By Paul Honda
phonda@starbulletin.com
Monday, Jan. 8, 2007

I'll never know precisely how any of our voters in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Boys Basketball Top 10 can justify some of their votes.

It's not my job to get on their case if my opinion differs from theirs. The variation in ballots is key to getting a solid, balanced whole. And yet, Mililani at No. 7 ... it bewilders me. The Trojans are 11-5 (2-0 in league play), including wins over Campbell and Thompson, Kahuku and Waialua — all decent teams. But none are Top 10 quality. And the Trojans have lost to Kamehameha by 19 and Radford by 8.

The talent is there, and the Trojans will have their best team in recent memory as they continue to gel. On my ballot, though, they are nowhere near the Top 10, not with Kamehameha, Keaau and Maryknoll out there. And I am not convinced that Mililani, which trailed Thompson by 15 before rallying for a close win, is better than all Division II teams. I think University (10-1) is better. So is Kaiser (9-2).

Even Baldwin, as young as they are, is better than Mililani, and I can't fathom placing the Trojans higher than any of them. So, for now, Mililani is 15th on my current ballot.

I expect them to be among the Top 8 by the playoffs.

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