kind of like my big chance."

Raising the bar

University of Hawai'i associate head basketball coach Bob Nash said his son "needs to play at a higher level against bigger, stronger guys to prepare himself. When he plays in these tournaments and against the college guys, he plays on the perimeter. Against high school guys, he plays more in the post. So he's actually developing his whole game."

Nash proved his worth at New Jersey, scoring in double figures in several of the scrimmages during the four-day camp. "I feel like I held my own," he said.

He said he was especially motivated by a few players who questioned the skills of basketball players from Hawai'i.

"One guy told me I should go surfing," Nash said. "I kind of had to show 'em that I could play. I just hope it can raise the bar for basketball in Hawai'i so that more players can get invited."

Nash, who is 6 feet 6 1/2 and 185 pounds, also proved his versatility, playing every position except center.

"That's only going to help me," he said. "A lot of the players here (in Hawai'i) are shorter, so I have to play the post a lot. But I like playing on the perimeter, too."

The players at the camp also attended SAT classes and were addressed by guest speakers, including Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl.

This week, Nash will play with EBO in the Big Time Tournament at Las Vegas. Next week, EBO will play in another tournament at Oakland, Calif. They will compete only against other top-level all-star teams.

Darren Matsubara, the EBO coach, said he first saw Nash's potential five years ago during a trip to Hawai'i.

Basketball background

"I told him back then that when he was old enough, I'd give him a spot on the team," Matsubara said. "Sure enough, he's improved and matured every year since then. Bobby comes from a basketball background, so that helps him a lot. But he also has that explosiveness in his game that you can't teach."

The EBO team is comprised of players from around the country, mostly California. Matsubara said Nash is the first Hawai'i player to make the team in his 12 years as coach.

"Bobby has already come a long way from that time I first saw him," Matsubara said. "It's scary to think of the end result if he keeps improving."

Although Nash still has two years of high school remaining, he is already receiving college inquiries.

"The recognition he can get through (EBO) will only benefit him in the long run," said his father.

"We want him to have a choice about where he wants to educate himself and to continue his basketball," said Bob Nash, who was a member on the legendary "Fabulous Five" Rainbow teams of the 1970s, and also played in the NBA. "But, of course, I'm hoping his desire is to consider Hawai'i strongly."

As Bobby put it: "He gets mad when I wear a UCLA or North Carolina shirt in public."