Ask coaches who the player of the year was in boys soccer, and most of them cite Kalani junior forward Leo Klink.

Ask Klink, though, and the honor belongs to any number of players. And he believes it.

“There is no best player in the state,” Klink said. “It is a team sport.”

Team sport or not, Klink honed his skills and was rewarded as the Star-Advertiser’s choice for player of the year.

Before starting high school soccer, Klink practiced by himself at the park every day. Just a boy and a ball, running around until he got tired and then running some more.

There were no defenders or keeper to beat, but he scored countless goals against a wall, and that hard work translated into 25 scores his junior year at Kalani and a run to the state championship game.

He probably could have scored even more had he not been pulled in several regular-season games that helped the team build needed depth. In Kalani’s seven playoff games, he scored six goals, including game-winners in the state quarters and semis against Punahou and Kapolei.

Klink scored against every team he played against this year except Kahuku and Mililani. The Trojans kept him out of the net twice, including in the state title game.

“Mililani packed the back with really good defenders,” Klink said. “They definitely have talent on that side. They shut me down. Momo dominated me in both games.”

“Momo” is Mililani defender Andrew Momohara, who joins Klink on the first team along with two teammates — forward Tyler Matas and midfielder Renato Torquato.

Jake Sagami, Ryan Tokunaga, Douglas Curran and keeper Tyler Wilson made the second team, leaving the talented Trojans with seven of their 11 starters on the first two teams.

Matas was Klink’s top challenger for player of the year. Matas had 10 fewer goals than Klink this soccer season, but Klink will tell you that scoring isn’t everything.

“I always looked up to him and feared him,” Klink said. “He is experienced and much better than I am. He is a defender (in club soccer), so he knows what a defender will do. He can score on anybody.”

Kalani teammates Yoshinori Tamokai and Kazuto Moribe join Klink on the first team, along with Richard Gallarde and Rowen White of Kapolei, Alex Lam and Kaimi Fairbairn of Punahou and ‘Iolani sophomore keeper Josh Adachi.

Mililani coach Jeff Yamamoto was selected coach of the year, and it was not even close. He was given plenty of talent, but completed the arduous task of going through the season unbeaten.

The Trojans’ only blemish was a tie against Kapolei in the regular season that left them hungry for a run through the OIA and state tournaments.

ILH player of the year Aaron Goo of Saint Louis is a second-team striker, along with Quintin Love of Punahou. The Star-Advertiser chooses two forwards because the bulk of the talent in the state plays both ways.

Also on the second team were defenders Kasey Chun and Micah Cabagbag of ‘Iolani, which lost 1-0 to Mililani in the state semifinals. Kalani midfielder Kevin Carroll, Kaiser midfielder Jason Khamvongsa and Honokaa defender Rovert Connors round out an All-State second team rife with seniors.

Only three underclassmen joined Klink in receiving first- or second-team honors.

“Leo Klink is a pure scorer,” Kapolei coach Bryce Kaneshiro said. “He is a guy who is always in the right place at the right time, and that is not luck. That is instinct.”

Klink returns to Kalani next year as the state’s best, but without Tamokai or Byran Yamada to keep the ball on Klink’s end of the field.

That means the true test of Klink’s ability will come when the ultimate team player is surrounded by a somewhat new group. The Falcons do return Moribe, who is expected to move up and help Klink attack in the Falcons’ high-powered offense.

But that is a year away. For now, Klink will focus on club season, hoping to impress college coaches.

“It is going to bring a lot of expectations,” Klink said. “I guess I better get back to the park and keep working on my game.”