Stan Sheriff Center: Cockett and Goo made Hawaii women’s basketball a draw
After scoring 20 points in her final home game on Feb. 14, 1998 at the Stan Sheriff Center, Nani Cockett didn’t mind that more than 6,000 fans saw her shed tears. She was grateful for the unprecedented and since unmatched support for the University of Hawaii women’s basketball program.
“I’m a crybaby,” said Cockett, who finished her career No. 2 on the school’s scoring list. “To know that was probably my last time playing there for Hawaii in that arena, and having my dad and my whole family there made it emotional. Thankfully we got the win, or it would’ve been emotional for a different reason.”
The 73-69 victory over SMU was voted by the Star-Advertiser sports staff as the 10th-most memorable sports event in the 25-year history of the SSC and is featured in a story in today’s editions.
“She was the best player to come out of Hawaii,” said her coach, Vince Goo.
Following UH, Cockett played professionally in Israel, Switzerland and Greece and on the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks practice squad.
Goo retired in 2004 with a 334-166 record, and more wins than losses in 14 of 17 seasons. The Wahine went to the postseason 10 times and had four 25-plus win seasons under Goo.
Today, Cockett is a realtor on Oahu. She and Goo can be seen on Wahine basketball telecasts as pregame, halftime and postgame analysts.
“It works out well because you get me from the coach’s perspective and her from the player’s,” Goo said.
When is Nani going to be in the circle of honor. I have to look but I think only Mosley and Goo are the only ones for Wahine basketball.
I agree Nani Crockett best to do it from O’ahu. But not one local girl on the roster yet a handful of girls end up on D1 rosters for other schools every year. I understand that there are local girls with UH offers in the next class but without a local girl or two to get behind gonna be hard to draw a buzz I think.