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2009 FAB 15 BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

Pi'i for production

Minns did it all for Kamehameha, but he was at his best as a leader

By Paul Honda

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 12, 2009

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Is he really a point guard?

Or a defensive stopper? Maybe a 2 guard. Small forward? Should he stay in the paint?

It could've been easy for Pi'i Minns to be miscast, but his coaches at Kamehameha always saw him as a key piece of the puzzle, a multi-skilled weapon. As a senior, Minns found himself in the flow as a distributor, defender and, more than ever, as a scorer for the Warriors. By no coincidence, Kamehameha won its first state championship in 17 years. Coaches and media rewarded Minns, a 6-foot-3 guard, with Star-Bulletin All-State Player of the Year honors.

At least one opposing coach saw Minns take a big step forward this season.

"Pi'i was a much improved player this year, mainly because he matured tremendously as a person, and you could tell this year that team success was the most important thing on his mind," recently retired 'Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said.

"This year, he was more of a leader," Mid-Pacific coach Nate Hu said. "He played within the offensive flow."

Kamehameha's wealth of post players, not to mention 6-5 teammate Micah Christenson, allowed Minns to roam the perimeter. Capable of covering any position on the floor, Minns was second in the all-defensive team voting while averaging 12 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Kamehameha finished 22-3 while revving up its offense and opening the floor defensively with rangy athletes like Minns and Christenson. When the points got hard to come by, Minns was a playmaker with his astute knowledge of angles and lateral movement, changing momentum with his anticipation and long arms.

He was clutch, scoring 20 points in the state-title win over Kahuku.

Coach of the Year honors went to Kamehameha's Jesse Nakanishi, who did some retooling and modified his team into an explosive machine. Rather than take the old-fashioned approach of slowing the tempo with a roster of tall players, he unleashed his team, including Minns, who has always been a point guard.

Kahuku's Hiram Akina, 'Iolani's Mark Mugiishi and Kaimuki's Kelly Grant followed in order of voting.

 

FAB 15 (in order of voting)

Player School Ht. Class
1. Pi'i Minns Kamehameha 6-3 Sr.  
2. Marcus Holyfield Mid-Pacific 6-2 Sr.  
3. Micah Christenson Kamehameha 6-5 So.  
4. Pablo Warner 'Iolani 6-2 Sr.  
5. Jray Galeai Kahuku 6-0 Sr.
6. David Taulung Kaimuki 5-7 Sr.  
7. Desmond Tautofi Kaimuki 6-3 Jr.
8. Nehoa Akina Kahuku 5-10 Jr.
9. Kainoa Chu 'Iolani 5-10 Jr.
10. Marcus Monroe Moanalua 6-5 Jr.  
11. Lincoln Seto Baldwin 5-10 Sr.  
12. Tyler Terai Maryknoll 5-8 Sr.
13. Aaron Fernandez Kalaheo 6-4 Jr.  
14. Kimo Makaula Punahou 6-3 Sr.
15. Dean Viena Saint Louis 6-1 Sr.

Coach of the year: Jesse Nakanishi, Kamehameha

 

Is he really a point guard?

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pi'i Minns, Kamehameha / Player of the Year: Multi-skilled senior had 20 points, 3 steals, 2 blocks in state final

Or a defensive stopper? Maybe a 2 guard. Small forward? Should he stay in the paint?

It could've been easy for Pi'i Minns to be miscast, but his coaches at Kamehameha always saw him as a key piece of the puzzle, a multi-skilled weapon. As a senior, Minns found himself in the flow as a distributor, defender and, more than ever, as a scorer for the Warriors. By no coincidence, Kamehameha won its first state championship in 17 years. Coaches and media rewarded Minns, a 6-foot-3 guard, with Star-Bulletin All-State Player of the Year honors.

At least one opposing coach saw Minns take a big step forward this season.

"Pi'i was a much improved player this year, mainly because he matured tremendously as a person, and you could tell this year that team success was the most important thing on his mind," recently retired 'Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said.

"This year, he was more of a leader," Mid-Pacific coach Nate Hu said. "He played within the offensive flow."

Kamehameha's wealth of post players, not to mention 6-5 teammate Micah Christenson, allowed Minns to roam the perimeter. Capable of covering any position on the floor, Minns was second in the all-defensive team voting while averaging 12 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Kamehameha finished 22-3 while revving up its offense and opening the floor defensively with rangy athletes like Minns and Christenson. When the points got hard to come by, Minns was a playmaker with his astute knowledge of angles and lateral movement, changing momentum with his anticipation and long arms.

He was clutch, scoring 20 points in the state-title win over Kahuku.

Coach of the Year honors went to Kamehameha's Jesse Nakanishi, who did some retooling and modified his team into an explosive machine. Rather than take the old-fashioned approach of slowing the tempo with a roster of tall players, he unleashed his team, including Minns, who has always been a point guard.

Kahuku's Hiram Akina, 'Iolani's Mark Mugiishi and Kaimuki's Kelly Grant followed in order of voting.

 

FAB 15 (in order of voting)

Player School Ht. Class
1. Pi'i Minns Kamehameha 6-3 Sr.  
2. Marcus Holyfield Mid-Pacific 6-2 Sr.  
3. Micah Christenson Kamehameha 6-5 So.  
4. Pablo Warner 'Iolani 6-2 Sr.  
5. Jray Galeai Kahuku 6-0 Sr.
6. David Taulung Kaimuki 5-7 Sr.  
7. Desmond Tautofi Kaimuki 6-3 Jr.
8. Nehoa Akina Kahuku 5-10 Jr.
9. Kainoa Chu 'Iolani 5-10 Jr.
10. Marcus Monroe Moanalua 6-5 Jr.  
11. Lincoln Seto Baldwin 5-10 Sr.  
12. Tyler Terai Maryknoll 5-8 Sr.
13. Aaron Fernandez Kalaheo 6-4 Jr.  
14. Kimo Makaula Punahou 6-3 Sr.
15. Dean Viena Saint Louis 6-1 Sr.

Coach of the year: Jesse Nakanishi, Kamehameha

 

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