The Kahuku basketball team will be defending its Division I state championship this year, and the arrival of Galen Tolu Smith, a transfer from Mississippi, might make it just a bit easier.
The 6-foot-10 senior center/forward who enrolled at the school in the fall recently signed a letter of intent to play for Western Kentucky.
The person who knows him best, his father Galen Smith, concisely gave us his take on what Hawaii basketball fans can expect to see on and off the court from his 17-year-old boy.
“Tolu is very humble,” the dad said last Friday in an interview outside the Kahuku gym. “He’s disciplined and he’s dedicated. And he’s also very loyal. He’s actually put himself into a position being here where he’s had to make new friends, see new family and be committed to a program that is all fresh and new to him. He’s dedicated to being a part of his family and to this team. He’s really gotten to enjoy it, enjoy the culture and enjoy the community and he’s having a great time. He’s actually jumped head first into it.”
Tolu Smith is half African American and half Samoan. His mom’s grandfather is the brother of North Shore resident Johnny Tapusoa‘s grandfather. Smith’s immediate family thought it would be a good idea for him to explore that side of the family roots by coming here.
Actually, the Smith family almost came to Hawaii two years ago.
“Galen Jr. (Tolu’s older brother) wanted to go to UH and play ball. He reached out to the coaches, the whole nine yards,” Smith’s dad said. “Our plans initially were to come here two years ago, but it didn’t work out. He ended up getting a scholarship at Xavier University in Louisiana.
“(For this year), initially we were going to go to Meridian (the Mississippi 6A state champions) from Bay St. Louis (Tolu played for Bay High as a junior) based on job opportunities for me. But since our (earlier) plans were to come here to Hawaii, we rerouted — get Tolu into school here and try to find us a place and make this our permanent residence.”
Mr. Smith is a computer specialist for the Department of Defense — in the Naval Oceanographic Office.
“It’s easy to get temporary duty in different locations and we located to this area,” he said.
A job in Hawaii, however, is still in the works.
As for residency, the Smiths rented a place before they got here, but instead decided to move in with David Te’o, who has been a Kahuku assistant football coach and whose wife Kelli is related to the Smiths via the Tapusoa side.
“We pay rent to them, and it’s a helluva lot less than other the other place that wanted $1,500 a month,” Galen Smith said. “We asked about the Kahuku sports program and what was needed for him to participate. We knew it was a big football school, but he doesn’t play football.
“We didn’t know anybody (from the basketball team) coming into this.”
Here is Mr. Smith’s synopsis about Tolu’s on-court ability: “He’s good around the basket, a great rebounder. He can handle the ball as a big and pushes the ball on the break and has a high basketball IQ. He’s multi-faceted. He has the hook. He (can hit) anything around the cup, anything in the box, a good midraage jump shot. He’s not committed to the 3-point shot that most kids work on and I don’t know exactly why.
“I would call him a center, but these days he would be considered a stretch 4. He’s not confused on how or what to do to get to the cup from the outside or the wing and has a pretty good outside shot. And he can guard every position, not just the bigs.”
Tolu, himself, summed up what he brings to the basketball table: “I bring my energy. I have a passion for the game and I fall in love with it all the time. I’m always watching it.
And Tolu appears to have a good grasp of what he needs to work on.
“I’m working on my defense,” he said. “If I had to guard a guard, I should be able to guard a guard, anybody on the court. I’m not slow, but just want to be able to have ’em locked down. I want my defense to be just as good as my offensive game. Defense is vital to me. My college coach said you gotta play defense if you want to play.”
Tolu Smith said that if he works hard enough he’ll get to play as a freshman.
But the dream doesn’t stop there.
“The NBA, that’s the goal, make it as a pro and feed my family. I think about it all the time. When I was younger, I tried some other sports. I tried football and it didn’t work out. I kept on growing and told my dad I wanted to go to the NBA. He took that to heart and we’ve been working on it ever since.”
