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.”