The awards continue to roll in for Konawaena sophomore star Chanelle Molina.
Gatorade has selected Molina as its 2013-14 Gatorade Hawaii Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The 5-foot-6 sophomore guard averaged 23 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.4 steals and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 77 percent from inside the arc, leading the Wildcats (25-4) to the Division I quarterfinals. A two-time First Team All-Tournament selection, Molina was named the 2014 Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year. Molina is the third Gatorade Hawaii Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Konawaena High School and joins former Gatorade Hawaii Girls Basketball Players of the Year from the Big Island: Aliyah Pana (2012-13, Hilo), Dawnyelle Awa (2011-12, Konawaena), Kanisha Bello (2008-09, Waiakea), Nancy Hoist (2003-04, Konawaena), Jennifer Kaeo (1988-89, Waiakea) and Kalei Namohala (Waiakea, 1987-88).
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Molina as Hawaii’s best high school girls basketball player. She is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award which will be announced later this month.
Molina joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 and 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
Molina has maintained a 3.0 grade point average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Pink Zone initiative to promote breast cancer awareness and as a youth basketball coach.
“Chanelle Molina is an extremely coachable player,” Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa said. “She is the type of player who will work hard and then work even harder after that. She’s never satisfied and she always wants to learn more and continue to improve.