Galen Smith is very much behind Tolu in that regard.
“That’s an awesome dream to have and I support him wholeheartedly and our whole family supports him,” the dad said.
Kahuku to the NFL is fairly common. Kahuku to the NBA … now that would be something totally out of the ordinary.
Funny How kahuku complains the most about recruiting while their past 4 best players were all brought in. Including 3 out of state guys and 1 international kid??? Auwe
Nice story. Sounds like a great family and solid young man. Welcome to Big Red. Good luck with your future!
RRFL.
Isn’t this ironic? Too Meke is thanking the son of a man who told Too Meke that he isn’t a “real man.”
That’s classic!
Auweee, you are an idiot, if you don’t know anything about recruiting then close your trap. Kahuku is not even like private school recruiting.
Sounds like a nice kid from a good family but how can Kahuku fans complain about issue of recruiting when their school is starting to bring in ringers from the mainland to play basketball on a consistent basis? The story goes to great lengths to make it seem like Tolu transferred in for non-athletic reasons but hard to believe family didn’t come here primarily for basketball. Don’t be surprised if they’re gone before the end of the school year like Fotu from last season.
Side note: Too Meke 2 = anywaaays imposter = Education First. Now you’re not even coherent. Hope you find what you’re looking for in your everyday life and get tired of making a fool of yourself on this website. Try medical marijuana, Prozac or a psychiatrist.
Mahalo to all the REAL posters, supporters and fans of Hawaii HS athletics. Happy Holidays to you all.
First of all congrats STL for winning a great game against my football red raiders.
Second, where is all the detailed family/work history articles about the STL, PUN, Iolani, Mililani recruits in Football and Basketball? Only Kahuku I tell you #enemyOFtheSTATE
* I challenge all you sports fans that know of recruited kids playing out of district to inform us in these articles so that SA can write articles on them too.
Just so we’re clear…private schools “district” = wherever they can get kids to come and pay the tuition…OR…recruiting for specific “needs” and comping the recruits by having their tuition covered (ie. free ride).
That’s the reality and I have zero problem with that (unlike private school alumni who vehemently deny such recruiting exists…probably cuz they had to pay and never get to play…oh, Hi Dafun and Recruit dis water boys…lol).
As for public schools recruiting? More power to them too…as long as within the rules then what does it matter? (Apparently only matters to ILH alumni when OIA schools start winning bball championships…lmao…talk about hypocrites)
Is that what’s happening here? Apparently not, according to this article…but that’s not good enuff for crybaby ILH alumni.
HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!
RRFL!!
Yup, ILH district is “everywhere” because they have no borders. Kids transfering in to the ILH their Sr or Jr years is not a story. But when a kid transfers to Kahuku they want to make it a big story.
Hypocrisy at its best.
Awrite!! has also posted as DiamonHead, dafun, Douglas Hu, anywaaaays!!, and 99Boise and I haven’t even scrolled through all of his comments.
Users posting as multiple screen names will be banned moving forward. You have been warned.
Always good to see family coming back to their roots…No place like home….Red Raider Nation, it’s hard to beat..Great family and community support..Looking forward to watching him play…GO BIG RED…
I see we have some haters….on the islands!! Mr. Smith stated he didn’t know anyone, but family there….. So why would u “assume” that he came for anything else but education!!!!
If the school Tolu enrolled in, is a great basketball school, then its a plus for the family….. If not, his baddd right, for moving there….. None of ur business….ur not footin any Hawaii bills for Mr. Smith…..and his family…so keep the NEGATIVITY to urself….and welcome the SMITH family to the islands!!!! Dammit
Kahuku Recruits? Haha probably sound like Saint Louis Fans. What we going recruits these kids with, extra milk at lunchtime. You know if these kids want to play at Kahuku they are more than welcome. Congrats on your win Saint Louis. You deserve it. But you private schools wouldn’t win Jack if you haven’t recruit on the great kids from other hometowns.
