Kalaheo's Zach Marotte handles the basketball against Campbell. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Basketball enthusiasts are in for a treat this week with the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division I Boys Basketball Championships kicking off this week. Fans will get to watch in awe as big names like Josh Burnett, Kupa’a Harrison, Jacob McEnroe, and Teva Eldridge take the court.
 
However, basketball is the ultimate team sport and no individual player can win it all if he doesn’t have surrounding pieces backing him up. So instead of a blog highlighting the top players in the state tournament, let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known players who don’t get enough credit for what they do.
 
Erik Yamada – Iolani Raiders
 
Names like Ikaika Phillip and Zach Buscher headline top-seeded Iolani, but the importance of Erik Yamada cannot be understated. Yamada, a three-year starter, rarely makes bad decisions and turns the ball over. He is also arguably the Raiders' best ball handler.
 
One thing about Yamada's game that impresses me is in his ability to get dribble penetration in the lane. This often collapses opposing defenses, which in turn opens up scoring opportunities for other players.
 
Phillip and Buscher will generally be the ones to lead the team in scoring, but I'd like to see Yamada look for his shot and be more aggressive in the state tournament.  At times Yamada turns into the New York Knicks' Pablo Prigioni, someone who will always to look to dish it off to a teammate instead of finishing at the rim when the defense dictates to do so. A more assertive Yamada could very well be the difference in the Raiders' quest for their 10th title in school history.
 
Zach Marrotte – Kalaheo Mustangs
 
One player that doesn't get much press in the Mustangs' "reloading" year is freshman guard Zach Marrotte. I've been impressed with his play ever since the Castle Invitational in late November of 2013. He is the kind of player who has the knack for being in the right place at the right time.
 
Marrotte doesn’t take a lot of shots, but when he does he makes it count. Against Campbell in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division semifinals, Marrotte was 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts. The injury to Alec Macleod during the season seems to have accelerated the development and confidence level of Marrotte. You could hardly tell his age with his demeanor on the court.
 
It will be interesting to see how Kalaheo coach Alika Smith manages Marrotte’s minutes during the state tournament. Marrotte was 2-for-2 from 3-point land in the Mustangs’ ridiculous first quarter against Campbell (19 to four), but was innocuous in the remaining three quarters (one shot attempt, one assist). To add to the minutes dilemma, Macleod first checked into the game at the start of the second quarter. Hopefully they’ll be able to find a happy medium.
 
Jomar Jett Gapusan – Campbell Sabers
 
One of the most exciting of players to watch on the trigger-happy Campbell team is Jomar Jett Gapusan. At 5-foot-2, Gapusan isn’t exactly what you’d call “first off the bus” material. Regardless of his stature, Gapusan will always find a way to have an impact on the game.

The most fitting comparison for Gapusan is Muggsy Bogues, the smallest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association at 5-foot-3. They both use a lighting quick style of play to counteract numerous height differences. Gapusan is also at an advantageous height to be able to pick an opposing player’s pocket for a fast break opportunity.

Noel Bueno – Mililani Trojans

From afar, most people would look at this year’s Mililani team and assume that it’s just Elijah Butler and everybody else. For those who haven’t seen the Trojans a whole lot, be on the lookout for Noel Bueno to come up with some big plays.

Bueno is the kind of player who doesn’t need set plays to get his offense going. He is a defensive stalwart that gets steals and forces turnovers. The 5-foot-10 senior guard is also the main beneficiary of the Trojans’ full-court press. This is where Bueno gets most of his scoring from, turning defense into offense in the open court.

Most teams in the state tournament will be looking to contain Butler so someone will need to step up and pick up more of the scoring duties. Bueno will need to come up with some big plays if the Trojans hope to advance out of the Radford bracket.

Tua Unutoa – Farrington Governors

Farrington, the OIA Champions, is often regarded as one of the most talented and deepest team in the state. This year’s Governors team is so deep that reserve bigs off the bench (Mason Semisi, Pumba Williams) are talked about more than the starting center.

Tua Unutoa is not your ordinary, traditional center however. He’ll play the five position, but his play style is that off a stretch four. He can shoot the corner trey, but can also go inside and get a tough bucket in the lane.

Unlike the Division I Girls Basketball state tournament, the Boys are all on four consecutive days. The lack of rest time in between games will really challenge the conditioning and depth for all the teams participating. Most basketball postseasons are more about matchups than anything else. Unutoa, with his hybrid style of play, could very well be the x-factor in the Governors’ title aspirations.

Sean Ogata – Maryknoll Spartans

The only two names you’ll hear associated with Maryknoll basketball are Burnett and Kaleb Gilmore. Sean Ogata is easily another player on this Spartans team who doesn’t get enough recognition for what he does.

Ogata is the type of player who does a little bit of everything on the court. He can set up his teammates for an assist, and he will hit big shots when the opportunity presents itself. Ogata is also one of the best, if not the best defenders on the team. His ability to pick up steals is perfect for a team with two great finishers in the open court. His penchant for defense is huge for Maryknoll because it prevents Burnett and Gilmore getting into foul trouble so early.

Since the start of the season, I’ve always believed the Spartans would need Kamakana Winquist to become that third cog to Gilmore and Burnett. I will retract that belief and say that Maryknoll’s potential title run hinges on Ogata’s play. Sure Burnett and Gilmore will need to be spectacular like they have been all season, but Ogata could very well be the piece that sets the Spartans over the top.

Karson Cruz – Moanalua Na Menehune

The lone junior of the starting five, Karson Cruz is often forgotten behind names like Jamaal Willis, Antoine Hines and Aaron Stuart. He doesn’t score often (4.3 points per game), but he is an exceptional rebounder.

Like Maryknoll, Moanalua is a team that is deadly in the open court. Cruz’s ability to crash the boards opens up fast break opportunities for guys like Willis and Hines. He can also use his volleyball skills to come up with some timely blocks.

Niko Corpin – Baldwin Bears

The Baldwin Bears are approaching the state tournament like their window of opportunity is closing. Most of the players have been around since two years ago so there’s a sense that this is now or never. However, not all the seniors on the squad played last year. After a one-year break from the game, Niko Corpin is back and ready to help his squad to a potential title.

Corpin really impressed me during the Punahou Invitational tournament final when he came off the bench to provide good minutes. He got more run with sharpshooter Ryan Garces returning back to Baldwin for the school’s winter ball. The rust of not playing organized basketball was clearly evident, but you could tell that the talent was there. Corpin’s contributions off the bench will be huge for the Bears in the postseason.