From lying on a hospital bed for a week in late September to hoisting the boys basketball state championship trophy five months later, Punahou School senior Kameron Steinhoff experienced quite a journey.

The final destination includes a place in history as The Advertiser's 2008 State Player of the Year, earned after a recent vote of 11 coaches and members of the media from across the state.

Back in late September it was not clear if Steinhoff, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, would even be able to play basketball this season. He suffered the injury during a football game that month and had his spleen removed, finally being released Sept. 29 after a one-week stay.

"It made me want to recover and get healthy even more and more," said Steinhoff, who played receiver in football. "The doctor was telling me I might not be able to play (basketball), but my progress went along and I knew I was going to be able to come back from that."

Steinhoff not only came back — he came back better than his junior year, in which he helped the Buffanblu win the Interscholastic league of Honolulu and reach the state championship game.

Using sleek moves under the basket and surprising accuracy from mid-range and 3-point territory, Steinhoff averaged 15.4 points per game during the regular and postseason. In Punahou's thrilling 41-38 victory over Kamehameha-Hawai'i in the state championship game, he scored a team-high 13 points, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, made two steals, blocked two shots and had one assist.

Steinhoff ended up being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as the Buffanblu (14-3) captured their first state title since 1999.

Steinhoff is joined on The Advertiser's All-State first team by Moanalua senior Stevie Austin, Kalaheo guard Cheynne Lishman, Kamehameha-Hawai'i forward Hogan Rosehill and 'Iolani center Taylor Mounts.

Austin, a dazzling 5-9 point guard, averaged 13.4 points per game and displayed deft all-around skills in dribbling, shooting, passing, making steals and floor leadership. He fell one point short of being a unanimous All-State first-team selection.

"He's the best," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said of Austin during the state tournament. "He continually answered the bell when it needed to be."

Lishman, a 6-2 guard, established himself as one of the state's top outside shooters but also showed an improved ability to attack the basket and distribute the ball in addition to draining 3-pointers from all angles. He scored 23 points in a 61-57 victory over Kaimuki and 19 against Kahuku in a showdown of O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division unbeatens. The Mustangs went on to finish the regular season undefeated at 12-0, earning them a No. 1 ranking in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media.

Rosehill was a steady performer for Kamehameha-Hawai'i all season but elevated his game during the state tournament.

He scored 19 points in a first-round upset of Kalaheo, then had 11 points in a victory over Kamehameha-Maui which propelled the Warriors into the semifinals for the second straight year.

In the state championship game, Rosehill finished with a game-high 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, including 10 points and seven rebounds by halftime. Kamehameha-Hawai'i pushed Punahou to the limit before falling, 41-38.

Mounts, a 6-foot-5 senior center, shared ILH Player of the Year honors with Steinhoff. He started the regular season with a 14-point, six-rebound, one-block performance against the Buffanblu that included a putback at the buzzer for a 43-41 victory, then ended it with 14 points in the championship game against Punahou, including two free throws with two seconds remaining that sealed the 54-51 victory.

Mounts also had a 25-point, 11-rebound game vs. Kamehameha.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i's Nelson Wong was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Warriors to a 15-3 record in the regular and postseason. They lost the Big Island Interscholastic Federation title game to Konawaena, 42-41.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i has only been a varsity program for five seasons.

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