KAC Thunder: The season is pau

Tough losses today at the KAC tournament, but I am proud of each of you guys for working hard this season and improving! The work isn't done. Keep at it. Be diligent and challenge yourself to improve 1% every day by working out.

I'm just glad I got to know you guys and work with you this summer. We had fun in good times, bad times and in between!

As far as I'm concerned, we had a great start to the season, struggled in the second half, but found our resolve again in the last few games even though we lost. The past two weeks leading into the tournament wasn't picture perfect with the rest time and missing people at practices, but the Thunder players who made the effort got the most out of the season.

The things I'll always remember about our team:

• a lot of spirited personalities

• the most socialable crew I've coached

• a lot of heart and grit when the going gets tough

• a lot of emotion that sometimes helped us take control of games, but sometimes hurt us when we weren't disciplined

The X's and O's, the wins and losses, they all come and go. We're left with the memories, and I have a lot of good ones from this summer thanks to you guys. They mean more to me than all the other stuff combined.

I hope my impact on you is that you have a growing hunger to become the best you can be, that your love for the game has grown, and that you are willing to become better with daily diligence no matter what how tough or lonely or boring or cold it might be. The greatest test of your character is what you do when nobody else is around.

That's why the end of this league and this specific group of Thunder players is a beginning in other ways. It should be your springboard to higher achievements ... but only if you're willing to pay the price.

If you love this game as much as I do (or more), you know what I mean ... or you will know soon enough.

Orion 

I have seen you turn into a different player in the past two, three months. Your humility and ability to turn lessons into action are powerful tools. I felt blessed to be part of your season in KAC, but I also had a lot of fun watching you work hard on the floor and play with great passion. You've got the physical tools. Just keep working on all the little things and you'll continue to progress as a player. I'm looking forward to seeing that in the future.

Shawn

I've said this before: the team feeds off your emotions, which is a big reason why we started the season so well, and when you weren't there because of work, etc., the team suffered. Your influence on the people around you is immense. It's a gift that not a whole lot of people possess, and you've been blessed with it. What you choose to do with that gift is up to you. Will you be an uplifter of people? Or will you allow them to lose faith in themselves? You have that kind of effect, and people will be changed through your simple interaction.

Colby

You started the season with an ankle injury and we didn't see you for three weeks, but once you arrived, the other boys got to see exactly what work ethic on a daily basis is all about. I don't know if anybody else came to as many practices as you did, even if it was just for shooting and ballhandling drills. A lot has happened and a lot of information has passed on to you from me, Coach Jimmy and Coach Bo. My greatest hope for you as a player is that you stretch any limitations put on you by anyone else, or even those you may put on yourself.

Kevin

Those first five games, when our team was on a roll, could not have happened with you. Sure, there was that game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Everyone will remember that. But what I'll remember is that you play hard for your teammates as much as yourself, and you have that inner drive to win, even when defenders are taller and bigger than you. It's something that can't really be coached. You've got it. But the question is, is that good enough for you? Or are there parts of you and your game that have not really been tested and improved yet? I think your potential far exceeds your current ability, Kevin. I hope you see the big picture, too.

Kerl

I asked a lot of you and you responded so well. A gentleman and a unselfish one at that. I think your best basketball is ahead of you. The entire league played zone against us 99% of the time, which is good and bad. Good because that's something all guards have to deal with in the high school and college game. Bad because you are one of the best 1-on-1 players in the league. We finally got the 8-Ball play going today and you took that defender to the hole so easily. I hope you continue to work on your game, even though there are no leagues for 16-year-olds this fall. Just about any varsity coach can make use of a quick, coachable guard who is quick, works hard on defense and is aggressive offensively. You are always welcome to come practice with our younger guys. They could use the big challenge of playing against you and Karl.

Karl

Your sacrifice for the team was equally as large as Kerl's. Your ballhandling ability and quickness in the open court are as good or better as anyone in KAC. We saw that many times. The general nature of the league — almost exclusive zone defenses and slower tempo — worked against your strengths, but there were still tons of highlights on both sides of the court. Same with Kerl, I hope you guys can make it to practice and help our younger guys out. I think you can find a place on the varsity team if you keep working hard this fall on EVERYTHING from pull-up jumpers to drives into the paint and finishing with either hand. You're quick, strong, and just need experience. Trust yourself. Trust your hands, your feet, your shot ... it's there, Karl. Just believe.

Cody

You have some things in common with Karl — a need to trust yourself. This is common for players your age, but with your work ethic and love for the game, you've improved dramatically the past few weeks. I knew that would start to happen. It works that way for everyone who challenges him or herself in this beautiful game. You know where you need to improve, so I trust that you'll continue to plug away. Remember, 1% per day adds up to a lot over a relatively short period of time. You will to stick it out, to work hard and improve is as strong as anyone on the team. That's one of the things that will always inspire me as a fan and as a coach — a player who refuses to be satisfied with himself.

Tai

I share your love for football and basketball alike. If I'd had a dad like Bo, maybe I would've had the confidence to try out at Kaimuki back in the day. Lord knows I love football, so it would've worked out. That's why I continue to encourage you to push yourself and test the barriers, to seek all your dreams in football and basketball. I know that means you've missed a ton of practices with the Thunder, but seeing you make it to practice despite the busy football schedule always tells me that you love hoops. As long as that's the case and you can handle the load physically, the rest is up to you. How much can you improve on your natural talent in basketball without much practice time? That's a good question because there's always a way to make time, even if it's just a 15-minute shooting drill early in the morning or a 10-minute dribbling drill in the driveway. But your potential in basketball is enormous if you can make the time and commit to improving every day at least 1%. Not easy at all, but with the gift of talent comes the potential to do great things. How much do you want it?

Mike

Today's game was vintage. I saw you work hard in spurts, especially on the boards, where it's not about pure talent, but pure heart. When you play that way, all things are possible. Your future is what you decide to make of it. Wins and losses in themselves don't make us better players, coaches or people. How will today's results affect you, Mike? Will they shoot down your heart and leave you listless and futless about the game? Or will they invigorate you and drive you to become a better player in every aspect? What kind of player do you want to be when you're 18 and just done with high school? If you plan to play at the next level, take stock and keep a list of what you want to improve on in your game. Then go work, work and work on it until they beg you to stop.

We all thrive on competition, especially when it is better than us. As iron sharpens iron, so does competition in games and practices. Learn to thrive on that constant sharpening. Indulge in it. Take joy in it. Feast on it. It's not about beating your opponent or losing to him. It's about the hunger and the commitment and how much you're willing to push to see how good you can be ... and how good your team can be through your sacrifice and effort.

Joshua

It was a mixed summer of results for you. You were gaining momentum after the spring NJB league, working on your game. Then came two weeks away in Japan for band camp. When you came back, it took some time to catch up, but your ballhandling steadily irmproved. Then another band camp that was a week long. Finally, the fluke accident at practice and the broken pinky finger. Now that the cast is finally off, I hope you have fun with basketball again. There's much to learn not just through drills, but by simply playing the game. That's what I encourage you to do as much as anything: play whenever you can. Watch the game whenever you can, whether it's a Steve Nash video on YouTube or NBA or college games on TV, or live games at the high schools. The more you absorb, the higher your basketball IQ becomes. Whether you become a student of the game or not is up to you.

THUNDER

I will miss you guys. A bunch of comedians. Please stay in touch and be part of the Thunder ohana for life. It won't be long before some of you will be coaching, too. You might have as much fun as I have.

Coach Paul