After finishing runner-up in the Honoklulu Star-Advertiser All-State Fab. 15 as a junior, St. Francis guard Kameron Ng has made it to the top.
The 5-foot-11 senior was named the Star-Advertiser All-State boys basketball player of the year in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser. A full-page spread is available in the newspaper or you can read the story online here.
Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Fab 15
Boys Basketball
1. Kameron Ng, St. Francis, 5-11, Sr., G
>> 24 ppg, shot 81 percent from the line despite returning early from an ankle injury for the ILH regular season. He scored at least 21 points in 12 of 15 league games, including 29 and 22 points against league and state champion Maryknoll, 24 and 27 against Punahou, and 25, 29 and 22 against ‘Iolani. His ILH season high of 40 came against Mid-Pacific. Also had 36 against Kaiser, 42 on Leilehua and 39 against Rex Putnam. Saints were 5-5 while Ng was out with injury.
2. Everett Torres-Kahapea, Kailua, 5-11, Sr., G
>> 21 ppg in OIA play, 19 ppg overall and 80 percent from the FT line. Able to create a shot from anywhere on the floor, from pull-up 3s to finger-rolls near the bucket, his old-school style led Kailua to nine wins over Top 10 foes. Faced box-and-one defenses seven times. Had his biggest scoring outputs against Kalaheo (32) and Kaiser (33), scoring at least 15 points in every OIA contest. Averaged 19.3 ppg at the state tourney. Second in the state with 64 3-pointers.
3. Marcus Tobin, Maryknoll, 6-7, Sr., F
>> 11 ppg in ILH play and 12.3 ppg at the state tourney, No. 1 selection by coaches and media to the all-defensive team. 17 points in the state-title win over Punahou. His length and aggression on both ends of the floor were unmatched. Able to cover every position, contest and block shots, attack the rim and hit the open mid-range shot. Also shot 71 percent from the FT line. Scored his season-high 22 points against St. Francis.
4. Makoto Kamata, Maryknoll, 6-3, Sr. G
>> 13 ppg in ILH play and 14.7 ppg at the state tourney, named all-tourney MVP. Ranked No. 2 in the all-defensive team voting. Kamata’s versatility as a point guard, shooter, penetrator, defender, shot blocker, rebounder were elite, and that Swiss Army knife skill set was common among the Spartans’ starting five. Kamata’s energy and aggression with the ball were huge aspects of Maryknoll’s title run. Shot 72 percent from the foul line, including 82 percent at states.
5. Ja’Shon Carter, Kapolei, 5-10, Sr., G
>> 18 ppg in OIA, 17 ppg overall, 18.5 ppg at the state tourney. Season-high 26 points came against Kahuku. Carter’s leadership as a fourth-year starter was invaluable to a relatively young Hurricanes team. His ability to attack defenses was crucial as the ‘Canes extended their OIA West win streak to 32 games. Kapolei was 1-4 against Top 10 teams without Carter, and 5-5 with him.
6. Kawika Lee, ‘Iolani, 6-1, Sr., G
>> 15 ppg in ILH, 14 ppg overall, 13.7 ppg at states. Led state in FT shooting at 86 percent. Best scoring outputs came against Saint Louis (22 and 21 points) and St. Francis (24, 22). Strong rebounder, defender, rim attacker and clutch shooter who helped spark a state quarterfinal comeback win over OIA champion Moanalua (17).
7. Duke Clemens, Punahou, 6-5, Sr., C
>> 11 ppg in ILH, 11 ppg overall, 13 ppg at states. Myriad moves, ambidextrous and one of the state’s best low-post scorers in recent years, had his best three-game scoring run during the state tourney. A three-sport athlete who has signed to play football at UCLA.