Mr Hull a simple add-on in the dashboard will fix the multiple username to ip address issue for your FREE wordpress website.
Second, its funny that Mr. Punahou “Education First” talked so much crap for two years about Kahuku students, not the program but the students, until you guys finally banned him and now he is using my old username anywaaaays!! duh! hes the troll.
Times have changed. High School recruiting is here to stay. I don’t see a problem with it. You win some and you loose some . Example: 2 talented girls who play for Kalakaua and Coach Puni, committed to Punahou. Congratulations to them. Other schools also tried to get them. Overall it was a family decision and they felt Punahou was best for them. The way I look at it is, respect their decisions, and work on the next prospects.
@Too Meke 2 – did you read Mr Hull’s post???? “Isn’t it ironic?”
HAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Notice…I’m not mentioned…cuz…as I’ve always maintained – I’m just me…using the same user name always…
Now…shoo fly.
Mr. Hull do you know why Kahuku is not playing in the Iolani Classic? Was it a one time deal last year? It’s just odd that the defending State Champions are not playing in one of the most premier tournaments on the island.
Sorry Red Raider Nation but as a Die Hard UH Fan YOUR COACH was a part of an NCAA investigation that really cost us last season … your program really needs to be investigated …
@88 My theory is that this is the reason why Kahuku was not invited back to the Iolani tournament LOL —–>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU64ykcZkog
Thats it….i will be WAIANAE COASTS main recruiter for COACH JEFF TEDFORD @ FRESNO STATE…CALLING ALL RED RAIDERS; BLUE RAIDERS; BROWN RAIDERS; SEA RAIDERS[RIDERS]…ONLY NEEDS IS CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER…AND HAVE SOMETHING TOO PROVE==NOT EXCEPTING ANYTHING WEARING GREEN AND WHITE…GO DOGGIES
Well, 808WarriorFan, since you are a die hard UH fan you should also realize that their coach also was heavily reaponsible for bringing in key players to your program that brought your cherished team that BW title and their first appearance and win in the NCAA tourney in over a decade. What’s there to investigate at Kahuku? You think kids are getting extra benefits? Extra scoop rice at lunch, perhaps? I just read a HPW article that says Saint Francis got a Serbian on their team you like investigate that kid too or nah it’s cool cuz it’s not Kahuku?
***BREAKING NEWS
808 is also anywaaays.
Mahalo for all the people who do not waste our time by pretending to be one person such as 808.
Happy Holidays to 808/anywaaays/TooMeke/88/BGGrad
Wow anywaays is also BG Grad, 808, DiamonHead, Douglas Hu, dafun, 99Boise, 88, Awrite!!, good story, and many more.
DAMN!!!!
This guy is classic! He calls out others. And he’s 100 guys.
Aloha!
@88 – simple – iolani and ILH still salteeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
and going be salteeeeeee again this year!
lmao!
RRFL!
So Kahuku is a public high school with no tuition? And Iolani and Punahou has a $20k tuition. St.Louis St Francis $17k a year? So all you haters, again how does one win a recruit to a public school? Crickets,How? Hope Fotu comes back. Lol. Which comes back to, Will Taulia transfer to St.Louis for senior year? If so is there a football testing or educational testing administered?
Yeah Iolani with their large financial endowment and 10-12 state titles are salty that one year they didn’t win it and die to that they won’t invite Kahuku to their tourney? Yeah that must be it. Haha you’re such a dumbass anywaaays.
This is the school that gifted uniforms to Kahuku before right? And this is the schools from where Kahuku got it’s school name right?
You so warped in your thinking that a prestigious school that is arguably the top academic school in Hawaii, with arguably the Top tournament in the US, with the most state title for basketball would be so pety to not invite any team since they won.
Kamehameha with Micah Christensen was invited back to the tourney the year after they won a state title.
So using your logic why was Kamehameha invites back after they won?
Let me guess anywaaays, it’s an ILH conspiracy?
Haha your so predictable.
