LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors men’s basketball coach, staff and student-athletes took to the Garden Island on Saturday morning for their second annual free keiki clinic at Kaua‘i High School, teaching local youths basketball lessons and providing an opportunity for autographs.
In order to participate in the coed, sixth grade and under event, keiki only had to follow three rules — make a new friend, listen to the instructors and above all, have fun.
“I just look forward to making the kids happy in the first place — that’s why we’re here,” said Rainbow Warriors guard Noel Coleman. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids and for us to come together on a different island.”
When the UH Manoa team first began their Kaua‘i clinic last year, it was a resounding success, with more than 150 keiki preregistered participants.
“If anything, it was better than expected,” said Rainbow Warriors coach Eran Ganot. “And that says a lot about it, because we had high expectations coming in.”
This year’s event also appeared to boast more than 100 participants, as the student-athletes took the children through a series of running and conditioning, dribbling, rebounding and, of course, shooting drills.
Some keiki even got to learn how to dunk — albeit with the help of 7-foot, 1-inch center Mor Seck, who lifted the kids in the air to reach the basket.
The three-hour session taught participants the fundamentals of basketball. However, Rainbow Warriors guard JoVon McClanahan suggested that getting to play alongside Kaua‘i’s youths can be just as, if not more, important to their game.
“I think the kids get some type of motivation out of it, honestly,” McClanahan said. “Because I was once in their position where I saw older guys in college. The fact that I can see someone that I might want to be like when I grow up, the fact that they can see us, and we’re just trying to let them know it’s possible for them to do it, is great.”
With the continued interest from the island’s youths, Ganot left no doubt over whether the team would return to Kaua‘i next year for another clinic.
“Yes — that’s the quickest I’ve ever answered anything,” Ganot said. “We love annual events, and it’s really hard to get something off the ground. But then once you do, you can see how it grows every year. So our expectation right now is to come here every year until we’re told we can’t, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it grows.”
While McClanahan is set to graduate this year, meaning he’ll likely miss the first UH keiki clinic in Kaua‘i High’s nearly finished new gymnasium, he wants to make sure the clinic continues long after his enrollment.
“I hope this keeps going on for years to come, because it’s important,” he said. “Like, it’s not good enough just for us to have a team camp at our arena on our own island of O‘ahu. I think that we do need to come out here.”
McClanahan continued, suggesting the clinics shouldn’t stop at men’s basketball.
“Even the girls basketball team and other teams (like) volleyball — it’s not just all about basketball — whatever sport can come give back to the community of different islands, because we’re representing Hawai‘i. So as long as we can get back, I think that’s important,” he said.
•••
Jackson Healy, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-4966 or jhealy@thegardenisland.com.
