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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 20, 2010

Physical prep post joins 'Bows


By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kamilah Jackson

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2010-11 RAINBOW WAHINE RECRUITS

Sydney Haydel, G, 5-9, Fr., North Hollywood, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake High School)

Keianna Evans, PG, 5-7, Jr., Fayetteville, N.C. (Kaskaskia Junior College, Ill.)

Kamilah Jackson, F, 6-0, Fr., Oakland, Calif. (Sacred Heart Cathedral)

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An all-state post player who averaged double-doubles her last three seasons — and still might not be the best athlete in her family — will play basketball for the Rainbow Wahine, Hawai'i coach Dana Takahara-Dias announced yesterday.

Kamilah Jackson, a 6-foot senior who led San Francisco's Sacred Heart Cathedral to two Division III state championships, signed a letter of intent in a school ceremony yesterday. Her mother is Trina Jackson, one of the finest players in San Francisco State history. Kamilah's sister is two-time Metro Player of the Year Jazmine Jackson, now at Pepperdine.

The Rainbow recruit has earned all-state honors three times. In 2008, her team went 33-0 and was ranked No. 1 in USA Today's final poll. Sacred Heart had a 60-game winning streak during Jackson's career.

"She brings strength and great intelligence in the post position," Takahara said. "She's a very strong girl on the court and in the classroom."

Jackson, like returning post Breanna Arbuckle, has the mobility the Rainbows want to implement a running game. That is where the comparisons end.

" 'Bat' (Arbuckle) is very agile but Kamilah has more strength in the post," Takahara said. "If there's contact, Kamilah will be in it and 'Bat' will be watching it."

Jackson is the Rainbows' third recruit, after JC transfer Keianna Evans and Sydney Haydel, who led Harvard-Westlake to a California state championship in March. Evans and Haydel are both guards. Takahara is hoping to get at least one more "experienced" post player before school starts.

"We need athletes," said Takahara, who starts her second season in the fall. "We're really looking for basketball players that are athletes because of the athleticism of the game. After taking a look at WAC competition, we need multi-talented athletes who can play several positions and can run and jump."

The coach expects to hire another assistant soon. Next month, she is bringing back the Rainbow Wahine Basketball Camps, after a six-year absence. See hawaiiathletics.com for more information.