8. Christmas Togiai, Kamehameha, 6-2, Jr., G
>> 20 ppg in ILH, 16 ppg overall. A veteran on a young team, Togiai was a workhorse as a primary ballhandler, scorer, rebounder and defender. Scored 25 against OIA champion Moanalua and 20 against OIA finalist Kailua. Double-figure scorer in all 12 ILH games, scored at least 16 points in 11 contests. ILH highs against ‘Iolani (25 points, twice) and Punahou (27, 25).
9. Raefe McEnroe, Farrington, 6-4, Sr., F
>> 14 ppg in OIA, 13 ppg overall, 16 ppg in D-II state tourney. Versatile point forward who led the Govs to wins over four Top 10 opponents in league play. Great passer, solid shot blocker, a patient and unselfish teammate who stepped up when necessary. Had 24 points against Kalaheo, 21 against Kailua.
10. Geremy Robinson, Moanalua, 6-2, Soph., G
>> 18 ppg in OIA, 18 ppg overall, 10.3 ppg at states. Had big games in preseason play against St. Francis (23 points), Kamehameha (26), ‘Iolani (29), Hawaii Prep (25) and Campbell (23). Scored a season-high 30 against Roosevelt, and also had 26 against Castle and 25 against Kahuku). Shot 59 percent from FT line.
11. Jake Holtz, Damien, 6-4, Jr., C
>> 14 ppg in ILH D-II play, 15 ppg overall. A double-double performer, Holtz’s physicality and athleticism powered the Monarchs in the paint, giving them the inside presence necessary to go 9-2 against Top 10 competition. The transfer from Saint Louis helped the Monarchs beat eventual D-I champion Maryknoll, as well as Punahou, Kailua, Kamehameha, Farrington, St. Francis, Lahainaluna, Kapolei and St. Francis. Scored 25 against Punahou and 24 against Kalaheo. Season-high 29 was against Hawaii Baptist.
12. Jakob Kimura, Punahou, 6-3, Sr., G
>> 13 ppg in ILH, 11 ppg overall and 11 ppg at states. Almost unstoppable slasher to the rim, a jumping jack rebounder and defender. Kimura shot 66 percent at the FT line.
13. Kordel Ng, St. Francis, 5-10, Jr., G
>> 15 ppg in ILH, 18 ppg overall. When older brother Kameron was injured, Ng picked up the slack during an incredible eight-game span over 13 days: ‘Iolani (13), Moanalua (28), Kalaheo (24), Waiakea (40), Kaiser (18), Kaiser (16), Punahou (32), Kahuku (21), Saint Louis (21). The numbers don’t reflect his ability to attack the rim against 6-foot-6 defenders and draw fouls, and he was a key ballhandler against fullcourt pressure, as well as a great rebounder and shot blocker. Played the season with a broken finger and a lingering leg injury.
14. Kaulana Makaula, Punahou, 6-3, Sr., G/F
>> 10 ppg in ILH, 12 ppg overall. 17 points in state quarterfinal win over Lahainaluna. Season-high 30 points in a win over Damien. Voted No. 4 in all-defensive team balloting. A long, athletic defender who could cover every position. A good shot blocker and rim protector. Three-sport athlete who has signed to play football at USC.
15. Frank Felix, ‘Iolani, 6-1, Sr., G
>> 12 ppg in ILH, 12 ppg overall. Led the state with 74 3-pointers and shot 77 percent at the FT line. Also voted No. 15 on the all-defensive team.
Coach of the year: Kelly Grant, Maryknoll. Grant is the first coach to be named the coach of the year by a newspaper for an ILH and OIA school. This is his third such honor after leading Kaimuki in 2006 and 2007. Mark Mugiishi is the only coach who has been coach of the year more times with five. Dean Shimamoto and Pete Smith are tied with Grant at three. Shimamoto finished third in coach of the year voting behind Grant and Damien’s Alvin Stephenson.
