In the case of Ronin Naihe, the apple does not fall far from the tree. 

Naihe, a sophomore and second-year varsity player for the Kahuku boys basketball team, is following in the footsteps of his father Kelii, who has a connection to Red Raiders coach Brandyn Akana that goes back more than 20 years. 

Kelii Naihe was recruited to play collegiate basketball at Brigham Young-Hawaii by Akana, then an assistant coach with the program. Akana now serves as Ronin's high school coach at Kahuku. 

"Ronin comes from a basketball family," said Akana, who got the elder Naihe to sign on with the Division-II Seasiders after a stint in the state of Texas. 

"Kelii was a D1 transfer. He played at Baylor and then transferred to BYUH and was a starter for us. He was a scorer, just like Ronin," Akana added. 

Kelii Naihe, who is now an assistant on Akana's staff, played alongside BYUH standouts Alexus Foyle, who earned All-American honors, and Yuta Tabuse, who became the first Japanese-born NBA player when he had a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns in the mid-2000's.

"Ronin has just been around basketball his whole life and he's like his dad — he's got great size — but he's so young and he can score. He does the old-fashioned mid-range shot, he can pull up, he can hit 3s and he's so long so he can get to the basket, too," Akana said. 

At 6 feet, 5 inches tall, Naihe can play a number of positions. Although he primarily plays small forward for the Red Raiders, he can also play both shooting guard and small forward. 

"He handles the ball well and he shoots it well so he could be a shooting guard, but he can also be a post," Akana noted. 

As a freshman last season, Naihe was the first player off the bench. He ranked second on the team in scoring — behind OIA East Player of the Year Kache Kaio — at 9.6 points per game. Naihe posted a 22-point effort and went for 23 points in consecutive games against Castle and McKinley. 

The expectations upon Naihe this season is to fill a more prominent role not just on the offensive end of the court, but defensively as well. 

"Defense is something that he's kind of been focusing on because he does so well on offense, but we all know if you want to go to the next level, you've got to do it on both ends of the court and I think he's really improved defensively, especially within our team defense where opportunities are that he'll guard the other team's best player and that's something he's done and he's improved upon a bunch," Akana said. 

Akana expanded upon the demands that come with serving as both the team's leading scorer and top on-ball defender. 

"It's not easy. You have to be a special type of player and I think Ronin can be that type of player. He's getting there but we've had some really good players and it's not an easy role to fill when you're expected to be the best defender and also put up those types of numbers," Akana said. 

Naihe's offensive prowess is reflected by the statistics. He has scored in double figures in all but one of Kahuku's 12 games this season. He is averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game and has scored at least 17 points on six occasions, including a season-high 23 points against Mid-Pacific in mid-December. 

"He's dangerous because once he starts hitting shots — which he's done in the preseason — he can go for 20 (points) easily and he makes it look easy. He's one of those guys that once he starts feeling it, he's difficult to stop because he does it in a variety of ways: in the mid-range, with his back to the basket and even at the 3-point line," Akana said. 

Naihe followed up his 23-point outing against Mid-Pac with a strong showing at least week's Iolani Classic. He averaged 18.2 points in four games and led the Red Raiders in scoring in three of those contests.

In a matchup against eventual-champion Utah Prep in Wednesday's opening round of the tournament, Naihe hit three 3-pointers and tallied 20 points. Ultimately, Kahuku was unable to keep pace with nationally-ranked Utah Prep  whose roster includes the nation's top-ranked prep player in AJ Dybansta — and lost by a score of 107-50. 

"I think it took us a while. We couldn't hit anything in the first half and then in the second half we hit a bunch of shots and I think that was a good glimpse of our team. We like to spread the floor and we like to drive and we can also hit that outside shot, but those guys (Utah Prep) couldn't miss that night," Akana said. 

The Red Raiders bounced back the following day with a 62-54 win over Kamehameha. Naihe, one of three Kahuku players to score in double figures, finished with 12 points. Naihe followed that up by scoring 19 points against Punahou on Friday morning, but his team fell to the Buffanblu, 68-51. 

Kahuku closed out the week with a 57-46 win over University Lab Saturday. Naihe poured in a game-high 22 points and shot 9 of 12 from the free-throw line in the process. 

"I think it was a good learning experience for us because we have a young team and I think people saw how good we can be," said Akana, whose starting lineup is made up of three sophomores, one junior and a senior. He added that his first two players off the bench are freshmen. 

"These opportunities to play against really good teams like we have, it's only going to make us better as we go through the season. Ronin's put up some good numbers against some good teams, so consistently is important for a young sophomore and he can be consistent at this point in the season as a sophomore, then I think we as a team will continue to get better and better," Akana said. 

