OK, quick. Which Hawaiian island is the only one that has been home to an NBA All-Star, a big leaguer who appeared in the World Series and a Super Bowl champion?

Yes, it’s the Big Island — the largest geographically in the state, but with about one-fifth of the population of the nearly one million on Oahu.

Waiakea’s Kodi Medeiros is its latest sports success story. The Milwaukee Brewers picked the recent high school graduate with the 12th overall pick of the draft on Thursday.

Another former Waiakea athlete, Big Island mayor Billy Kenoi, said Medeiros’ draft fate drew the island’s sports fans together … as did Kolten Wong from Hilo and Kamehameha-Hawaii when he hit a grand slam for his first big league homer on Tuesday … as did Max Unger from Hawaii Prep when he and his Seattle Seahawks teammates won the Super Bowl.

"It’s been the big talk in the coffee shops and around the water coolers," Kenoi said. "There’s a lot of pride in the community. It’s a big island but a small community. Everyone’s real proud about the athletes."

The Big Island has always been home to plenty of talented athletes. But with a few exceptions — like that NBA star, the late Red Rocha, a Hilo grad who played in the 1951 All-Star game while a member of the Baltimore Bullets — they haven’t made it to the highest levels of their sports.

Around the turn of the millenium things began to change. Onan Masaoka from Waiakea broke through with the Dodgers in 1999 and pitched two seasons from the bullpen. Then Kaulana Noa, a University of Hawaii offensive lineman from Honokaa High School, made it to the St. Louis Rams practice squad in 2000.

Brandon Villafuerte, who was born in Hilo, pitched several seasons in the bigs in the early ’00s. Defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona from Kealakehe High School played in the NFL until he died in a 2009 car accident at age 26.

Hawaii Prep grad Daniel Te’o-Nesheim was a defensive end with the Eagles and Bucs for a couple of years in the NFL.

But the ascents of Unger and Wong have really put the Big Island on the big league sports map.

Although Wong was most noted nationally for being picked off at first base in the World Series for the Cardinals last fall, he has bounced back nicely and received the National League Rookie of the Month Award for May. The former UH star and first-round draft pick has locked down the St. Louis starting second base job after a rough start to 2014 that included a brief return to the minors.

Unger’s path to success has been a bit steadier and includes two Pro Bowl homecomings and anchoring the offensive line for Seattle at center.

Kenoi said that the sports stars being from opposite ends of the island helps unify it.

"Clearly where we are now is different than the past. It would be accurate to say the community’s pride in these athletes is certainly a positive factor in having everyone feel a part of it," Kenoi said. "It’s not like Hilo guys are saying ‘Max, that’s not us.’ And they’re not in Kona saying ‘Kolten, ah that’s Hilo.’ "

"And we’re just as proud of (Red Sox outfielder) Shane Victorino (from Maui)," he added. "We’re too small a state to have that kind. It’s all OUR kids."

And now the Big Island — and the entire state of Hawaii — has another one to root for in Kodi Medeiros.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. Read his blog at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.