Open range: Hirata hits from afar

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Shooting stars Some of Hawai'i's top long-range shooters of the past: KAI MACHIDA, Roosevelt (1992-93): Jump shooter swished high-archers from 23 feet plus. KANOE WINCHESTER, Iolani (1986-89): Sank nine 3-pointers vs. Dunbar (Baltimore). JIMMY LACTAOEN, Maryknoll (1986-88): One of first to benefit from 3-point line. LEO LEOPOLDO, Farrington (1983-84): Averaged 27 points per game in a two-platoon system. RICKY LEONG, Maryknoll (1980-82): Pure-shooting lefty led Spartans to two state finals. CHICO FURTADO, Iolani (1974-76): Later became Chaminade point guard and Kalaheo coach. IA SAIPAIA, Punahou (1973-75): Scored a record 38 points in 1975 state title victory over Kailua.

Then again, if kids in driveways tried to shoot basketballs from where Iolani School senior Ryan Hirata launches his attempts, they would be standing in neighbors' homes across the street.

The 3-point line is 19 feet, 9 inches from the rim, but to Hirata, that's a mere free throw. At any point during a game, he will fire up shots from the imaginary NBA 3-point arc (23-9), from 25 feet, 27 feet, 28 ... and often make them.

"Ryan has only two rules (about shooting)," said Tom Shirbish, a former Kamehameha assistant who coached Hirata on Maryknoll's intermediate team. "One, he has to have the ball, and two, he has to be inside the gym. He always could shoot it, even when he was in the eighth grade."

Such long-distance shots usually are discouraged by coaches unless they come at the buzzer, but Hirata always has had the green light because he's proved he can sink them with regularity.

In Friday's 72-38 victory over Punahou, Hirata made all four of his 3-point attempts, the closest of which was a 22-footer from the corner. He also made a 25-footer and a 26-footer in the first half and a 27-footer from the left wing in the second half.

All four hit nuthin' but net.

"All we can tell him is to use a little restraint, but he knows how to feel when he's on a roll," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "He knows to be patient, and in the first quarter (Friday) he didn't even take a shot."

But when Hirata is feeling it, watch out.

He drained three 3-pointers in the Raiders' 66-28 victory over Saint Louis in their Interscholastic League of Honolulu opener on Jan. 6, then made four baskets from beyond the arc in a 60-38 win over Kamehameha three nights later.

Five of those seven shots were from at least 23 feet, and a couple reached the 26- to 28-foot range.

"It's good to keep the defense honest," Hirata said. "It creates opportunities for the rest of the team."

Hirata actually is one of several outstanding shooters for two-time defending state champion Iolani, which is atop the ILH at 7-0 and ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media.

But Hirata set himself apart by stretching his range to where few in Hawai'i have shot before (see list). He developed the unique skill by the age of 12 the same way others have — through countless hours of practice.

"I would always shoot by myself at Kilauea (District Park) Gym," Hirata said. "I kept stepping back and seeing how far I could take it, and by then it was natural."

He said youth coaches did not discourage him from shots of up to 23 feet because he proved it was not a low percentage attempt.

"They knew I could shoot from there, so they said, 'If you can make it, just shoot it,' " Hirata said.

As a fifth-grader, Hirata met Iolani teammate Derrick Low at a Police Athletic League tournament in Hilo, and the two 10-year-olds quickly became teammates and best friends. Low later enrolled at Iolani in the seventh grade, and Hirata transferred from Kaimuki Middle School to Maryknoll in the eighth grade.

Both started as freshmen on their respective varsity teams, and Low was named ILH Player of the Year as a ninth-grader.

Hirata also emerged as one of the league's top shooters, but he felt something was missing.

"Derrick is my best friend, and we have a special connection on the court," Hirata said. "We're like brothers, and we made each other feel comfortable."

Hirata decided he wanted to be Low's teammate again, and applied to Iolani. But ILH transfer rules do not allow an athlete to play the same sport in consecutive years for different schools, so Hirata sat out his sophomore year while awaiting word on his acceptance to Iolani.

"It was a tough decision, because Maryknoll was a great school for me," Hirata said. "But I decided to go with my instinct."

Gaining admittance was not a guarantee, and Mugiishi and Low said Hirata earned his way in.

"He spent a lot of weekends studying vocabulary for the test," Low said. "He got himself prepared."

One afternoon in the spring of 2002, the two friends arrived at Hirata's home and found an Iolani letter of acceptance taped to the front door.

"There's nothing more I can ask for, there's no better feeling, than winning championships with my best friend," Low said.

Hirata has proved his worth at Iolani, carrying a 3.3 grade point average and joining the school choir. On the court, he has been more than just a shooter.

"He's matured as a player, and he takes equal amount of pride in his defense," Mugiishi said.

At 5 feet 8, Hirata does not have great size but has "been in contact" with colleges like Chaminade, UH-Hilo and Linfield.

In the meantime, he'll keep doing what he does best.

"As a shooter, you can't ever give up," Hirata said. "You have to have confidence ... and just keep launching."

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