To be sure, Naihe — who grew three inches since his freshman year — still has much room for improvement, his coach noted. 

"You can still see the youth in him, but he's still improving and still figuring out his body at 6-5, but it's coming where one day, probably soon, it's going to catch up with his everything. I think once he figures that out and gets body to where his body and mind are together, he can be really good," Akana projected. 

Akana's long-running history with the Naihe ohana isn't necessarily an exclusive one; He also coached the Dean Daley during his time at BYUH. Daley's two sons, Kashus and Justus, are both guards on the Kahuku roster — Kashus a sophomore and Justus a freshman. Dean Daley is also an assistant to Akana. 

"One thing it tells you is I'm getting old, but also to get an opportunity to coach their dads and to see them grow up and now you're coaching their kids, it's pretty cool," Akana said. 

Kahuku opened the OIA East regular season with a down-to-the-wire 49-48 loss at Kailua Monday night. Naihe scored 12 points in the defeat. He and the Red Raiders (6-5 overall, 0-1 league), who are ranked 10th in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, return to the hardwood next Monday when they visit Kalaheo. 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Trey Ambrozich, University Lab — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kahuku 

Declan Beckette, Iolani — Scored 21 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kalani 

Keaka Bennett, Le Jardin — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission 

Noah Buford, Kekaulike — Scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Baldwin 

Zarek Casio, Maui — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kekaulike 

Ethan Chung, Punahou — Scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Kahuku 

Braylen Colon, Molokai — Scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to Maui Prep 

Bromo Dorn, Seabury Hall — Scored 30 points with six steals, five rebounds and four assists in a win over Kulanihakoi 

Cody Gardanier, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 21 points in a win over Lahainaluna 

Ayden Goo, Iolani — Scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, in a loss to St. Paul VI

Austin Green, Kapaa — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kalani 

Laakea Kamahele, Le Jardin — Scored 22 points in a win over West Point Gray 

Dylan Kobayashi, Kalani — Scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Kapaa 

Dylan Kuia, Baldwin — Scored 25 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and scored 21 points in a loss to Kekaulike 

Reef Lombardi, Maui Prep — Scored 24 points in a win over Kulanihakoi

Riley Miura, Mid-Pacific — Scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, with six rebounds and one assist in a win over Le Jardin 

Trasyn Nava, Lahainaluna — Scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers, in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui 

DeMarion Olloway, Kealakehe — Scored 25 points in a win over Pahoa 

Beckson Pierce, Le Jardin — Scored 18 points in a win over West Point Gray

Isaac Salvador-Libron, Kohala — Scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Tanoa Scanlan, Punahou — Scored 23 points in a win over Leilehua and scored 34 points in a win over Kahuku 

Kai Shively, Maui Prep — Scored 24 points in a loss to Molokai and scored 35 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Molokai 

Isaiah Sucher, Maui Prep — Scored 18 points in a win over Kulanihakoi 

Lawaia Walsh, Kulanihakoi — Scored 18 points in a loss to Maui Prep 

Kiai Yasso, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kohala 

BOYS SOCCER

Brody Awaya, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Le Jardin 

Maceo Cohen, Waialua — Scored four goals in a loss to Waianae 

Isaac Davies, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a win over Kailua 

Ito Doratt, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Honokaa 

Maviri Gauthier, Roosevelt — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington 

Nalu Geer, Kapaa — Scored two goals in a win over Island School 

Barkley Gillman, Kauai — Scored the lone goal in a win over Waimea 

Ryder Green, Kahuku — Scored the lone goal in a win over McKinley 

Elijah Hayes, Moanalua — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington 

Ryken Ige, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

Caleb Ishizaka, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Pearl City 

Manoa Kahalepuna, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki 

Hinano Kahawai, Kaimuki — Scored two goals in a loss to Kahuku 

Justin Katayama, Castle — Scored a goal and assisted on another in a win over Kalani 

Hunter Kerry, Island School — Scored two goals in a win over Waimea 

Alex Lau, Roosevelt — Scored a goal and assisted on four others in a win over Farrington 

Brody Person, Kailua — Scored two goals in a loss to Kaiser 

Caleb Pollard, Radford — Scored four goals in a win over Waianae 

Chloe Quan, Mid-Pacific — Scored the lone goal in a win over Le Jardin 

Cameron Smile, Kailua — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over Kaimuki 

Joaquin Tavares, Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a win over Maui 

Kama Taylor, Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a win over Maui 

Tyler Welsch, Campbell — Scored four goals in a win over Nanakuli 

Brennyn Yoshida, Kapolei — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea 

Deizha Lyn Jacinto has a singular focus any time she's on the pitch: put the ball in the back of the net. 

