When Lanaki Apele arrived at Cal Lutheran to play basketball at the Division III level, he was suddenly a small fish in a big pond, where almost everyone was bigger and stronger and all-league in their hometown.
The 2012 Kamehameha graduate was 5 feet 10 and 150 pounds. But he also brought exceptional ball-handling skills and a love for the game that soon became a driving force and led to a transformation.
The Kingsmen senior guard is still the same height, but he added 15 pounds of muscle. His growth spurt came off the court as well.
The communications major is holding a 2.8 grade-point average and is expecting to graduate in May.
Apele settled into a good time management routine to balance practice, basketball, more practice and school. He also learned to enjoy himself and make the most of life’s opportunities.
Last year during spring break, Apele and a bunch of friends went on a trek to California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas. He also got lucky because the Kingsmen took a trip to Costa Rica.
Cal Lutheran has a 7-6 record, and Apele is the sixth man. The Kingsmen next host Chapman on Saturday. That should bring back fond memories for Apele, who is averaging 2.9 points and 17.4 minutes per game.
Last season, Apele drew his first start against Chapman, ranked 15th at the time, and produced eight points, six assists, and four steals in a 69-66 win.
“I had the best game I could have had defensively,” he said. “I had a big impact in my first start and my family was watching me. They came to California, and it was a really good experience for me.”
Last season, the Kingsmen lost to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 77-51 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference semifinals. Cal Lutheran finished with an 18-7 record.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps defeated Chapman 71-66 and advanced to the NCAA Division III national championships, eventually won by Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Make your own destiny
Apele grew up playing hoops under the guidance of his dad, Randy “Helicopter” Apele, a star player for St. Joseph back in the day, when the mode of transportation was horse and carriage.
College coaches flock to the islands to recruit football players but not necessarily for hoopsters. Apele attracted attention on the Hoop Dreams travel team, coached by his dad, playing in mainland tournaments.
Division III schools don’t offer athletic scholarships but still have a lot of talent because academic aid deals are readily available. Apele has an academic package; Cal Lutheran has an $83.3 million endowment.
On Cal Lutheran’s roster, Apele and starting guard Dan Wade are the only ones listed at 5-10. Everyone else is taller.
“The competition is really good. The players have size and are athletic,” Apele said. “Back home, we have better skills. The people from Hawaii don’t have that killer instinct. They don’t want to be ball hogs. They’re kind of shy.
“It’s one of the biggest problems people from Hawaii have, that and a commitment to college basketball. They’re not accustomed to spending so much time lifting in the offseason, during the season and practicing two or three times a day and balancing school work. A lot of guys quit.”
Apele pointed out that the curriculum at Kamehameha provided a good foundation for Cal Lutheran, ranked 16th among West regional universities by U.S. News.
“Balancing school, social life and basketball, you can’t prepare for it until you’re left in California with no parents,” he said. “You have to experience it for yourself. It’s easy to fall behind because there’s no parent telling you to do your homework. It’s all on you. It’s tough, but the only way to do it is to stay up late.
“My main obstacle was I was too shy. I was very passive on the court and didn’t try to make my mark. Now, I’m more aggressive, more confident. The ending of my freshman year I realized I had to make my own destiny on and off the court.”
Love for the game
Apele is president of the school’s Hawaiian club. He’ll hold barbeques at the house he’s renting, when there’s precious free time. When he brings back sausage or smoked meat from Hilo, Apele is the most popular guy on campus.
Cal Lutheran, in Thousand Oaks, Calif., sits on 225 acres of lush oasis and has an enrollment of over 4,000 students.
One notable alumni is Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who was the Detroit Lions coach in 2008 when the team posted an 0-16 record.
However, it’s all sunshine at Cal Lutheran, where Apele has found a level of comfort after an initial rocky start.
“It’s a small school. It’s a really nice campus, and we have a new football stadium field,” he said. “When I was moving out here, everybody asked me why I would move from Hawaii. My parents (Randy and Vanessa) told me to come out with an open mind and take in as much as I can, and I try to make the best that I can.”
That’s why he and his tour group hiked in the Grand Canyon last spring break, turning into Anthony Bourdain, exploring parts unknown. He’s formed a relationship with a local resident to have get-togethers during Thanksgiving with the Hawaiian club.
However, the warm heart first experienced a cold reality. When he first became a Kingsmen in the 2012-13 season, Apele was glued to the bench. There were others ahead of him on the depth chart.
That’s called the big fish in small pond syndrome. Some players never develop and get eaten by sharks. Some endure, work harder and make their own destiny.
For what it’s worth, Apele is well aware that he serves as a role model for the BIIF hoopsters. He knows only a few are playing college ball: Jalen Carvalho (Hilo, Oregon Institute Tech), Brenton Shropshire (Konawaena, Mt. Hood Community College) and Kealen Figueroa (Kohala, Concordia in Portland).
They all played for Hoop Dreams, so the Helicopter still makes an impact long after he stopped firing deep baskets for the Cardinals. Back then, 3-pointers weren’t invented yet.
“Basically, I was starting on every team since I started playing basketball,” Apele said. “I knew as a freshman I wouldn’t see the court much, but it was tough not getting a lot of minutes my sophomore and junior years. It was mentally tough. It can get in your head and you could go downhill from there.
“But when I was on the scout team I took it as a challenge. Day in and day out I was trying to do my best. It was definitely hard, but you have to look at the bigger picture, and that’s part of my love for the game. You realize you have to stick to it and push harder.”
His advice to his fellow BIIF hoopsters is pretty simple: hit the books hard, find a way to get exposure and believe that small fish can grow bigger and better.
“My biggest thing is to shoot for the stars,” said Apele, the transformed shark. “You have to put a focus on getting ready for college. You can’t get down on yourself, even if it seems like it’s not working out. And you’ve got to have a love for the game.”
To submit a Big Island College Report candidate, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