Recruiting doesn’t always involve money. Your so dumb. And you call yourself a coach?
I wonder how Long Beach Poly, who many recognize as a top athletic program in the US get so many kids to travel in. But they are a public school.
Here is a list of top public schools for football that have kids going to their school who live out of district as reported by Max Preps:
-Centennial High School (Compton)
-Bingham High School (Utah)
-Ben Davis High School (Indianapolis)
-Mission Viejo High School (California)
This is just from the top 10 football schools. If you do any research Wannabe Coach C, you will see that many public schools are able to attract high level athletes to play basketball or football over private school.
Here is some free advice. There is free information all over the internet. Before you make asinine statements with no evidence, you can research for yourself. That way you won’t make yourself look stupid or foolish by your comments such as “so all you haters, again how does one win a recruit to a public school?”
Well based on research there are multiple answers. I’ll start you on your way.
1) proximity to home
2) quality of coach
3) quality of team
4) academic fit
5) academic rigor
6) cost
7) student population
8) cultural diversity or lack there of
9) lineage
10) history of the school
I can go on for days. But I’m pretty confident if you actually put in some thought Coach C, I bet you could have actually answered your own question.
Kids now days work harder than ever. There is no off season anymore. I think this plays a huge part in decisions made by families as to where and who these kids play for. Good luck to this kid and to Kahuku Basketball this year. I don’t care about recruiting. If you build it, they will come.
Anywaays is amazing! Even after Billy Hull exposed him and said that Douglas Hu is one of his fake usernames he comes back again using it.
Gotta give the boy A for effort. But he also gets an F for stupidity.
It’s all good no matter where the kids come from recruited or not. This is not the 80s or 90s anymore those complaints are obsolete. Long ad they’re eligible and havent broken any rules #letthekidsplay
Einstein2. +20 names. Academy or football test to enter the 12 grade Football academy? So you acknowledge the 10 ways a kid picks a public school? #6. is actually free, but thanks for the other accolades. You da man (or wateva).
Too Meke 2, Lets put it this way, people go to Long Beach Poly for a shot at being recruited for college/coaches connections as do many others. Whats the draw for this kid to come to Kahuku? Yes, they won a state championship (but lost a bunch of seniors). He already had several offers from D1 programs before coming? If he has signed an offer he had before stepping on the court here then if not for family, whats the draw, it cant be coming here to be recruited to college?
@ Wannabe Coach C, cost is attractive. Some families do not want to pay for education.
@whyy, Here is the draw to go to Kahuku. Now granted, the families choices most likely will be somewhat different.
1) proximity to home. How many families are willing to drive and possibly pick up their child 5 times (10 of you work near Laie) a week?
2) cost. If you read the article the dad mentions cost of housing. Cost could be a factor.
3) timing. According to the article the family recently moved to Laie. Most private schools ask interested students to apply months ago. Maybe he couldn’t apply for a private school?
4) family – he could want to play in front of fsmkly and friends
Obviously kids go to certain schools to get recruited.
I am replying to the Wannabe Coach who said how does someone beat out Punahou/Iolani for a recruit. And I gave my list. I am saying these are possible reasons. I don’t know exactly why since I am neither the kid or his parents.
And Kahuku got 3 kids into D1 last year. Last time I checked, neither Punahou or Iolani was able to do that in 1 year in history.
So there are some factors that could be more attractive to this family versus that of a private school.
Too Meke 2 = The socially challenged user banned under his/her former screen name “Education First” by this website back in October.
Okay, got that out of the way,
“Recruiting” in its various forms is a fact of life in HS athletics. FB programs Bishop Gorman, De La Salle, St. John Bosco are powers BECAUSE they recruit. Same with the Bball powerhouses that come to Hawaii to play in the Iolani Classic. It happens here locally as well. If you were a talented programmer would you work for Google or some small company with less resources/pay because it’s in your “hometown”? I have no issue with recruiting that’s within accepted guidelines. I DO have a problem with hypocrites, be it public or private school fans, who cry about recruiting but make excuses and try to rationalize it when their program does same thing.
