Punahou's Kane to play basketball at Gonzaga

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Punahou's Rachel Kane is the third member of last season's all-state girls high school basketball first team to make a verbal commitment to accept an NCAA Division I scholarship.

Kane said she would attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.

Previously, McKinley's Amber Lee pledged to the University of Hawai'i and Punahou's Becky Hogue declared for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. The earliest they can sign binding letters of intent is Nov. 13.

The only senior returning from the 2002 girls all-state team who has not declared is state Player of the Year Megan Ching of Kamehameha. She has visited Yale and Princeton so far, she said, but will not make a decision until the spring signing period.

The 5-foot-7 Kane said she will play point guard at Gonzaga. She will play against current teammate Hogue as Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount both compete in the West Coast Conference. Kane said she also made official visits to Columbia in New York City and William and Mary in Virginia. She said she canceled a visit to Yale after she decided on Gonzaga.

"Hawai'i talked to me, but I told them that I wanted to go away for college," Kane said.

Other schools that showed interest included St. Mary's of California and Idaho State, which sent a coach to her home.

Kane visited Gonzaga last month. "I liked the small community. People were nice, and I liked the team," she said. "It felt good."

Kane averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.9 steals per game last season.