Kahuku High School's Junior Ale, The Advertiser's All-State Co-Player of the Year in basketball, has signed a letter of intent to play for Brigham Young University-Hawai'i.

In a school press release, BYUH coach Ken Wagner called Ale, a 6-foot-2 guard, "the best player I've seen at Kahuku in the 14 years I've been here."

Wagner added, "He has great quickness, can jump, and is very athletic ... he's also a really great person. We've wanted him right from the beginning."

Ale was a first-team Advertiser All-State selection as a junior after leading the Red Raiders to their first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship since 1968. This past season, he led the state in scoring by averaging 23.6 points per game.

Ale was considering several NCAA Division I options before deciding on BYUH.

"I know the players and I'm comfortable here," Ale said in the press release.

MOANALUA HIRES TACON

Former Punahou coach Greg Tacon will take over as Moanalua's head coach, replacing his successor at Punahou, Dan Hale.

Tacon guided Punahou to the state tournament four times, finishing as high as third in 2004, but his contract was not renewed after this past season.

HONMA TO LEAD UH-HILO

Longtime Honoka'a girls coach Daphne Honma has resigned to become UH-Hilo's first women's basketball coach.

In 18 seasons at Honoka'a, Honma guided the Dragons to eight top-five finishes in the state tournament, including three of the past six semifinals.