Leilehua's Marshall leaving Isles
Advertiser Staff
Leilehua sophomore Eric Marshall, chosen last week to the all-state boys basketball first team, will move with his military family to Fayetteville, N.C., this summer.
Marshall's father, Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Marshall, said he was being transferred to Fort Bragg, home of the world-famed 82nd Airborne division. He has spent the last three years of his 17-year Army career as a communications specialist at Schofield Barracks.
Eric Marshall made a remarkable jump this season from the Leilehua junior varsity to be the Mules' leading scorer with a 16.2 points per game regular-season average. He was chosen to the 'Iolani Classic all-tournament team and was OIA West Player of the Year.
Marshall scored 31 points in an overtime loss to second-seeded 'Iolani in the state quarterfinals and followed with back-to-back 22-point games as the Mules took fifth place, finishing 20-6 overall.
"This year, he had the confidence," his father said. Marshall played 4 (power forward) for Leilehua but is likely to be a 2 or 3 (wing player) in the future. His dream is to play at Duke, which happens to be 60 miles from Fort Bragg.
Coach Mark Mugiishi of 'Iolani called Marshall, "probably the best athlete who played in Hawai'i this year. He's quick, has an explosive jump and is mentally tough."
GIRLS BASKETBALL
• California-bound: Punahou's girls basketball team, No. 2 in Hawaii's Zaum Power Rankings, will use spring break to play in Southern California next week. The trip is the first the Buffanblu have made to the Mainland, retiring coach Shelley Fey said. Punahou will play three games against AAU teams, since the California high-school season is over.
Punahou is unbeaten this year with five sophomores and 10 returnees on its roster.
• Hoops anyone?: There are 47 teams in six divisions playing in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu this year. Athletic director Bill Villa of Assets, which does not have a team, keeps it all sorted out.
With two intermediate leagues, two junior varsity leagues and a Division II varsity league all feeding toward the varsities — more than 500 players altogether. ILH teams have won the last 14 state championships.
