All-time Wahine hoops team. Agree, disagree?
If you take any program’s top five career-leading scorers, chances are they would make a pretty good starting five.
But the University of Hawaii women are over-the-top in that respect because the top five scorers just so happen to have all the positions covered perfectly, from point guard to center.
So, it’s easy to pick an all-time starting five.
Lynette Liu was UH’s career-leading scorer when she completed her career in 1985. She’s fifth now, but I think she’s still the program’s best-ever point guard because of her quickness on offense and defense and great ball handling and passing. She was also money at the free throw line.
Nani Cockett might be the best all-around athlete to have played Wahine hoops .. or Wahine anything. Could play anywhere from point to power forward if necessary, but natural spot was shooting guard. I think she would’ve starred in the WNBA if not for all those knee injuries.
Raylene Howard was super dependable and super versatile with great skill around the basket and at the perimeter. A great fit at the 3.
Kamilah Jackson was extremely consistent as a low-post scorer and rebounder. Also developed a nice outside shot. Love the idea of her at the 4 … how could anyone stop her and Judy Mosley-McAfee — the ultimate grinder — at the 5? She’s the program’s career leader in scoring AND rebounding, and it’s hard to imagine anyone surpassing her in either category.
Mosley-McAfee had the greatest knack for rebounding I’ve ever seen, and was incredibly accurate around the basket. Not the greatest athlete, but played with so much passion and intelligence. Went on to star internationally, and she played briefly in the WNBA, but it came a little too late for her. So very sad that cancer took her so young, especially since she had a husband and four children.
As for coming off the bench, off the top of my head I’d go with B.J. Itoman, Amy Sanders, Shawna Kuehu, Tania Brunton and Nani Flores.
Agree, disagree?
I like Itoman and Puida
Itoman and Liu were very similar players. But Itoman had much better teammates and coaching. Liu played for three different head coaches. Itoman played for Vince Goo and was teammates with Cockett, Brunton, Howard, Flores, and the underrated Kendis Leeburg. … Now there’s a name from the past, huh? Kendis Leeburg!
I would add as possible candidates, Kylie Page, although her career ended on a sour note (refused to play in WNIT after NCAA inexplicably left the Wahine out of the NCAA postseason playoff). She was a deadly 3 point shooter and she and Raylene Howard were Hawaii’s two great Aussie stars. I would also add Kaui Wakita, but she only blossomed in her senior year. She played pro in Australia and was so physically dominant in an alumnae game. Like a woman among the girls.
Gotta add Kylie Galloway Page even tho she bailed on the team when they again got screwed by the NCAA selection committee and got passed out for the tournament again and again.
What about that 6’5″ center who played with Puida? Don’t know here name. She had a tryout with pros.
Yeah whats her name! One of the greatest Wahine ever! Thanks for your contribution.
Kristen Roper
Maybe not all-time team, but one who deserves mention is Cheryl Shimizu. Before her time as a a Wahine player.
😛
What about Melanie Azama? She was a pretty good point guard as well.
Didn’t see enough of Liu’s playing but thought Itoman was the best (pt. guard) without Liu in the picture. She played with so much energy.