Neil Bowers didn\u2019t have a lot of experience in the role of underdog as a player for Kalaheo, which sets the standard for excellence on the local hardwood. <\/p>\n
As Castle\u2019s new head coach for boys basketball, he hopes the Knights\u2019 own days as the underdog will be drawing to a close. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe appeal of coaching at Castle is that not so much has been expected lately, and I want to change that,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to make us a respectable opponent again. Sean did a good job of that last year, as far as keeping us competitive. When Rocky Fraticelli was here, they were good \u2014 they had the athletes and the numbers.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bowers has been teaching mathematics at Castle since 2009 and spent the past two seasons as the boys JV coach on Sean Kawakami\u2019s staff. He was previously head coach for the girls varsity at Kalaheo, leading the Lady Mustangs to an OIA White title in 2013. Bowers resigned from Kalaheo at that season\u2019s end to pursue a career opportunity overseas, but his plans changed and he remained on Oahu. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited for the new challenge,\u201d Bowers said. \u201cAfter coaching JV girls at Kalaheo, varsity girls at Kalaheo, JV boys at Castle, I\u2019m kind of at the top of the line in high school here.\u201d <\/p>\n
Castle went 8-16 overall last year, including preseason games. The Knights went 3-8 in the OIA East. <\/p>\n
Bowers was a two-sport athlete at Kalaheo as a student, competing in basketball and football. He played basketball under the late Pete Smith for three seasons as well as a year for Smith\u2019s successor, Chico Furtado. The Mustangs were OIA champions all four years with Bowers in the fold in addition to being the state tournament runner-up in 2002 and 2004. <\/p>\n
Bowers will build his 2015-16 Castle team around junior guard Jeremy McGoldrick. A transfer from Chicago two years ago, McGoldrick averaged 6.8 points per game (to go with 15 three-pointers) for the Knights last season and earned an OIA East\u2019s Honorable Mention. \u201cI can\u2019t express how tough this kid is,\u201d Bowers said. \u201cHe\u2019s an excellent defender who won\u2019t back down to anybody. His dad was a minor league baseball player, so it is in the genes. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a really young, talented core,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
Among Bowers\u2019 priorities early on will be to try to increase player numbers from Castle\u2019s current enrollment of about 1,200, he said. He began an intramural lunch league two years ago and has seen it grow in popularity, giving hope for the future that it may inspire kids to turn out for basketball. <\/p>\n
\u201cOriginally, every Friday, I and a few other teachers would go and play on the outdoor courts at school. We\u2019d have close to 100 kids coming out. I would referee and run the league. More and more kids started coming out and wanting to play. We would have another 80 to 100 kids there to watch.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bowers isn\u2019t a huge fan of specialization, however, although the pursuit of college scholarships has led many to believe they have to work on one sport year round. \u201cI think kids should play as many sports as they can,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you\u2019re really good at a sport, they (college coaches) will find you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Neil Bowers didn\u2019t have a lot of experience in the role of underdog as a player for Kalaheo, which sets..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windward-oahu-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n