Posted on: Friday, May 30, 2003

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Kalaheo grad Wahinekapu bound for Portland State

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former second-team all-state girls basketball player Sharon Wahinekapu of Waimanalo signed a national letter of intent this week to play for Portland State University.

Wahinekapu was a 2000 graduate of Kalaheo High School, where she played on three O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship and state final four teams with Brandy Richardson and helped build a record of 50 straight OIA victories.

She has played the last two seasons at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. This year she played point and off-guard and helped Chemeketa win the Northwest community college championship.

"She grew up this year," Chemeketa coach Marty Branch said, "and became a leader.

"When opposing teams shut us down so we couldn't get into our offense, she broke the defense down and created shots. She carried us to the title in the Northwest tournament," Branch said.

Wahinekapu was named first team all-tournament. On the season, she averaged 12.1 points per game and made 45 percent of her field-goal attempts, trading off at point and off-guard with her roommate.

"She has always had the skills to play Division I, but at that level, the question is, 'Are you mentally tough enough to do it,' " Branch said. "Last year, she was not. Now she is."

Portland State coach George Wolfe, a former University of Hawai'i assistant, said, "We are looking to Sharon as someone who can make an immediate impact. She has very good offensive instincts, can run the point and shoot from 3-point range."

Portland State was 13-15 last year.

Wahinekapu will be the 15th Hawai'i high school graduate since the class of 1999 to play NCAA Division I basketball.

Four other former all-state basketball players since 1999 are playing Division I volleyball, soccer or softball, and at least six are playing Division II volleyball, softball or basketball.