808 = anywaaays the Kahuku fanboy who both Paul Honda and Nick Abramo exposed as using many different usernames and pretending to be different people. 808 is one of a few dozen usernames anywaaays created.
I am impressed that he can remember all of them. He must has written it down in his diary.
Good job anywaaays, I mean 808.
#fraud
Too Meke 2 – Wrong and lying as usual. Show us or cite the post where Honda and Abramo said I was “anywaaays”. We’re waiting, Pee Wee.
“A storyteller makes things up to help other people, a liar makes up things to help himself”
P.S. BTW, you used “#”s a lot when you posted as Education First. At least PRETEND to be someone else and try to disguise your writing style or lack thereof.
Funny.
So let’s see who ends up on top at the end of the season. An ILH team who recruits? Or an OIA team who recruits? Show me a contender who does NOT recruit.
808 shut the fuck up already. We all know you are anywaaays who also uses my damn username. Shut your pie-hole already.
Keep entertaining me my clown.
UPDATE: Too Meke 2=Education First=Fake 88.
Now that you’re called out and exposed as a liar you have to ditch the “Too Meke 2” persona and pose as yet another poster? Nice try but you still have to answer the challenge posed to you in comment #35. No running away. LOL.
Maybe you should go back to hip hop dancing, Pee Wee.
Look, the bottom line here is that the ILH Agenda is at fault here. This isn’t recruiting because the player has family in La’ie and he isn’t coming to Kahuku for basketball, but for a good education and family environment. He just happens to be a star prep basketball player from the mainland.
The ILH on the other hand has no family or community. They are just mercenaries who recruit with no regards to the communities they break up or the competitive landscapes of the sports they destroy. They even went as far as to rig games by paying off referees in the football state finals.
FACT: Kahuku has never recruited.
FACT: Kahuku is one of the most successful sports programs in the state and they don’t have to resort to underhanded tricks and money. We breed athletes in La’ie
FACT: RRFL!
808 you and your alias anywaays is the biggest clown on here. Paul and Billy can easily prove that I am only one person.
The only thing you have exposed is that you are in idiot who is also anywaaays. Billy Hull listed anywaays names and 808 is one of them you clown.
I challenge the site admin to show that my username is Education First or fake 88 as you call it. You are desperate since you are not as smart as me.
I understand that it sucks that I can use words that make people think (and you have to use dictionary.com). I understand that you need someone to help you comprehend my writing since it’s clear by your style if writing that you are levels below me. I use facts, figures, and data. You use absolutely nothing.
Keep begging. Hopefully in a few minutes or hours the site admin will prove you wrong since as we all know, you are begging.
PEE WEE, hahahah! How in the world did you come up with that! I am literally crying here since that was such an offensive and creative comeback. HAHAHAH! You are the best. I don’t know how you are doing it. You are wasting your creative talents on this blog. You are the next Lenny Bruce! You are on your way!
808 November 22, 2017 2:17 pm
P.S. BTW, you used “#”s a lot when you posted as Education First. At least PRETEND to be someone else and try to disguise your writing style or lack thereof.
Funny.
———————-
P.S. BTW, you used a lot of elementary level words when you posted as anywaays. At least PRETEND to be someone else and disguise your style of writing. But when you are as dumb as you are that is the only style you have.
TRAGIC
(P.S. it must really suck to know that you went to a school that is on the bottom 1% for producing really dumb kids in the US).
Fuck saint louis
wats crazy is Coach A left Uh in a mess. Allegations of grade fixin and other stuff forced the ncaa to penalize Uh. Now Coach A at Kahuku around kids. Dat is just plain crazy. Sports are about role models and building character. Haiving a role model who got caught cheating only a few short years ago is just wild. I get second chances. But after 2-3 years? And last year Fotu came just to ball and den cut. No rules broken but the spirit of competition was compromised in my opinion. Personally I would rather win or lose the right way then win at all costs esspecially at the expense of the kids.
