Kamaka Hepa: Alaska to Portland and most likely Beyond
GOOD! 3 PTR by Kamaka Hepa (Q2, 06:28) 24-16 Jefferson
This is Barrow.
Looks alright, doesn’t it? This is Barrow on a map.
Kamaka Hepa is from Barrow, Alaska. From a town at the northernmost point of the northernmost state in the country. From a town with just over 4,000 people. From a high school with 214 students. In just two seasons at Barrow High School, Hepa scored over 1,000 points, and pulled in over 500 rebounds. He averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.8 assists per game. He won the Alaska State Player of the Year Award in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He is 6 feet, 9 inches tall. And he’s also ranked #49 on the ESPN Top 100 recruiting class for 2018. All this included, Portland was calling.
GOOD! JUMPER by Kamaka Hepa (Q3, 06:44) 32-24 Jefferson
Barrow was Kamaka’s home, his origin, his turf, and soil. It was small, but homey. Not flashy, certainly not household name, but I mean, neither is Alaska. Can you name a famous athlete that has come out of Alaska? Without checking the internet, you are probably stumped. Maybe you said Curt Schilling, or perhaps Mario Chalmers, but for the casual sports fan, these athletes are no-names. All this to say that Kamaka is redefining his own path. He is no Julius Erving type, making his way out of the inner city to stardom. Nor is he a DeMar DeRozan, overcoming gang violence and childhood criminal activity to make it to the big time. He is not an international prodigy, no Tony Parker or Gasol brother DNA in this kid. He is Alaskan, an Alaskan force and he epitomizes basketball. Not to knock on Barrow, but Portland is his gateway, a path to honoring his hometown, hard work, and perseverance to become the best he can possibly be.
GOOD! 3 PTR by Kamaka Hepa (Q4, 04:46) 52-42 Jefferson
In Portland, Kamaka immediately dominated.
After the departure of Peyton Pritchard to the Oregon Ducks, the state and basketball community at large was craving a top talent: enter Kamaka Hepa.
Headline Portland Basketball Club in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League? Check.
Join longtime Portland Basketball Coach and Trainer Kumbeno Memory, who has trained the likes of Terrence Jones, Terrence Ross, Nigel Williams-Goss, and others? Check.
Join a dominant Portland basketball powerhouse? Check.
Receive offers from a couple big time D1 basketball programs? Check.
GOOD! JUMPER by Kamaka Hepa (Q4, 03:53) 54-42 Jefferson
I first met Kamaka at a basketball workout in April of last year. I showed up at the gym about 15 minutes early for the workout. I’ve always prided myself on outworking my competition, and I was just about to start some warm up ball handling drills when I peeked into the auxiliary gym at Portland Christian High School. In the tiny, ratty, beat down gym, stood a tall, gangly kid taking reps on a shooting machine. He swished shot after shot, keeping his focus, never taking his eyes off of the shooting machine, bringing the same intensity to each jump shot. Then he simply turned off the machine, grabbed his ball, took a quick drink of water, and said, “You here for the workout? Let’s go.” I replied, “How long have you been here?” I’ll never forget his response, “Does it matter?”
BLOCK by Kamaka Hepa (Q4, 03:27) 54-42 Jefferson
It’s this work ethic, attention to detail, and focus that has elevated Kamaka to where is he today. Jefferson teammate Dylan O’Brien says that during the season there were times when Kamaka was, “In the gym every morning before school getting shot up when most people were sleeping. He always goes hard in practice, and encourages and pushes his teammates to do so.”
With this mentality, preparation, and drive to succeed, Jefferson took home the 2016 OSAA 6A State Championship. Jefferson’s first at the 6A level. Kamaka only missed one game this year. That game he missed, was Jefferson’s only loss.
But off the court, Hepa is also a human being. O’Brien notes, “Kamaka is just like anybody else. He doesn’t let his talent boost his ego. He stays humble even through all the hype. He has always been a true friend.”
GOOD! JUMPER by Kamaka Hepa (Q4, 00:22) 63-52 Jefferson
So what’s next for Kamaka? This spring and summer he’ll aim to tear it up on the EYBL AAU Nike Circuit, improve his basketball prowess, grow his name and reputation, and then dominate for Jefferson again next year. Oh, and he might commit to a bigtime basketball program for college along the way.
He’s been called too soft. Too skinny.
People have said,
“He’s not even from here.”
“Weird form.”
Let the haters hate. It only adds fuel to the fire.
#33 K. Hepa: 15 pts, 9 rbs, 5asts, 2 blks.