Kainoa Chu is ready to return to basketball
Kainoa Chu has waited long enough to start playing for the Hawaii basketball team.
Another couple of days can’t come soon enough.
“I’m real anxious,” he said. “Its fun watching these guys play, they’re all good, talented guys, so I can’t wait to get back in it.”
The last time Chu played in a meaningful basketball game was in March of 2010, when he shot his way into Hawaii high school basketball lore. His 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining gave Iolani a 46-43 victory in the state championship game.
It has been a series of frustrating injuries since then. In the summer after his graduation from Iolani, he underwent surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee. Eight months of rehabilitation later, he was ready to join the Hawaii basketball team.
But just this past July, he broke a bone in his right knee and has been on the mend ever since.
The latest injury cost him a spot on the travel roster for the “Warriors to Asia” tour, and has also put him behind teammates in recent workouts. He has yet to be cleared to participate in conditioning drills, but thinks he will be ready by next week.
“Hopefully by the end of this week, so I can get into it by next week – start running in open gym with the guys and do conditioning,” Chu said.
Chu was the 2010 Hawaii high school co-Player of the Year, and is expected to provide shooting depth from the backcourt when he’s healthy.
Kainoa, stay healthy, take your calcium supps, vitamin supps, core training, as coach Agena would say to you…Go Hard ! this year , and please don’t break anymore body parts. Good Luck
Looks like he put on some good weight. Hope he stays healthy. Would love to see him on the floor.
Kainoa, please, please, do not be another Hiram Thompson, stay far, far, away from those Rehab Trainers. You do not need them from now on, if you know what I mean.
Interesting to note that the 2011-12 UH roster will feature three former ILH Player of the Year winners: Chu (2010), Pii Minns (2009) and Miah Ostrowski (2007).
Surprising that Ostrowski is the only one from that group who was not named the State Player of the Year.
Ostrowski was clearly the most talented player in the state in 2007, but Keone Reyes was named State Player of the Year after leading Kaimuki on that stunning run to the championship.
Interesting bit of information there Dayton… When was the last time Hawaii Basketball had POY’s on their rosters, noting that Hawaii’s talent pool isn’t really a large one.
Kainoa – rehab well, we need you out there!
Go Warriors!!
What happened to Chu? He’s not on roster. Did he re-injure his knee?