Kanisha Bello of Waiakea High School has been named the 2008-09 Gatorade Hawai'i Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

The award recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. Bello is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.

The 5-foot-7 senior wing led the Warriors to a 13-11 record this past season and a second-place finish in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I, averaging 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.7 steals per game. A two-time first-team all-league selection, Bello was a 2008-09 McDonald's All-American Game selection committee nominee.

Bello has maintained a 3.45 GPA in the classroom. Bello has volunteered at a local food drive, as a youth basketball coach for local elementary school children and in the psychology department at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.

Bello has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Idaho this fall.

CROSS COUNTRY

THREE-TIME STATE CHAMP SIGNS WITH IDAHO STATE

Leilehua senior Bryce Jenkins, who has won the last three boys state cross country individual titles, has signed a letter of intent with Idaho State University.

Jenkins, who also led Leilehua to the last two state team titles, will run cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at Idaho State, where he was offered a full scholarship. He was recruited by several NCAA Division I programs, including Idaho, Texas, Baylor and Alabama, as well as local Division II schools Hawai'i Pacific and Chaminade.

A two-time state Gatorade Runner of the Year, Jenkins plans to pursue a degree in nursing. Idaho State was recently recognized as an All-Academic Team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The team achieved a 3.23 grade point average.

The O'ahu Interscholastic Association track and field season began last night. OIA meets are scheduled for this afternoon at Mililani, Roosevelt and Kaiser.

JUDO

DEFENDING BOYS CHAMPS AT MILILANI

Punahou and Pearl City — the defending state boys judo co-champions — headline an eight-team field at today's preseason Mililani Judo Invitational at the Trojans' gym.

The Buffanblu and Chargers have combined to win all six state titles since the tournament's inception in 2003. Pearl City has captured five boys championships, including three straight from 2003 to 2005, while Punahou has two titles. The teams were co-champions last year. The Chargers girls took home their second state title last season.

Other schools participating today are Kahuku, Kapolei, McKinley, Moanalua, Roosevelt and the host Trojans.

The dual-meet style tournament begins with pool play at 10:30 a.m. The finals are expected to begin around 4 p.m. Admission is free.