The 2008 "Team Aloha" high school girls basketball squad — which will represent Hawai'i in the prestigious Arizona Elite Spring Classic April 18 through April 20 — was introduced yesterday by Mayor Mufi Hannemann at Blaisdell Arena.

Team Aloha consists of 13 players from around the state who have at least one more year of high school eligibility. One of the goals of the program, which is sponsored by Hannemann and the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, is to give Hawai'i players Mainland exposure and provide an opportunity to be observed by dozens of college coaches offering scholarships.

Six of the 13 players on this year's team come from Neighbor Islands, including Advertiser All-State first team selection Kamie Imai of Waiakea.

The 13 players, selected after consultation with daily newspaper sports reporters, are: Imai, Johnelle Kapua (Mid-Pacific), Pua Furtado (Kamehameha), Tami Konishi ('Iolani), Kanisha Bello (Kamehameha-Hawai'i), Kara Hanato-Smith (Konawaena), Taeja Afalava (Kahuku), Ashley Satterwhite (Punahou), Janelle Nomura (Punahou), Tayler Wang (Hawai'i Prep), Violet Alama (Kalani), Kalei Adolpho (Moloka'i) and Milika Taufa (Lahainaluna).

Imai, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, already has received recruiting interest from Arizona, Fresno State and Weber State.

"This shows the parity that we have now in girls basketball," Hannemann said. "It used to be where O'ahu schools would dominate, but it's not O'ahu-centric anymore. For some of these Neighbor Island girls, they might not have as many opportunities to play in this type tournament, so I'm glad we have players from all over the state on this team."

The team will be coached by former University of Hawai'i guard and Moanalua coach Dana Takahara-Dias and Hannemann. The inaugural Team Aloha, led by Advertiser State Player of the Year Shawna-Lei Kuehu of Punahou, won the prestigious Nike Storm and Swish Fall Shootout at Santa Barbara, Calif., in 2006.

The 11th Annual Arizona Elite Spring Classic bills itself as "the largest spring evaluation tournament on the West Coast." Up to 64 teams are expected to compete in Team Aloha's age group.

"It's the largest spring tournament West of the Mississippi," Takahara-Dias said.

PUNAHOU TO INDUCT 15 INTO ITS ATHLETIC HALL

Punahou School's "O-Men" will induct 15 new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony tomorrow night at the Pacific Club.

The inductees are Clint Albao (Class of 1963), Norm Chow ('64), Chris Duplanty ('84), Glenn Goya ('73), Tracy Kunichika ('81), Walter Macfarlane ('62), Ralph Martinson, Norbert Mendes ('61), Susie Mills Suttich ('78), Kim Pennington Roll ('82), Nolan Ramirez ('71), 'Ia Saipa'ia ('76), Kathy Shipman ('79), Cynthia Stehouwer ('82) and Chris Woo ('76).

Read Wes' blog on prep sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com