Name

Mission Uperesa-Thomas

Siyi Chris Du

Robert Nievera

Micah Tangonan

Blaze Magnaside

Keanu Lee

Carson Kurata

Taylor George

Kacy Potes

Paul Scholle

Haden Agbayani

Kingston Dombrowski

Noa Manaea

Tyler Hashimoto

Ghesiah Faleafine-Auwae

Ht.

6’5

6’6

6’0

5’6

5’8

6’0

5’9

6’0

6’0

6’0

5’9

6’4

6’1

6’7

6’4

Gr.

12

12

11

12

10

12

11

10

11

10

12

10

10

12

12

Head Coach: Kelly Grant

Assistant Coaches: Kendall Ellingwood, Payton Grant, Rylan Kwok, Matafaga Loa, Hayes Marumoto, Leighton Mitchell, Larry Park

The hosts, Maryknoll Spartans come into the tournament as defending champions from last year inaugural bracket format. They defeated Konawaena high school in the final 70-32. Head Coach Kelly Grant brings a lot of experience to his team having led three Hawaii State Championship teams. However they look to fix their two year drought from their state tournament with a senior heavy team.

The Spartans lost leading scorer and reigning ScoringLive Player of the Year, Nixis Yamauchi. He also won tournament MVP at last year’s Invitational. Looking to fill his shoes are senior guard Keanu Lee and forward Mission Uperesa-Thomas. They are going into their fourth year on the team, and will look to use their experience and veteran status to help lead the Spartans in all facets of the game. Both averaged around 8 points respectively last year, and will look to raise that going into their senior year.

Down low in the paint will be 6’4 All-State lineman, Ghesiah Faleafine-Auwae. Faleafine-Auwae will bring toughness will his big stature. Coach Grant will also lean on him to increase his scoring as he averaged around 8 PPG last year also. Faleafine-Auwae is considered one of the best passing bigs in the state of Hawaii.

Adding to the lineup is 6’6 senior forward, Chris Du. He missed the 2024-25 season due to a broken foot injury that happened in the second week of the season. He will bring a huge contribution in the box score with his scoring ability and also his length, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots. Senior guard, Micah Tangonan will bring energy and leadership running the offense for the Spartans.

The Spartans who are bigger in size than normal will lean on the veteran leadership of seven seniors while also hoping from contributions from their key juniors to defend their title of the Tony Sellitto Hawaii Invitational.