All-Defense
1. Marcus Tobin, Maryknoll
2. Makoto Kamata, Maryknoll
3. DiAeris McRaven, Moanalua
4. Kaulana Makaula, Punahou
5. Payton Grant, Maryknoll
6. Isaiah Hopson, Kailua
7. Bryce Forbes, Damien
8. Ty Shishido, Roosevelt
9. Christmas Togiai, Kamehameha
10. Jake Holtz, Damien
11. Tamatoa Falatea, Punahou
12. Reece Pascua, Lahainaluna
13. Isaiah Sugiura, Moanalua
14. Kawika Lee, ‘Iolani
15. Frank Felix, ‘Iolani
Most Improved
1. Jakob Kimura, Punahou
2. Isaiah Lee, Kalani
3. Bobby Thompson, Kalaheo
From our master researcher, the mad librarian, the honorable Jerry Campany.
Kameron Ng is the first player from a smaller ILH school to be named player of the year since James Williams of University in 1987.
Kelly Grant is the first coach to be named the coach of the year by a newspaper for an ILH and OIA school. This is his third such honor after leading Kaimuki in 2006 and 2007, Mark Mugiishi is the only coach who has been coach of the year more times with five. Dean Shimamoto and Pete Smith are tied with Grant at three.
Everett Torres-Kahapea repeats as a first-team All-State basketball player, the first boy to repeat for Kailua since George Puou in 1982-83.
Marcus Tobin helps give Maryknoll a Fab 15 selection for the seventh straight year. The Spartans had three seniors mentioned last year.
Ja’Shon Carter is the second Kapolei Hurricane named to the Fab 15, joining former teammate Zoar Nedd last year.
Kawika Lee and Frank Felix give ‘Iolani two seniors on the Fab 15 for the first time since Zach Buscher and Ikaika Phillip in 2014.
Duke Clemens, Jakob Kumura and Kaulana Makaula give Punahou three Fab 15 selections for the first time since 2012 when DeForest Buckner, Malik Johnson and Nick Velasquez were so honored. Next year will be the first time they will have to replace three Fab 15 selections.
Christmas Togiai of Kamehameha is the highest ranked junior on the Fab 15. Other Kamehameha juniors to be named to the list in the past were Kobe Young (2017), Dyrbe Enos (2011), Micah Christenson (2010), Pii Minns (2008) and Rykin Enos (2006). All of them followed up with an All-State selection in their senior year.
Raefe McEnroe is the first Farrington player selected to the Fab 15 since Ranan Mamiya and Jake Smith in 2015. Other Governors to be named first-team All-State include Jacob McEnroe (2014), Isaiah Visoria (2014) and JP Saycon (2011).
Geremy Robinson is the first Moanalua player to be named to the Fab 15 since Kyrie McRaven in 2015 and the first sophomore in school history to be so honored. He is the first sophomore from the OIA to be named first-team All-State since Eric Marshall of Leilehua in 2001.
Damien junior Jake Holtz is the first player in school history to be named first-team All-State by a newspaper.
This is BS! This is why I have no faith in the coaches or whom ever votes because there are boy who deserve to be on this roster and whom are beyond better then most of these boys. And the players and coaches know this for a fact. And why is the are some of these boys on here they never even qualified for States. Now there you go this FAB 15 is really not legit. We all know who belongs on this roster. This is BS!
If that kid is 5’11”, then everyone else gotta give themselves 3 more inches….Hawaii Selection Committee is a complete joke….
@ this is a joke
Who else supposed to be on this?
It seems like the writing was on the wall Ng was getting this award before the season even began. I felt all he had to do was get his team to states and this award would be his. Kamata was the ILH player of the year and state tourney most outstanding player and lost it to someone who never played a nano second in the D1 state tournament (ever). And yet he swept both Gatorade and star advertiser POY. Bottom line: Kamata (or anyone else) didn’t score as many points as Ng. This state really only cares about how many points you scored.
lol everyone is so salty, I love it❤️
The kid is good but I didn’t agree with him winning the Gatorade POY & I don’t agree again.
