Konawaena’s Caiyle Kaupu was chosen as the Gatorade Hawaii girls basketball player of the year, the Gatorade Company announced Friday.
The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.
The 5-foot-10 senior low-post was a force for the Wildcats, who went 21-4 record and made it to the Division I final. Kaupu averaged 17.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.0 assist and 1.0 block per game. A three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation first-team All-Star entering this season, Kaupu was also a three-time Division I all-tournament team selection.
Kaupu has volunteered locally as a youth basketball coach and scorekeeper and also donated her time as a volunteer at Creative Day Preschool and Holualoa Elementary, according to a news release.
“Caiyle carried her team,” Punahou coach Gary Pacarro said in a the release. “She has good skill, can play with her back to the basket and she’s effective fronting the basket. When it comes to crunch time, you know they are going to go in to her, and she still gets it done.”
Kaupu has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at UC Irvine.
Throughout the years, Neighbor Island girls have won the award 15 times in the 35 seasons since it began in 1986. A Konawaena girl has won it eight times — Chanelle Molina three times, Cherilyn Molina twice, and Nancy Hoist, Dawnyelle Awa and Kaupu once.
Gatorade Hawaii girls basketball Players of the Year
>> 2020: Caiyle Kaupu, Konawaena
>> 2019: Kalina Obrey, Kamehameha
>> 2018: Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena
>> 2017: Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena
>> 2016: Chanelle Molina, Konawaena
>> 2015: Chanelle Molina, Konawaena
>> 2014: Chanelle Molina, Konawaena
>> 2013: Allyah Pana, Hilo
>> 2012: Dawnyelle Awa, Konawaena
>> 2011: Maiki Viela, Lahainaluna
>> 2010: Maiki Viela, Lahainaluna
>> 2009: Kanisha Bello, Waiakea
>> 2008: Jamie Smith, ‘Iolani
>> 2007: Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Punahou
>> 2006: Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Punahou
>> 2005: Shanna-Lei Dacanay, Punahou
>> 2004: Nancy Hoist, Konawaena
>> 2003: Megan Ching, Kamehameha
>> 2002: Becky Hogue, Punahou
>> 2001: Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo
>> 2000: Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo
>> 1999: Brandy Richardson, Kalaheo
>> 1998: Aina Kohler, Lahainaluna
>> 1997: Erin Stovall, ‘Iolani
>> 1996: Tiana Fuertes, ‘Iolani
>> 1995: B.J. Itoman, ‘Iolani
>> 1994: Jodi Benson, Moanalua
>> 1993: Nani Cockett, Kamehameha
>> 1992: Nani Cockett, Kamehameha
>> 1991: Nani Cockett, Kamehameha
>> 1990: Melanie Azama, ‘Iolani
>> 1989: Jennifer Kaeo, Waiakea
>> 1988: Kalei Namohala, Waiakea
>> 1987: Teddi Pila, ‘Iolani
>> 1986: Connie Naone, Roosevelt
Awesome!!! Kaupu will represent our state and our values at the next level like her predecessors!! Good job Team Konawaena!!!!
Interesting!! Must have been from those playing against tough competition during the regular season and PADDED STATS vs. Kohala (77-5), Keaau (79-26), Honokaa (100-16), Christian Liberty (78-17), Kealakehe (95-8), Kau (99-5), KS-Hawaii (72-18), and Hawaii Prep (65-10).
No get me wrong, she good but not the GATORADE POY, must have been JUICED.
I think Lily Wahinekapu is the best player in the state by far. Kaupu is solid. But Lily is on another level.
I also don’t think she’s the best player but it’s so hard to gauge . She regularly had an advantage night in and night out because of a lack of quality bigs statewide . She’s going to have to work on her perimeter game because I don’t see her dominating down low at the next level .
wow, really? I think she’s a good player, but player of the year? By far Lily is on another level, especially in a dominant guard game in Hawaii. Whoever Gatorade is listening to or their board that picks the POY, need to do their research more.
Lily hands down best player in the state..
Please don’t get me wrong she’s a very good player . There just wasn’t anybody that could really matchup with her . As far as the next level I don’t think she’ll have that night in and night out advantage down low that’s why I feel she has to work on her perimeter game .Just my thoughts
She may not be that good at the next level but theyʻre not picking the POY for the next level. It was chosen for this year ! They didnʻt have bigs to match up against this year ? Because she was to dominant !