Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 at 1:17 pm  |  10 responses

Chasing a Dream

Chase Iwata–Bartelme hopes to bring some attention to Hawaiian hoops.

by Sam Riches / @sam_riches

Red Rocha. Cedric Ceballos. That’s it. Those are the only two men to ever take their feet from the sandy beaches of Hawaii to the gleaming hardwood of the NBA. Chase Iwata-Bartelme is hoping to become the third.

At just 14, the 6-0 2-guard is starting and leading the attack for the King Kekaulike (HI) High School varsity team. “I try my best to be a leader, I make sure that I am constantly talking and encouraging my teammates as well as letting them know what is going on in the game,” he says. “I focus on each opponent I face and try to find their weaknesses so that I can use the best of my abilities to execute them.”

It’s that determined focus that Chase is hoping will propel him the next level. He has set his goals high, citing the court awareness of Derrick Rose, the passing of Rajon Rondo and the closing ability of Kobe Bryant to be some examples of the talent he hopes to emulate.

Iwata-Bartelme views his ability to finish around the basket and his on-ball defense to be the strengths of his game, but he knows he has a long way to go to take the next step. His ultimate goal “is to become the greatest basketball player to come out of Hawaii.”

Before he does that though, Chase is hoping to bring King Keaulike a state championship and garner some attention to Hawaii basketball. But he knows he can’t do it alone. “I believe in teamwork,” he says. “And going 110 percent through the entire game.”

Off the court, he carries the same dedication and work ethic into the classroom. He has a 3.8 GPA and hopes to graduate at the top of his class. Hawaii is not known as a hotbed for hoops, but if Chase continues to develop and keep his focus, there could soon be another player shedding the lei and donning the Jerry West.

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  • Flight

    Was about to be critical of this mixtape but than I read the guy is 14. Good stuff.

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    definitely got some skills. Real long kid, he’ll probably get a bit taller and he’s got plenty of time to grow into his frame. Looks like talent

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    This is nuts, the guy plays almost exactly like a kid I coach in Australia except maybe a little worse because my guy is 15 not 14 and more polished. Still, very similar build and skillset.

  • Groves

    ^australians can play. where do you coach?

  • Lazarus

    why did i read that? hes 14, why are you making an article on him? there are lots of 14 year olds who want to be like kobe or rondo or rose. sheeesh

  • k

    No offense to the kid but i would like to see how he plays against some better competition. he has potential and like mentioned before he could still very well be growing, but at 6’0 and being one of the bigger players on the court its going to be easier for him to do what he wants.

  • http://itsahardwoodlife.blogspot.com omphalos

    I coach in Western Australia, the kid is 6’2″ at the moment and I’ve coached him at various levels for the past three years, he’s very clutch, only seen him miss a free throw down the stretch once in 40 or so games, good defensively too, can pick-pockets at will almost. I’m only his HS and club coach, but he’s also playing in State teams under a former coach from the Australian pro-league Mike Ellis.

  • http://slamonline.com shortyyyyyyyy

    hey if thats what u want go for it i beleive u can do, if ur being criticise for being to young to play ball well u knw that day just probley jealous.

  • keoni martinez

    come to Lahainaluna we have physical tongans to get rebounds and you’ll have an astounding 2 guard by your side. seriously think about it.

  • Mike Hawk

    Just so the viewer know, this does not reflect the kind of competition Hawaii has. The real competiton is on the island of Oahu. The ILH and OIA. The kid is good for a freshman, but he’s playing against JV competion, maybe ILH Division 2 at best.

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