HIGH SCHOOL: ALL-STATE BOYS BASKETBALL
Iolani's Low is Player of Year as a sophomore
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Derrick Low, Iolani guard
FIRST TEAM
Ikaika Alama-Francis Forward
Rashaun Broadus Guard
DC Daniels
Bobby Nash
COACH OF THE YEAR: Stephen Lee, Kaimuki |
In voting by eight coaches, officials and members of the media from around the state, four of the five first-team choices were unanimous: guards Derrick Low (Iolani) and Rashaun Broadus (Mililani), and Kalaheo forwards Ikaika Alama-Francis and DC Daniels.
The fifth first-teamer, Iolani forward Bobby Nash, received six first-team votes. The other players receiving first-team votes (one each) were Kaimuki forward Daniel Tautofi and Iolani guard Bobby Webster. Those two lead the second team.
The consensus in voting showed how each of the first-team players rose above others to establish himself as one of the elite. Foremost among them was Low, a 6-foot sophomore who was the unanimous choice as State Player of the Year.
Low averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game after moving from his shooting guard position last year into a point guard role. He saved his best performance for last, scoring 33 points in the Raiders' 58-57 state championship victory over Kalaheo.
Low's point total was the most by an individual in the state title game since Louis Vargas scored 34 for Kamehameha in 1992, during the Warriors' triple-overtime victory over Hilo. Low's 33 was the most in a state championship regulation game since Punahou's Ia Saipa'ia scored 38 in a 77-70 victory over Kailua in 1975.
Low scored all 14 of Iolani's points in the first period and had 22 by halftime. His final point came on a free throw with 3.7 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a 58-54 lead.
"It almost makes you speechless," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said after the game. "And it wasn't just the scoring, it was taking care of the ball against a very intense Kalaheo defense in the final minutes."
Low was a first-team All-State selection last year and already has been named Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year twice. He is the first sophomore to be named Advertiser State Player of the Year since Leroy Lutu of University High in 1978. Low and Lutu are believed to be the only sophomores to earn that honor.
Lutu, a 6-4 center, went on to win State Player of the Year honors his senior season and eventually became a standout tight end for the University of Washington football team.
While Low was recognized as the state's top player, Mililani's Broadus may have been his equal as far as dazzling a crowd. Broadus averaged 17.1 points per game, most coming in spectacular fashion after explosive drives, long-range jumpers or even high-flying dunks. He also averaged four rebounds and two steals a game.
Like Allen Iverson, Broadus was virtually unstoppable in the open court because of his superb quickness. He scored 25 points in the Trojans' 61-57 loss to Kalaheo in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship game, including four 3-pointers.
Mililani's runner-up finish in the OIA and fourth-place showing in the state tournament were the highest in school history.
Broadus, a senior, signed a letter of intent last fall to play for Western Washington next year.
Less spectacular, but with unmatched consistency, were Kalaheo's Alama-Francis and Daniels.
Including preseason, Alama-Francis averaged 20.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He shot 48 percent from the field, including a stellar 46 percent (21 of 46) from 3-point range. At 6-6, Alama-Francis could be considered one of the best outside-shooting big men in Hawai'i high school history.
He also shot 76 percent from the free-throw line. And in 16 regular and postseason games, Alama-Francis never scored fewer than 11 points. In 13 of those games, he scored at least 17.
Daniels, who shared Advertiser Co-Player of the Year honors last year with teammate Skyler Wilson, overcame injuries to turn in another outstanding season.
Overall, Daniels averaged 18.7 points, six rebounds and three assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line.
The 6-foot-3 Daniels was hampered by a sprained ankle suffered in preseason and started the regular season slowly. But he finished strong, scoring at least 19 points in eight of his final 10 games.
The final first-team slot went to Nash, a 6-6 junior. Nash's statistics — 13.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game — may not be as gaudy as those of the other first-teamers, but his value was exhibited in the state tournament.
He scored 16 points in the quarterfinals, 21 in the semifinals and 10 in the championship, when he also grabbed six rebounds. Nash's 4-for-4 free-throw shooting in the final 76 seconds of the title game helped the Raiders hold off Kalaheo's late rally.
Kaimuki's Stephen Lee, who guided the Bulldogs (12-5) to a surprising third-place finish in the state tournament, was named Coach of the Year. Kaimuki entered the tournament fresh off a 25-point loss to Castle in the OIA third-place game, but upset Punahou in the first round and Lahainaluna in the quarterfinals before falling just short (53-51) against Kalaheo in the semifinals.
Lee won Coach of the Year honors by one vote over Mugiishi.
