The Orange Coast Sports Association introduced its 2009 All Nikkei High School Basketball teams

Toast of the Coast
Sunday, May 17, 2009


Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo
Seated, from left: Jordyn Terukina, Marina High School; Michelle Joyce, Esparanza High School; Alyssa Kinoshita, Marina High School; Kelli Shimizu, Foothill High School. Middle, from left: Stephanie Numata, Cypress High School; Lynzie Numata, Cypress High School; Stacey Santos, Cerritos High School; Bethley Honma, Los Alamitos High School; Renee Lindquist, Marina High School. Standing: Michelle Yamasaki, Edison High School; Alysa Ito, Troy High School; Kristen Chikami, Troy High School; Akemi Arozuman, University High School; Noelani Viloria, Huntington Beach High School; Blair Shinoda, Foothill High School; Jordan Esparza, Fairmont High School; Kristy Kanamoto, Cerritos High School.

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo
Seated, from left: Jordan Hamamoto, Western High School; Michael Wong, Glen A. Wilson High School; Tyler James, Marina High School; Garrett James, Marina High School; Kevin Nishida, Troy High School. Standing: Andrew Quon, Cerritos High School; Andy Nakase, El Toro High School; Justin Arios, Beckman High School; Willis Ota, Beckman High School; Justin Igawa, Cypress High School; JJ
James, Marina High School.

The Orange Coast Sports Association introduced its 2009 All Nikkei High School Basketball teams on Thursday night, during a ceremony at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine.

This year’s squad of honorees marks a turning point in the development of young Nikkei players in the OC. Not only have all of the 31 selected athletes played on their respective varsity teams, most have been first-stringers. Furthermore, several of them are moving on to play basketball at Division I colleges.

“The development of Orange County Nikkei players has improved to such an extent, that we have proven that boys and girls can not only compete with other bigger and taller players, but that they can excel as starters,” said emcee Jesse James.

Natalie Nakase, a former OCSA honoree who went on to a stellar career at UCLA and then into the professional ranks, was frank in encouraging the students to pursue whatever they dream.

“If you want to be a professional athlete, then go for it,” Nakase advised. “Don’t let failure or being cut stop you from continuing. If you got cut, it was because you weren’t good enough, so find your weakness and work on it.”

Also recognized during the event was Nakase’s father, Gary Nakase, who received the OCSA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his life of service to OC youth sports.

Former UCLA star and long time referee for youth and high school basketball Kenny Brooks praised the young adults for the dedication and commitment.

“To reach excellence is hard work,” he said. “You need to focus on details and make sure everything’s in place.”

The criteria for selection included: varsity play at an Orange County high school; being of Japanese descent; if not of Japanese descent must have played SEYO basketball since the lower levels; team, tournament, league, sectional or county awards; team standing within the league or county; player statistics within the league and county, and selection to club level all-star teams.