Like fathers, like sons: basketball runs deep

It’s a family thing at Kalaheo.

This season has all the earmarks of coach Alika Smith’s resounding influence and reach.

Kalaheo is No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 with a 9-0 record in the rough OIA East (23-2 overall). Kupaa Harrison, getting by on an injured ankle, has been a cornerstone as a skilled stretch 4/5. Or is he a 2 guard who happens to be a 6-foot-4 post defender?

Another key is transfer Kaleb Gilmore, who is having a superb senior year on both ends of the floor. Gilmore has matured as a distributor and floor leader as he’s gotten older.

Smith, a former All-WAC guard at the University of Hawaii, has made his impact on the dynamic Gilmore.

But Kalaheo’s team success goes far beyond Harrison and Gilmore. There are skilled players up and down the roster, and one common thread is more pronounced here than anywhere else: a multitude of players who are sons of coaches or former college stars.

That gives Kalaheo a unique advantage over most opponents.

» Kaleb Gilmore (17 points per game), son of former Chaminade guard George Gilmore

» Kupaa Harrison (14 ppg), son of long-time Kalaheo assistant (and former Radford head coach) Tim Harrison

» Captain Whitlock (sophomore), son of former UH guard Tes Whitlock

» Ashton Arnold (sophomore), son of former UH coach Gib Arnold

» Jalen Smith (freshman) and Kekai Smith (7 ppg), son and nephew of Alika Smith

Kalaheo certainly isn’t the only team with familial ties to UH. Maryknoll standout sophomore Justice Sueing Jr. sees his dad, a former power forward, right on the bench as an assistant coach now. Other dads, like Whitlock’s, are barely heard or seen. Tes Whitlock sits off in a corner during games, practically silent, but usually smiling.

"A lot of these kids have been around basketball for years," said Smith, who was in the gym with his father, legendary coach Pete Smith, from the time he was a toddler. "They understand the game better than the average Joe."

Being related to the head coach at Kalaheo is a good problem. Kekai Smith, a senior guard, has been in the rotation since his sophomore year, and his leadership as a point guard has been essential as the roster turned over following the state-title season two years ago. With the addition of Gilmore and the ascent of Harrison, Kekai has relished his role.

"There’s definitely expectations you have to live up to. There’s a little pressure. He’s a big role model in my life," he said. "Sometimes he practices with us and he’s still got that shot. He used to show me (video footage) when I was in eighth grade, showing how a little guy can maneuver around a (college) defense."

Kekai Smith doesn’t compare himself, though, to his uncle.

"Oh no. I think he’s more offensive-minded, and I’m defensive. Like my grandfather (Pete) said, offense wins games and defense wins championships, so that’s what I try to focus on."

Jalen Smith, a 6-5 freshman, has faced the challenge of changing positions — two years ago, he was a 5-10 shooting guard — while taking instruction from his dad, Alika.

"It’s pretty difficult, playing with older guys. He’s harder on me than Kekai because Kekai has a lot of experience," Jalen said. "He wants me to become a better defensive player, playing inside."

Coach Smith tries to be balanced.

"It’s human nature. You want to see your family do well. You have to get on them, then you find yourself getting on them harder than other players," he said.

Harrison, like Gilmore, grew up playing the game on the Windward side. Returning there after going to ‘Iolani for a few years was a godsend. He was a sophomore off the bench, hitting a key 3-pointer in the state title game. His dad, Tim, is on the staff at Kalaheo, which would be a lot of added weight for some father-son relationships. Not this one.

"It’s kind of like two relationships and you don’t want them to get mixed together. Father and son, that’s really strong, but when you’re at the gym, it’s player to coach. He treats me like all the players," Kupaa said.

Coming home, having a normal family night — without talk of basketball — is almost impossible.

"My mom talks about how we only talk about basketball. We’ll eat dinner after a game and talk for an hour about what I could’ve done better. Turn on the TV and see if there’s any college or NBA games, talk about that. It’s not like he forced me to be enthusiastic about basketball. I have the same passion for the game that he has," Harrison said.

While Harrison and his teammates have a clearly cerebral approach, Gilmore brings that plus verve. He had it at Maryknoll before transferring to the campus at Oneawa Hills.

"It was always up to me, so I played basketball, baseball and I tried volleyball and soccer," Gilmore said. "I’m going to play baseball this year, but I love basketball."

His father was a prolific scorer at Chaminade, and Kaleb may end up there, too.

"My dad used to work out with me. Now he kind of just passes it to me when I work out. He always told me to never give up, to play with energy and play my style of basketball," he said.

The lure of Kalaheo was there for Gilmore even two seasons ago, when a rumor swirled around about the speedy guard transferring. He stayed with the Spartans for one more season — they lost to Farrington in the state semifinals — before opting to make the move.

"We mesh well together because we all played together in Kailua, playing KBA and NJB (Windward)," Gilmore said.

But these Mustangs, who also have Alec MacLeod, the brother of former All-State guard/forward Wilson MacLeod, can attribute part of that natural chemistry to heritage and roots. They are, in some ways, basketball nerds to the maximum.

"I played football and soccer in the same season four years in a row," said reserve guard Ashton Arnold. "But I enjoy and love basketball a lot. I’d walk into my dad’s room and he’d be watching game film or drawing up plays. I want to coach one day after I play basketball as long as I can. What we have as a team, having talent and growing up knowing how to play the game, it helps a lot, especially at practice.

"It’s always a basketball feel."

Find exclusive high school sports content — stories, photographs and videos — as well as football team pages, photo galleries and statistical history at HawaiiPrepWorld.com

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THE TOP 10

Voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, etc.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

GIRLS
Aloha Salem
Konawaena basketball
The senior guard scored 46 points, hitting 14 3-pointers, in No. 1 Konawaena’s 94-18 win over visiting Hawaii Prep on Wednesday. The Wildcats remained unbeaten in Big Island Interscholastic Federation play and are ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps.

BOYS
Justice Sueing Jr.
Maryknoll basketball
The 6-foot-5 sophomore recorded a game-high 24 points on Tuesday in a 55-46 victory at then-No. 2 Punahou. Four days later, Sueing led all scorers with 20 points in a 49-36 win against Mid-Pacific.