Father-son bond drives Iolani's Low

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Iolani senior point guard Derrick Low, left, his father, Ken, and younger brother Chase attend the Dennis Agena Clinic on Sundays at Kalani. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

With the emphasis on love.

The basketball exploits of Derrick, an Iolani School senior, have been well chronicled during the past three years. He enters this week's state tournament as a player many consider to be the best yet to come from Hawai'i's prep ranks.

But along with the accolades — three-time Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year, two-time Advertiser State Player of the Year, ILH scoring champion as a freshman — have come sacrifice, hard work and a bond that goes beyond most fathers and sons.

"My dad is one of my best friends," Derrick said. "Most teenagers, when they get to my age (17), they want to get away from their parents and do things on their own. I don't mind that my dad drives with me here and there, and I want to do things with my family. We'll go out to eat, or go to a movie ... especially now that I'm going away next year (to Washington State University), I want to take every chance to spend time with them and cherish every moment."

Ken, a single parent with an older son (Dustin) living on the Mainland and joint custody of a younger son (5-year-old Chase), is savoring these times as well.

"Derrick's career is winding down, and I just don't want to have any regrets," said Ken, who has been attending all of Iolani's practices the past week. "I'm trying to enjoy every single day."

Iolani's Derrick Low receives love and guidance from his father Ken, a single parent who has helped Derrick excel at basketball. Advertiser library photo • Jan. 23, 2004

They survived the missing paychecks only after Iolani agreed to adjust Derrick's tuition payment schedule (financial aid does not cover his entire $10,900 tuition).

Even before the strike, the Lows' single-income household was not one to keep up with the Joneses. While Iolani's student parking lot on La'au Street is lined with late-model cars and SUVs, Derrick's ride to school often has been TheBus.

"We struggled a lot; we didn't grow up with nice things," Derrick said. "But my dad always says, 'We may not be rich with money, but we're probably the richest with love, and that's what matters.' Money can come and go — some people have a lot of money, then lose it. But love will last a lot longer."

Ken said Derrick never was the type to complain about not having this or that. Unlike most teenagers, Derrick still does not own a cell phone.

"It's pretty simple," Ken said. "If we can't afford something, then he can't have it. But I think through struggle comes appreciation. Just because you have something (material) doesn't mean you're happy or loved. And when Derrick finally does get a cell phone, don't you think he'll appreciate it?"

'A great gift of life'

Derrick's struggles at Iolani were not all financially related. When he first enrolled as a seventh grade transfer from Pauoa Elementary, it was a rude awakening.

"When I was at public school, I was kind of a class clown and rascal," Derrick said. "I wouldn't say I was the best student, but I studied a little and got good grades. When I got to Iolani, it was a big wake-up call. I gave the same effort, but my first report card was terrible — I think I got three Ds."

Schoolwork did not come as easily to Derrick as the jump shots or free throws, but through perseverance, tutoring and better time management, he progressed in the classroom. Last quarter, he posted a career-high 3.0 grade point average.

"After all these years, it was the first time I made the honor roll," Derrick said. "It took a while, but eventually I buckled down and adapted to the Iolani curriculum. When I made the honor roll, I was pretty excited. It was pretty fun."

Ken called it Derrick's greatest accomplishment.

"Better late than never," Ken said. "At first, I thought he was regressing (academically) because he struggled so much. But he earned everything through sweat, effort and sacrifice. When we were at the beach with the other kids, he was home studying. Iolani's been a great gift of life to Derrick."

A solid foundation

Although Derrick undisputably had a gift for basketball at an early age, most of his success on the court also came through hard work.

It began when he was a toddler attending all of Dustin's practices and games, dribbling or running while he waited. Dustin was a standout football and basketball player at Roosevelt in 1995-96, and Ken said Derrick picked up the nuances of sports just watching Dustin play.

At age 7, Derrick began attending Dennis Agena's renowned Kalakaua Foundation Clinic on Sundays at Kalani Gym, and he has spent almost every Sunday there practicing his skills ever since.

