There have been many brother (and sister) duos in on the basketball court in Hawaii’s history, but how do Kameron and Kordel Ng of St. Francis compare?
It’s still too early to really say, but the brothers are averaging a combined 44 points per game for No. 5-ranked St. Francis. If anything, Kameron Ng’s ankle injury provided a glimpse into what the Saints are like without their standout scorer. Kordel, known more for his defense and high-flying attacks on the rim, averaged 23.6 points per game in 10 outings as his older brother recuperated from injury.
They were featured in Monday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, which you can read here.
If they keep their averages up, Kameron (24 ppg) and Kordel (20 ppg) Ng could become the first brother combination to each average at least 20 points per game.
Coaches took part in a survey and shared their insights about the Ng brothers.
>> What was or would be your game plan against St. Francis and the Ng brothers?
Brandyn Akana, Kahuku: Game plan for St. Francis with Kameron being injured was not to allow Kordel to get to the paint. We forced him to hit outside shots. If he gets into the paint, he either scores or gets to the free-throw line. It’s tough to game plan against both brothers. They both got game and they are very good at what they do.
Dean Shimamoto, ‘Iolani: I can’t give you a game plan.
Steve Hathaway, Roosevelt: When Kam is out, I think the game plan is to take the ball out of Kordel’s hands. He takes a lot more shots when his brother is not playing. I think he was trying to fill his shoes and from what I saw, he did a pretty good job.
>> Was there anything about Kordel that surprised you during Kameron’s injury?
Alvin Stephenson, Damien: Kordel is a unreal athlete nothing that he is doing surprised. I know what he is capable of. What happened to Kameron was unfortunate, but a great thing for Kordel. The injury allowed Kordel to break out of the Shadow of his big brother. It allowed him to put the team on his back. We I watch him play it his passion is different. We playing for his brother to hold down the fort until he returns. Kordel is VERY tough kid. Being a lefty he is very crafty. At times hard to deal with .
Hathaway: I was surprised at how much better of a shooter he has become. I don’t think he was really an option last year, but he is clearly the second option this season.
Shimamoto: Kordel’s level of conditioning was the most surprising. I knew he was a great athlete, but to play as many minutes as he did, at the intensity he plays with, while serving as the team’s primary playmaker and scorer was amazing.
Akana: Kordel took over and carried the team while Kameron was injured. What surprised me most about Kordel was his ability to get to the paint and make things happen. He has great speed, athleticism and strength.
>> What brother duos do you recall at the high school level? Would you compare the Ngs to any of them?
>> Shimamoto: Never saw them play, but I’ve heard that the Morales twins were really good for University, as were the Ostrowski brothers at Maryknoll. During my time, Alika and Josh Smith played together at Kalaheo, the Medeiros brothers (Robert and Herman) at Hilo, the Nakanishi twins (Jesse and Julian) at Kamehameha, Ramsey and Charles Williams at Moanalua, the Christensen brothers at ‘Iolani along with the Anderson twins. After 2000, the Crabbe brothers played together at Punahou, the Broadus brothers at Mililani, the Unga brothers at Kahuku, the Gelacio twins at Kamehameha, the Foys with us in 2010, the Hogland brothers in 2016 and the Bumanglag brothers now.
Stephenson: No disrespect to anyone but I haven’t faced any brother duos better than them.
Akana: There have been some great brother duos in Hawaii high school history. Some that come to mind are the Anderson twins (‘Iolani), Williams brothers (Moanalua), Hogland brothers (‘Iolani), and Josh/Alika Smith (Kalaheo). They are lucky to be playing with each other. I always wanted to play with my older brother, but never got the chance. It’s a special thing to play with your sibling.
>> Individually, who does Kameron remind you of? Who does Kordel remind you of?
Stephenson: Kameron has a old school game like a Jeff Hornacek. Jeff could shoot the ball get into the line and pass. Kordel is aggressive like Russell Westbrook. He is coming at with everything. He can be crafty like and at the rim like James Harden. I’ve watched this to boys grow to be some really good ballers. But I guess it helps that dad was good in basketball too. Much respect to the Ng family.
Shimamoto: Kameron reminds me of Trae Young. Crafty with incredible range and great vision. Kordel reminds me of John Wall. Lefty who’s blazing fast with the ball and explosive around the rim.
Hathaway: Kam reminds me of Miah Ostrowski (of Punahou) a little bit, but not as smooth. Miah, to me, if he was 6 feet tall, would have been the best player to come out of Hawaii. Kam is more of a pure scorer, but Miah did what he wanted to. I think the difference in the two was the passing of Miah. But Kam is one of the best scorers I have seen in all the years I have been here.
I can’t think of the lefty that Farrington had years back when they won the D-II (state) title. Mikey something, I believe. (Note: Mikey Kleman.) Kordel reminds me of him, can jump out of the gym and can hit shots when needed. Kind of lanky kids that were both real quick. Mikey was taller, but Kordel reminds me of him. Streaky shooters who could fly. To me, Miah was better than Low. He was just smaller. If they were the same size, I think Miah would have had tons of D-I offers.
The Akanas (Brandyn & Jarinn) would have been a great brother duo for the Farmers of Moloka’i had they been able to play together.
In regards to Hathaway’s comments, it’s difficult to compare the Ng boy to Ostrowski when Ostrowski played four years of ILH Division I, not II. Also, Low was not that much bigger than Ostrowski. They were both really good guards but Ostrowski was not superior to Low. Ostrowski was able to play with Spencer McLachlin for 4 years and produced no state title. Regardless, they both went on to be good D1 college players.
Ostrowski was more flashy and fun to watch back in the day but Low was the better leader that did everything he could possibly do to will his team to win!!
hope they do it: both average 20+ points or more per game.
“will his team to win.” Low is probably one of the greatest guards to play out of Hawaii, no doubt about that, but I think everyone fails to realize how much help he had on his teams, all 4 years. Bobby Nash, Anderson twins, Kyle Pape, are just to name a few that also played at very high levels after high school. Not too many Hawaii teams have that amount of talent, definitely not St. Francis.
Also, since we are on the topic of how “great” these guys are, why isn’t there an article of how Lahainaluna just beat St. Francis?
I agree with JetWavy, it is hard to compare veteran D1 players to these newly D1 brothers. Being this is their first D1 year, you cannot compare them to past veteran players.
Additionally, D1 isn’t as competitive this year as it was last year or the few years before. Points are easier to come by without the tall inside threat and the fast outside tough defense from a few ILH graduates. Like I said in a previous post, Gatorade Player of the Year should only be awarded to a D1 athletes. In other words, they’re overrated.
Collegiate coaches are weary of picking up athletes of parents that have their child transfer to another school to repeat another year for all the wrong reasons. College ball is at a whole other level. There’s taller and faster mainland athletes in D3.
If the Ng’s were veteran D1 players, earned top accolades at the same time, and not transferred schools for an additional year, only then would I gladly given them my highest regards.
@Suspense
They both have the opportunity to average 20+ because they’re allowed to play most of the game (even in blowouts as evidenced by last year’s D2 state title game and the 50-pt La Lumiere loss in this year’s Iolani Cassic) and take 90% of the team’s shots.