It was in middle school that O’shen Cazimero noticed he was the only player in the layup line who was slapping his hand on the backboard.
The next step was only natural.
“I was pretty close my first time,” Cazimero said.
He would first slam one home as an eighth-grader, and by his junior year at Kohala High he was dunking consistently, albeit recreationally. The 5-foot-9 Cazimero’s first slam in a basketball game came as a senior, his dunks — and misses — keeping things interesting during a BIIF championship season in which the uptempo Cowboys ran over most of their competition.
His most memorable dunk came with panache and pizazz at the HHSAA tournament, a fitting cap to his career.
After all that liftoff, he was due the easiest of slam dunks. In a coaches’ vote that was purely procedural, Cazimero took home BIIF Division II Player of Year, his third such honor. (Damn the pandemic).
“O’shen would give up Player of the Year to win the state title, but he deserves it,” Kohala coach Kihei Kapeliela said. “He worked so hard this year. By far, he was the best player on the island. He was not satisfied to be just a little bit better than everybody. He was pushing himself to get way better than everybody.”
Cazimero missed out on a chance at collecting four POYs after his junior season was canceled because of coronavirus concerns, and the Cowboys had to settle for third place last month in their bid for a second state crown. Still, he cemented his legacy as the most accomplished male athlete in his school’s history, and Cazimero did it while playing the sport his community cherishes.
“Honored, and I worked hard for it, but I have to credit all my teammates and coaches,” Cazimero said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have all of these awards. My teammates the past three seasons … we all give back the same energy, and we win as a team and lose as a team.
“They respected me as a leader, and I respected them as teammates.”
In a phone interview Thursday, Cazimero was gracious and polite, turning prideful when the topic turned to his family and the community as a whole. Along with two younger sisters, he’s the oldest child of Reeve and Crystal Cazimero.
“They put a lot effort into me, and I didn’t want it to go to waste,” Cazimero said.
And he’s one of the bright sons of Kohala.
“Our beautiful community, they support us, no matter win or lose. They are always there to help us out,” he said. “I’d say we have the most supportive fans on the island, and I’d say even the state.”
Cazimero is joined on the all-BIIF team by teammates La’akea Kauka and Logan Neves as well as three players from BIIF runner-up Hawaii Prep: Tre Walker, Bear Wawner and Braeden Samura.
Kapeliela was selected coach of the year and gladly shared the honor with his assistants, including Reeve Cazimero.
While O’shen Cazimero credited his mom with making sure he upheld the educational end of the bargain, he said his dad made “me into the person that everyone likes to watch.”
Does dad get the credit for his good hops?
A little.
“Everyone knows I can jump higher,” O’shen said with a laugh.
He first started playing basketball when he was 5, and one day when he was playing a game as a 7-year-old, Kapeliela turned to Reeve Cazimero and told him they had something special on their hands.
“He would cause 20 jump balls a game, just playing defense,” Kapeliela said.
Cazimero went on to develop an all-around game as a guard. He made an instant impact as a freshman, but his coach and his father advised to him pack on muscle to become better equipped at slashing through the lane and attacking the rim against bigger bodies.
He led the Kohala to its first state championship in any sport as a sophomore. His junior season had been long been preordained as the year Kohala churned out a juggernaut because of all its returning experience – damn the pandemic – so Cazimero spent much of his off-time working out.
By his senior year, he’d completely transformed his body. His BIIF statistics don’t do him justice because he sat out the second halves of many games with Kohala rolling toward an undefeated season. In three games at the state tournament, he averaged 29 points, seven rebounds, four assists and six steals.
“Putting time in the weight room changed my mindset,” Cazimero said. “I felt I could handle the boys and be one of the tough kids.
“Seeing results, it’s a good feeling. Not just the looks, but also the way I played the game.”
He called his recruitment a work-in-progress. He’s talking to a handful of Division III programs and junior colleges and waiting for the right fit and style of play.
This process isn’t a slam dunk, but Cazimero is still aiming high.
“My goal, my plan for the future is to play some type of pro ball,” he said. “Overseas, NBA, maybe a lower league. I just want to make money ti do something I love to do.”
All-BIIF Division II boys basketball
Player of the year: O’shen Cazimero, Sr, Kohala
Coach of the year: Kihei Kapeliela, Kohala
First team
Braeden Samura Sr Hpa
Tre Walker Sr Hpa
Bear Wawner Sr Hpa
Logan Neves Sr Kohala
La’akea Kauka Sr Kohala
Second team
Sam Landers Jr Hpa
Kinohi Lindsey So Honokaa
Kaimana Manini-Kaupu Jr Kau
Koby Agbayani Sr Kohala
Kailen Kamakeeaina Jr Pahoa
Honorable mention
Honokaa: Lopaka Akau, Bubba Chng, Elijah Kaupu-Alip, Justin Pascua, Mauloa Tagabi, Keawe Tolentino
Ka’u: Cyrus Eder, Micah Espejo, Jocyiah Makini, Ivan Ramos, Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu, Jensen Villa
Kohala: Trevor Figueroa, Landon Kauka, Legend Libron
Pahoa: J-Boy Kaawaloa-Alidon, Donivan Lynch, Kalei Midel