IMHO I thought Kahapea from Kailua should have won. Averaged 21pts a game and made it to 2nd round of states before losing to State Champ Maryknoll.
@Curious
Bryce Forbes and Boogie Hall you cant say they not better than a handful of these guys.
@Curious
Tell me not that Bryce Forbes and Boogie Hall dont belong there.
Bruh I hope those other two Damien kids keep this in mind for next year might be a three way battle between teammates on POY. Interesting that Boogie Hall and Bryce Forbes gave half these guys the business in head to head battles.
Definently gonna be between the 3 guys at Damien for POY Next year, they should have no doubt been on here.
@ this is a joke
I agree with you. I just wanted to see who you thought.
Where is Brandon chung c Kalani high school
If you’re going to comment, keep it clean and don’t post under a bunch of different names. A bunch of comments have been deleted and one IP address has been banned.
I just want to say I am really dissapointed in this roster this really isnt the true Fab 15 and every coach and player knows this is not a legit roster. If you cannot be fair and honest in your chosing then no sense have a fab 15. Because really you all know who have been watching this whole season who should be on the FAB 15. And definitely not all on this roster deserve to be on here.
Billy Hull,
Some of the posts you deleted was legit! Why are you posting comments then deleting them? Did someone complain? What kind of favoritism is this? Let people speak their minds. You guys are now montoiring ip addresses now! It makes you guys look bad for doing so! No one uses their real names on their posts, so you might as well delete them all!
Even though you delete some of the posts people still feel the same way as stated.
Why did the article emphasize playing with injuries so much? If you choose to suit up and your trainer clears you, you’re good to go. I’m sure a ton of players were playing with physical ailments throughout the season. Didn’t “Division 2” Damien give St. Francis team a double-digit early on? Was anybody injured in that game?
IMO, this is a legitimate pick for POY. Ng has been the best PG in the state for the past 2 seasons, regardless of division.
@ Tokotoko
“Legitimate” is a very subjective word in this case. Hawaii high school basketball is considered maybe AA at its highest division (Division 1). A player who wants to be called the absolute best in the state should have to prove himself at that division. A POY should have played at least one single division one state tournament game don’t you think? That isn’t asking for a lot. This shouldn’t have been a clear run-away decision on who deserved this award this year. This really was a snub to all the worthy players who took their team to the state tournament and beyond.
@Curious – How about the #40 kid from Maryknoll. Watch all the games on T.V. and no one got in the paint. Or maybe they did. But very little points were made in there. In fact, Duke made only one point while he was in but don’t take nothing away from that kid either because his coach knew how to use him the RIGHT way. Maybe him? He’s a BEAST, humble, and good attitude.
SAD!!!!! Who created this???? POY can score, but the doesn’t necessarily make his team better (“hog cheese”), and he doesn’t play sound defense. Witnessed it MANY times. Some COLLUSION going on.
Star-Advertiser voters have always been impartial to the Saints, not very surprised here. I was appalled when they put D2 runner up St. Francis over Hilo last year in the final GBKB rankings when Hilo never got even close to getting beat by KS-Hawaii.
Ng is a good player, but he is definitely not the clear cut POY. My choice would have been Kamata, but honestly this “accolade” doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things as scouts could probably care less.
Where’s damuni from kahuku?
Nobody can check Kam. It’s a team game, but this is an individual award and Kam is the best. Everybody knows hes been the best for years. Congratulations Kam and all the boys on a successful year
Just like nobody could check Tolu Smith last year and his team was 1 game from the Title.
He still didn’t win!
Sad that one player from an outer was named. Voters \ media must do a better job of seeing the best in the state overall. Not just the players in their backyard. Maui and Big Island have some great players that have compeated against all these players listed and were successful. Not fair to the boys and the work they put in this year.
I thought Valentinas of HPA might get votes. He didn’t. But the ones who did — Reece Pascua of Lahainaluna, William Soares and Kiai Apele of Waiakea — had strong seasons.