In the beginning, there was light, as in light speed.

Even as a young baller at Windward Nazarene, Everett Torres-Kahapea was a blur with the basketball.

Two years ago, equipped with speed and a deadly 3-point shot, he made the varsity team as a freshman at Kailua. Those minutes turned into a huge role as a sophomore last season as Kailua knocked off two national powerhouses at the ‘Iolani Classic and became one of three local teams to finish in the final six for the first time ever.

Torres-Kahapea, who averaged 12 points per game, was voted the state’s most improved player by coaches and media.

This season, the 5-foot-10 junior is one of the state’s top guards, averaging 20 points per game. In 12 nonconference games, he has scored fewer than 15 points only twice, only because he mostly sat on the bench in blowout wins.

“There was no doubt from the beginning he was going to be a varsity guy (as a freshman),” Surfriders coach Walter Marciel said. “His outside shooting was the reason we chose him. He brought a different dimension to us that we didn’t have. This year, he hit the weights and he’s gotten stronger. Now he goes to the basket a lot and he’s getting to the line. He really wants it.”

Right now, the Surfriders are 9-3 so far in nonconference play — ranked No. 7 in the latest Star-Advertiser Top 10 — as new starters and additions integrate into a new identity.

“It’s a new team. We had to rebuild that chemistry. The only way from here is up,” Torres-Kahapea said.

After scoring 32 points in the nonconference opener against Aiea, Torres-Kahapea seemed content at times to start the offense and defer to teammates. It worked to an extent, helping his teammates learn the system. Ultimately, his shooting marksmanship and flat-out speed on the fastbreak had to be set free. He raced to a 33-point performance last week in a 61-54 win over Kapolei.

“I’m not trying only to score. It’s whatever benefits the team whether it’s getting 20 assists or scoring. Whatever the team needs,” he said. “We were kind of in a slump and we had to kind of pull it out, so I was trying to take over the scoring role (against Kapolei).”

The Hurricanes went to a box-and-one defense against Torres-Kahapea after halftime. He still contributed in multiple ways, and got more points in transition.

“Our team, I know what they’re capable of, so everybody got theirs. We used it to our advantage,” he said.

Torres-Kahapea also is a key leader on a team that has big shoes to fill. Gone are the giants like Christian Mejia, now playing football at Washington State. Gone is the slasher/shooter, Zach Marrotte, to graduation.

“I knew I had to take a leadership role when Chris and Zach graduated. I was just taking bits and pieces from them that would benefit me as a leader. Coach Wally told me I would have to be a leader this year and I’m comfortable with it. He wants me to be more vocal in general,” Torres-Kahapea said.

It’s not just the talent level that Marciel sees in his most seasoned returnee.

“Since he’s been on varsity for two years, he knows what needs to get done,” Marciel said. “I felt he was perfect to take the leadership this year.”

On the surface, Torres-Kahapea has a laid-back, friendly demeanor. In reality, there are few hoopsters who bleed the game like he does. That mind-set has served Torres-Kahapea well. He has a 3.0 grade-point average and likes history — world history, local history, any history. He remembers his own beginning, shooting baskets with his dad, Jack, at Enchanted Lake Community Park, and playing in the iconic Kailua Basketball Association, a league that has produced hundreds of elite players over the decades. More of them, it seems, are staying home to play for the Surfriders.

“I was looking in the yearbook reading about the state championship team,” Torres-Kahapea said of the Surfriders’ 1981-82 team led by George Puou. “I like history. You’ve got to know where you came from and how it all started. You’ve got to know the past to understand the present. It’s good to know your culture and where you came from.”