"I think the strongest part of my game is my dribbling, and this is where I got it from," said Derrick, sitting outside Kalani Gym on Sunday. "This clinic is a big reason I'm where I'm at right now."

Derrick said Agena and Clyde Hirata, whose son Ryan is Derrick's best friend, played big roles in his development as a player and person.

"Coach Agena will not settle for anything less than your best effort, and Coach Clyde is the same way," Derrick said. "They both tell me that no matter how good I think I am, there's always someone out there working hard to be better. Every time I take a day off, someone is out there practicing."

Hirata, a plumber, coached Derrick in his youth league days and has always been around to help.

"Coach Clyde is like a second father to me," Derrick said. "He's taken me in like another son and always took care of me. And if there's one person who keeps me grounded, it's him. No matter how well I play, he'll find something I did wrong and remind me to work harder. I listen, because he's the hardest working guy I know."

Ken said he and Hirata have a good cop/bad cop relationship with Derrick.

"Clyde's gotta be the bad guy, but he doesn't mind it," Ken said, laughing. "He's the bad guy, but he's also the one who always has the boys over for pizza or to watch DVDs."

Quality time

Derrick has had the same girlfriend for about three years, and like others his age, he enjoys hanging out with his buddies.

But Ken and Derrick always find quality time for each other, especially on the basketball court.

Every Saturday in the offseason, Ken puts Derrick through a grueling two-hour individual workout, usually during the daytime at an outdoor park. Derrick will catch and shoot hundreds of balls from every spot on the court, then run sprints.

"The only rest is when he shoots free throws," Ken said.

They are sometimes joined by teammate Zach Tollefson or Kahuku sophomore Clinton Parks, but most of the time it's just the two of them. Father and son.

"I don't have the luxury of having another parent around, so my dad has had to be the mom and the dad in our family," Derrick said. "He washes and irons the clothes, he cleans the house, he runs errands. He has a lot of stuff to do and he's always busy, but I'm grateful that he's doing his best."

That's the love, and here's the basketball:

"If it weren't for basketball, I can't even think about how my dad could send me to college," Derrick said. "It's a win-win situation, because I get to play the game I love, and he doesn't have to worry about paying for my education. There's nothing better than that."

TIP-INS: Derrick Low also credited Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi for "taking me under his wing and teaching me how to think on the floor." Low said before playing for Mugiishi, he would "just put my head down and try to score." ... Dustin Low, who works at the Silver Legacy Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev., is in town this week to watch the state tournament. ... Chase Low, 5, began his baseball career on Saturday with the season opener at Manoa Valley District Park.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

Boys state basketball tournament

At Blaisdell Arena

TOMORROW

• Game 1—Punahou vs. Waiakea, 2:15 p.m.
• Game 2—Baldwin vs. Mililani, 4 p.m.
• Game 3—Waimea vs. Kaimuki, 5:45 p.m.
• Game 4—Kamehameha vs. McKinley, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

• Game 5—Losers of Games 2 & 3, 12:30 p.m.
• Game 6—No. 4 Kealakehe vs. Winner of Game 2, 2:15 p.m.
• Game 7—No. 3 Maui vs. Winner of Game 1, 4 p.m.
• Game 8—No. 2 Kalaheo vs. Winner of Game 4, 5:45 p.m.
• Game 9—No. 1 Iolani vs. Winner of Game 3, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

• Game 10—Losers of Games 1 & 4, 1:45 p.m.
• Game 11—Losers of Games 6 & 9, 3:30 p.m.
• Game 12—Losers of Games 7 & 8, 5:15 p.m.
• Game 13—Winners of Games 6 & 9, 7 p.m.
• Game 14—Winners of Games 7 & 8, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Consolation—Winners of Games 5 & 10, 3 p.m.
• Fifth place—Winners of Games 11 & 12, 4:30 p.m.
• Third place—Losers of Games 13 & 14, 6 p.m.
• Championship—Winners of Games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.

Admission (all day): $7.50 adults, $5.50 students (K-12)

Parking: $3.

TV: Championship game on Oceanic Cable, channel 16.