Jacinto, a senior forward and four-year starter for the Waipahu girls soccer team, has done just that this winter. The 5-foot-8 captain has scored 12 goals through eight regular season games for the Marauders, which ties her for the state lead. 

Brent Murakami is in his 10th year as head coach at Waipahu and has overseen the program's growth from its time as a Division II team to a perennial contender in the rigorous OIA Division I West. Jacinto, he noted, is among the best players that Waipahu has produced during his tenure. 

"She's definitely one of them up there, which is big because in those ten years we've had some very good players come through and Deizha is definitely up there in probably the top five players to come out of the program," Murakami said. 

The proof is in Jacinto's body of work over her three-plus seasons with the Marauders. She has led the team in goals scored in each of her first three years. Jacinto burst onto scene with a half-dozen goals as a freshman, when Waipahu finished with an 8-6-1 record. She received All-OIA West honorable mention that year. 

As a sophomore Jacinto tallied 10 goals and was named to the All-OIA West second team. She also earned All-Hawaii honorable mention and helped the Marauders post a 10-4-1 record. 

Jacinto recorded a dozen goals last year and was an All-OIA West First Team and All-Hawaii Third Team selection. Waipahu finished 9-5-1 a year ago; It has qualified for the state tournament in each of Jacinto's three seasons. 

"She's a smooth player on the ball, she knows when to stop and go and she wants to score goals. Ultimately, that is her mindset, is to score, finding any way for her to score, which is good because we need those types of players with that mindset," Murakami said. 

Jacinto previously played primarily in the midfield, but has made the move full time up top as a striker this year. The change has proven to be a fruitful one as the Marauders have amassed 41 goals on the year. They are averaging more than five goals per game. 

Aside from a 3-0 loss at Mililani on Dec. 13 — Waipahu's lone blemish on its 7-1 record — Jacinto has scored in every game this winter. 

"I think her teammates deserve a lot of credit because they know that she's one of the best players on the field and I think, as it is with any team sport, you know who needs to have the ball and I think they just know that, because she leads by example as far as the work and her wanting to win — the winning attitude — that her teammates support her in that way so they work for her and get her the ball," Murakami explained. 

Jacinto opened up the OIA West season with a three-goal performance in a lopsided win over Radford on Dec. 3. She netted single goals in wins over Kapolei and Nanakuli before she recorded a second hat trick in a rout of Waianae on Dec. 11. 

"She has a lot of technical skills, is very good on the ball and can keep the ball with a lot of pressure on her. She's someone that will come in and out of the game sometimes, but when she's on the ball she's very good," Murakami said. 

He added that Jacinto takes the majority of the team's set pieces, including free kicks and corner kicks (from either flag).

"She's not a loud player, she's not going to command the team, but she's going to do her part when the ball is in her area and when she's on the ball it's usually very dangerous," Murakami said. 

Murakami compared Jacinto's on-ball ability to that of All-Hawaii First Team midfielder Miyah Suster, of Campbell, and the Mililani duo of Leila Leano and Jaslene Cayetano, who combined to score 13 goals a year ago. 

"When those players get the ball, it's like red alert," Murakami said. "Deizha can beat you, she can set somebody up or she can score from far away and that's what's special about her, so when she gets the ball, especially in the offensive third, she's dangerous."

Following the loss to the Trojans, Waipahu rebounded four days later with a 3-1 road win over Pearl City last Tuesday. It held a 1-0 lead over the Chargers at halftime before Jacinto scored off of a cross from Rylie Soriano at around the 50-minute mark. Murakami said the play started with a pass from Tazsialee Sakamoto.

"Tazsia passed it to Rylie, Rylie took on a player and crossed it in and Deizha crashed the goal and finished it from around the six-yard box. It was a perfect one. Good cross, good goal," Murakami detailed. 

Three days later Jacinto came up clutch once more when she scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over defending league champion Campbell Friday night. 

"Deizha got the ball on the right side of the field and was maybe forty yards out from goal. She was on the wing, trying to take on a player, she cut the ball back inside and the ‘keeper may have been a touch off her line, or maybe not in the best position, but from about thirty yards out Deizha just hit a rocket to the far post. It was as perfect of a shot as it could be," Murakami said. 

He recalled being in line with Jacinto's shot on goal from distance. 

"Once it came off her foot you knew it was going to go in the goal, but it's that differing skillset that she has, right? She can take players on and finish on a breakaway, but she can also finish on a long shot like that," Murakami added. 

