Feb. 3, 2009
By Brinkley Meyers
Navy Sports Information
ANNAPOLIS,Md. -- Four years ago, the Naval Academy was the last place senior Kaleo Kina would have imagined himself. Having received offers at schools such as Santa Clara, UC San Diego and Northern Arizona, Kina was focused on going to school on the west coast. However, his mother had other ideas. Because of her prodding and the encouragement of Navy basketball coach Billy Lange, Kaleo Kina came to the Academy and discovered not only a place where he belonged, but a place where he was happy and proud to be.
"The Academy is unique in itself," says Kina. "At first, the typical response is that it's impossible, just because you don't get as much free time and you're regulated. As you start to get a bit older and start maturing, you realize that it presents a lot of opportunities for you in the future to set your life up. It gives you a sense of pride to be able to say that you've made it through the Naval Academy and graduated."
Kina grew from humble beginnings. His mother was seventeen and living in Hawaii when Kaleo was born. Now, twenty-one years, two stepfathers, two twin sisters and one little brother later, he and his family have settled in Arizona and are a tight-knit unit. Kina is the first in his family, and one of three of his close high school friends, to attend a four-year institution, a fact that is a point of pride for himself and his relatives. That pride has kept him motivated through the uphill struggle during his first couple years at the Naval Academy.
"My family is so proud of me when we talk," Kina brags. "They cheer me on. The pride in yourself and in your family knowing that you can accomplish something that not everybody can do or has done is really what keeps me going."
Kina has found his niche at the Naval Academy in the classroom and on the hardwood. An economics major, he has managed to balance his full course load with a busy basketball schedule. As a sophomore, he was awarded the Kevin Sinnett Academic Achievement Award, honoring his exemplary work ethic and commitment to academics. However to Kina, this accomplishment pales in comparison to his simple enjoyment for the game of basketball.
"I just love playing basketball. That's an accomplishment in itself," said Kina.
On the court, Kina could best be described as warrior. As a freshman, he had one of the best plebe seasons in school history, scoring the second highest point-per-game average, ranking first in both assists and steals, and being named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team. Since that breakout beginning to his college career, Kina has displayed his skills over and over again. In the 2008 season, Kina became one of five Navy players to score over 400 points with over 100 assists in a season. Though recently plagued by a shoulder injury, Kina has maintained his dominant presence, continuing to be one of the team's top scorers, averaging 18.3 points per game through the team's first 20 games. He hopes to lead the team down the stretch run in its quest for the Patriot League Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
After his Naval Academy days are over, Kina has chosen surface warfare to fulfill his service requirement, and will be stationed as an officer on one of the Navy's ships. When asked to explain his choice, Kina simply said, "I felt like to be a marine you have to really want it. Being a pilot you have to commit more years. So I felt that surface warfare would be where I could be the most productive."
However, the Navy will not put an end to this Mids' playing days. Kina is interested in taking advantage of the opportunities to play during his time in service, either for the All-Navy team or Team USA. After his requirement is fulfilled, he has plans to play overseas or with an ABA team in hopes of one day breaking into the NBA. But as with many Midshipmen, Kina doesn't discount the possibility of making the Navy his career. All he really knows is that basketball will forever continue to be a major part of his life.
# GO NAVY #
