Weekly during the spring, Kamehameha sophomore Saydee Aganus draws the tough chore of going up against Hawaii Prep’s Emma Taylor of Hawaii Prep in the 100-meter hurdles.
That daunting task – Taylor is a five-time state champ – has nothing on the thankless job Aganus faced during her first athletic endeavor in high school.
As a freshman getting her feet wet on a Warriors basketball team that was opening its season against perennial powerhouse Konawaena, coach Weston Willard looked at Aganus and told her, hey, go guard Chanelle Molina (only the most decorated BIIF athlete of all-time).
Such is life when you ooze athleticism.
“She was wide-eyed at first, but she wasn’t after five minutes,” Willard said. “She rose to the challenge. After that, I knew I had my point guard.”
The Warriors ultimately came way with less than they wanted in 2016, falling to Hawaii Baptist in the HHSAA Division II basketball final, but they could have hardly asked for more from Aganus.
Much more than just an athlete in high tops, she matured into her team’s leader in scoring, rebounding, blocks and shooting percentage, and she was second in steals. With Honokaa out of the way after moving to Division I, Kamehameha beat Kohala to claim its first BIIF title since 2013, and Aganus was voted Player of the Year.
“I was surprised because there are so many players that work hard in D-II,” Aganus said. “I think I got better on my leadership and being more vocal on the court and off the court. My ball-handling skills have gotten better.”
Aganus was joined on the all-league first team by teammates Makenzie Kalawaia and Taylor Sullivan, and Kohala’s Naai Soloman-Lewis and Brittany Shimono. Willard was named Coach of the Year.
“I like (point guard) because you can direct things and control tempo,” Aganus said. “Everyone on our team, Taylor, Camille (Poe), Makenzie, they all have strengths. I like to give them the ball so they can score more.
“Everyone has a place, we all work together.”
Kamehameha track and field coach Manly Kanoa figures Aganus was always destined to become a standout sprinter/hurdler/jumper for the Warriors.
“Because of her love for the sport, we’re lucky to have her,” Kanoa said. “With her athleticism, if she tried any sport, she’d probably be really good at it.”
The question, Willard said, dating back to intermediate school, was who was going to be lucky enough to coach Aganus during the winter sports season. She also could have played soccer.
“The thing we love about Saydee is that she strives to get straight A’s,” Willard said. “Her strength is her basketball IQ.
“I think she always looks to pass first. But when the game is on the line she’s ready to take over. We want everything to flow through Saydee.”
Coach and player each unidentified one specific area in need of improvement: shooting. Aganus noticed teams started to give her more room to take shots as the season wore on.
“We’re encouraging her to get more reps and work on her shot,” Willard said. “She has the type of athleticism where she can develop a true jumper.”
Currently, of course, she’s busy with her favorite sport.
“I like track because you get more interactions with people,” Aganus said.
While she continues to chase Taylor in the hurdles, Aganus is top-ranked in the BIIF in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump.
Next season, the Warriors’ basketball team will return a full starting rotation of juniors player with experience. They’ll have one ultimate goal in mind – the school’s fifth state title – with one incontrovertible leader.
“Hawaii Baptist was really strong,” Aganus said. “The loss showed what our weaknesses were toward the end of the season. It showed what we need to work on and what the state has to offer.”