The result was Waipahu's first win over Campbell since Nov. 29, 2016. Murakami was especially pleased for his group of 11 seniors — nine of whom have been on the varsity team since their freshmen year. 

"That was a big deal for them because this class had never beaten or even tied Campbell. We've lost to Campbell the last three years so that was huge for them," Murakami said. 

In the case of Jacinto, while her technical ability was there all along, her mental approach to the game has turned a corner, according to her coach. 

"I think a lot of it, to be honest, is her practice mentality. I've seen a stronger commitment to the practice attitude and I've noticed that this year she's a lot tougher in practice and I think that's what's transcending into the game and I think her attitude knowing that she's a senior, knowing that she's wanting to help this team to be as good as possible. We've set some goals as a team and she knows that we have a good team, but a lot of it is going to fall onto the work that she does and I really think her commitment to work hard in practice and training has been a lot better this year," Murakami said. 

Jacinto scored twice in Monday night's win over Aiea, which marked her third multi-goal game of the season. She and the Marauders, who are ranked sixth in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, currently sit in first place atop the OIA D1 West standings. 

They next play at Leilehua on Jan. 4, before they conclude the regular season against Waialua on Jan. 7. 

GIRLS SOCCER

Jadyn Ayano, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kailua 

Kaia Borje, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a win over Castle 

Madie Buczyna, Hawaii Prep — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena 

Ailani Franklin, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Hilo 

Maya George, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Pearl City 

Brooke Harris, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Punahou II 

Kailea Itamura, Waimea — Scored two goals in a win over Island School 

Brooke Kondo, Roosevelt — Scored the lone goal in a win over Farrington 

Leila Leano, Mililani — Scored three goals in a win over Leilehua 

Sophie Lugo, Kalaheo — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley 

Sarah Naumu, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Arielle Olmos, Kahuku — Scored four goals in a win over McKinley 

Madison Powell, Leilehua — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua 

Uilani Shimabukuro, Castle — Scored three goals in a win over Kalani 

Sabre Telles, Radford — Scored four goals in a win over Waianae 

Krislyn Uyeda, Moanalua — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington 

Aileah Villatora, Kauai — Scored two goals in a win over Waimea 

Kelsey Yoshikawa, Punahou — Scored three goals in a win over PAC-5

Tori Zackious, Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a win over Maui 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Adalyn Ballard, Parker — Scored 18 points in a loss to Honokaa 

Jazlyn Corpuz, Kauai — Scored 15 points in a loss to Island School 

Juseana Delatori, Lahainaluna — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui 

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 15 points in a win over Iolani 

Myah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 15 points in a win over McKinley 

Alyssa Gummerus, Waimea — Scored 15 points in a win over Kauai 

Pua Herrington, Maryknoll — Scored 38 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over El Capitan

Madison Hughes, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 16 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Kassidy Kaneshiro, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 19 points in a win over La Pietra 

Justice Kekauoha, Iolani — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha 

Sophia Kisch, Kalaheo — Scored 23 points in a win over Kaiser 

Ellana Klemp, Hanalani — Scored 17 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist 

Sienna Lamblack, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 15 points in a win over Punahou II 

Talei Laury-Schaefer, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 20 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Kalia Marquez, Kohala — Scored 23 points with five steals, three rebounds and one steal in a win over Kau 

Hailey Mata, Waimea — Scored 23 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kapaa 

Lanakila Nitta, Kamehameha II — Scored 17 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Rheanna Nobleza, Moanalua — Scored 16 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Brielle Nueku, Damien — Scored 16 points in a win over University Lab 

Noemi Paloma, Kaiser — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kalaheo 

Joanne Pante, Waipahu — Scored 23 points in a win over Pearl City 

Leila Paraoan, Kapolei — Scored 21 points in a win over Waianae 

Aiyanna Parker, Pearl City — Scored 15 points in a loss to Waipahu 

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 22 points in a loss to Island School and scored 20 points in a loss to Waimea 

Adriana Jayne Soriano, Kohala — Scored 16 points with eight rebounds, five steals and one assist in a win over Kau 

Shanntay Stroman, Radford — Scored 22 points in a loss to Leilehua 

Serenity Tacgere, Moanalua — Scored 16 points in a win over Kaimuki 

Kaya Texeira, Waiakea — Scored 16 points in a win over Christian Liberty 

Taysha Ukauka, Kalaheo — Scored 15 points in a win over Kaiser 

Halia Vicoy-Fuimaono, Island School — Scored 20 points in a win over Kauai 

Jasmine Williams, Iolani II — Scored 21 points in a win over Punahou II