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About my lists
Posted at 02:14 PM
Top 25 (teams) vs. Top 50 (players). Teams rule. Besides, there isn't enough time in the day to work on that old Top Players list. By Paul Honda A year ago, I was intrigued by my litany of lists, none more so than my Top 50 Players ranking. I don't feel that way anymore. Performances of individual players in Hawaii high school basketball can vary so greatly, not so much the Top 10 or 15, but all the guys between 15 and 100. Thirty points one night. Four points the next. Shuffling all those ballers weekly is too much work. Instead, I've been engrossed in my Top 25 Teams list. You'd think in a small state like Hawaii, there would be very little static. Instead, parity has created tremendous aftershocks for my Top 25 on nearly a daily basis. So, I update my list, which is actually my way of working out a ballot for the Star-Bulletin Top 10 poll, at least three times a week, sometimes four or five. The most radical team has been Moanalua, a squad that has wins over Iolani and Kalaheo, and losses to ... let's just say that they are the basketball equivalent to a Richter Scale in the Java rift zone. In the space of a week, Na Menehune (yes, the school made "Na" part of the nickname recently and officially) went from "also receiving votes" to No. 7 in the Top 10. In my ballot, which often and usually differs in many spots from the Star-Bulletin Top 10, it has been just as extreme for Moanalua. Even their coach, Greg Tacon, isn't always sure what to expect. They're dangerous both to opposing teams and to themselves, on the hardwood, I mean. A nice bunch of guys who can take down any foe ... and potentially lose to any foe. Makes for a lot of drama if you're a loyal MOHS fan. No need for Jolt, Red Bull or Piranha energy drinks at that gym. All of this doesn't mean I'm ignoring my Top Players list. After all, every October, SportsAmerica Inc,, the force behind the McDonald's All-America picks, solicits me for the Top 10 players list. They've been asking me for five or six years now, since my days back with HSN. I think they know, though, that regardless of where I'm employed, I'm the self-admitted No. 1 high school sports geek in the state. I'm not proud of it, not ashamed either. They ask, I oblige, with both the boys and girls lists. I'll post those lists next time, maybe tomorrow. Then I can break it all down and see which players have played up to their potential, which ones haven't, and which ones have surprised. And there are a few in each group, oh yeah ... Previous Article: Is it enough? Comments © Copyright 2003 HondaReport.com/Leahi.Net
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