First of all kahuku dont recruits , they have families memebers at kahuku n see how the communities, the pplz and what around kahuku. When pplz who attending kahuku or who is an alumni at kahuku you will hear postive vibes n information. Kahuku has the best fans in the state of hawaii. All you pplz taking abt recuiting plz shut your trapz. Private sku’s recruits alot more then any high sku in state of hawaii. Goes for the states championship half of st. Louis defensive lives in kahuku or other towns around kahuku. Kahuku dont recruit they build on what we have in the communites. All you pplz who is saying why kahuku is complainting abt recuiting? The fact is that kahuku dont recruit they build what we have in the communities around kahuku. In this article it say they have families who lives in kahuku areas. It didnt say kahuku recruiting my son . get ur guys facts before you say anything.
#RR4L #C/O2011
WIN OR LOSE IM ALWAYS A RED RAIDERS FOR LIFE N IM PROUD ALUMNI OF KAHUKU HIGH SCHOOL
LOL, “Too Meke 2=Education First=Fake 88” is having a nervous breakdown. The aura of anger, frustration and defeat are evident in his consecutive multiple incoherent rants.
Hey PEE WEE you have yet to answer the challenge posed to you: CITE THE POST WHERE HONDA AND ABRAMO SAID I WAS POSTING AS ANYWAAAYS.
You look more foolish and immature with every post….and now you’re a proven liar. They teach you that in hip hop class, small fry?
P.S. In post #41 you said Billy Hull mentioned that I was posting as anywaaays. PLEASE CITE POST OR LINK TO BACK YOUR STATEMENT. Or are you caught in yet another lie? Keep giving yourself more rope to hang yourself with. Man, you’re slow.
BTW, I’m part of the Brotherhood.
i just started coming to this site. wow so many crybabies wassup with dat?
@808, sure you are part of the brotherhood. And I am a NASA Astronaut.
It’s so obvious that you are anywaaays. Like I said, Paul Honda, Nick, Billy all exposed you. You can easily search through several of the strands. It’s all there. anywaaays, bg grad, doug hu, 808. Man you can call me or anyone else names. At least we are not all frauds.
HAHAHA. You call me PeeWee but you use multiple names and got EXPOSED. Haha, that’s so classic. You are the biggest keyboard warrior.
Enjoy your evening “ANYWAAAYS”
Please don’t call me anymore names. You are scaring me you tough guy.
I love how 808 talks big behind a fake name. If you notice I just call him out using evidence that the site admin listed in several posts.
But for some odd reason 808 is getting mad. If you notice, I am not angry. But for some reason you are. I wonder why? I guess all the years of being bullied at Waialua High School is really getting to you.
1) anywaaays = 808
2) she is not from any brotherhood
3) 808 has to resort to name calling since he is a scared little boy. He masks his fear with aggressive name calling.
4) 808 has to use multiple usernames with hopes that no one will find out who he is and pick on him like when he was in elementary school and the kids took his lunch money, thus forcing him to hide in the janitor’s closet.
5) 808 likes to hide behind screen names and talk tough, with his chest puffed out. Yeah, that is the best way to show you are tough. Talk big and hide behind a computer.
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH! You talk tough and hide behind a computer. I don’t believe it.
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH! This guys anywaaays/808 talks big and hides behind a computer. What a fag! Who talks big, acts tough, talks shit, and doesn’t even have the balls to use his real name.
BWWAAAHHAHAHA, I cannot stop laughing. Did anywaaays really just do that? He is talking tough and hiding behind his computer!!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAH! C’mon 808, please stop. I am literally going to throw up. You are the first person I ever met who talks tough, acts like a tough guy, while he is sitting on a computer typing away. You don’t even have the balls to say it to anyone’s face. You are are typing behind a computer hiding your identify.
Man you are too much.