Navy guard Kaleo Kina could have stayed on the West Coast three years ago after receiving scholarship offers from Pepperdine, Santa Clara and Northern Arizona.
But when he visited the Naval Academy, he discovered there was more to college than just playing basketball. So the kid who never envisioned a career in the armed forces while being raised by a single mother decided to attend a school predicated on turning teenagers into military leaders.
“Before, I was just thinking about basketball,” said Kina, the oldest of Wanda Watts? four kids and who never met his father. “But as you mature, you realize this place is good for you down the road because going into the military you know you will have a job. It sets you up for life.”
But first, the junior hopes do his job on the court, where the 6-foot-3, 204-pounder has emerged as a leader for the Midshipmen (7-8). Navy opens Patriot League play at two-time defending champion Bucknell (5-9) at Sojka Pavilion in front of a national audience on ESPNU tonight at 7.
The Midshipmen have won their past four games, but have lost nine of the past 10 against Bucknell (5-9), including six straight.
It will be imperative Kina, who averages 13.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists plays well, since he teams with sophomore guard Chris Harris (11.3 ppg, 3.2 apg) to complement senior guard Greg Sprink (19.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
“Kaleo, Chris and Greg are playing with great confidence right now,” Lange said. “We want them to play with that confidence so our young guys can feed off that confidence and play their roles.”
Kina has emerged as one of the Midshipmen?s most improved players, as he has 53 assists against 53 turnovers this season ? not bad for a player who had a combined 46 more turnovers than assists over the previous two years.
“We?re feeling really good where we?re at,” Kina said. “Obviously we?ve got a lot of improvement to do, but as far as team chemistry, team attitude and practices, they are all going well and it?s showing on the court. Bucknell is a tough one to open up with, but in Patriot League everyone knows everyone so it?s important to perfect what we do in order to beat them.”
