Chanelle Molina has been dealing with the pressure and process of being a top-tier basketball recruit nearly her entire high school career at Konawaena.
Chanelle Molina has been dealing with the pressure and process of being a top-tier basketball recruit nearly her entire high school career at Konawaena.
A little less than a month out from the start of her senior year in Kealakekua, Molina felt she had spoken with enough coaches and visited a sufficient amount of campuses to feel confident in announcing her decision to play her college basketball at Washington State
“I really just wanted to get it over with,” said Molina. “A lot of coaches had been contacting my mom and I want to focus on my senior year.”
Molina, Hawaii’s top women’s hoops recruit, mulled more than two-dozen scholarship offers from Division I schools across the country, but opted for the Cougar crimson.
“What really stood out was the atmosphere,” Molina said. “The coaches, players and people made it feel like home. I was really comfortable there.”
Molina can make her verbal commitment official when the early signing period for basketball begins Nov. 11.
With her senior year still on deck, Molina already has a resume few can contend with. She is the three-time BIIF basketball Player of the Year and has twice been named the Gatorade Hawaii Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Last year, Molina led the Wildcats to a 33-1 record and the Division I state title. She averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game while shooting 57.9 percent from inside the arc.
She is also one of the top volleyball players in the state, with a BIIF Player of the Year honor and two state titles in the sport to her name.
Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa has coached Molina in her Stingrays program since she could barely dribble a basketball. She said her star player has never let the pressure or extra attention get to her.
“Chanelle is so humble,” Awa said. “She has handled everything so well. She doesn’t boast about anything. The more interest she drew, the more she wanted to improve.
“When she goes to college she wants to be ready, and I think Chanelle will be a difference maker at the next level.”
Opening the pipeline
Konawaena is building a reputation as a pipeline for Washington State. Dawnyelle Awa and Lia Galdeira — 2012 Konawaena grads also with lengthy resumes — signed on with the Cougars. Both became difference makers for the program — Awa as a full-time starter since her sophomore year, and Galdeira carving out a piece of history as a two time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and second all-time on the WSU scoring list.
Awa — the daughter of Bobbie and Donny Awa — is entering her senior season, while Galdeira opted to forgo her senior year and instead turn her sights on the professional game.
Watching two former Wildcats take their skills to the next level in Pullman has been an eye-opener for Molina.
“Seeing what they have done at Washington State and how far they have progressed is amazing,” Molina said. “That is the same track I want to be on.”
There are also offers on the table from Washington State for the other two Molina sisters — Celena Jane, an incoming junior, and sophomore-to-be Cherilyn. Both are dominant players in their own right and Chanelle said the ball is in her siblings court.
“I would love to play with my sisters in college. Just playing together in high school has been a lot of fun,” Chanelle Molina said. “In the end it is their decision, but it would be awesome.”
Lahainaluna’s Cameron Fernandez, another top Hawaii recruit, also verbally commited to the Cougars this week.
Going the distance
Molina narrowed her choices down to WSU, Oregon State, Arizona State and Oregon — all Pac-12 schools — before making her verbal commitment to the Cougars.
The University of Hawaii made an early offer to Molina her sophomore year. While the opportunity to play close to home with the Rainbow Wahine program was enticing, Molina was ready to take her talents to the mainland.
“I‘m really impressed with what coach Laura Beeman has done to turn around the program at UH, and my parents wanted me to play there, but I wanted to go away to college,” Molina said. “The Pac-12 stood out because it is such a competitive conference and on the west coast.”
Pack leader
ESPN has Molina pegged as a five-star prospect with a 96 out of 100 rating. She is currently ranked No. 44 nationally among players in the Class of 2016.
The scouting report on Molina reads: “Confident floor-leader with consistent offensive game; mid-range game producer, effective off the dribble, delivers results; superb court awareness, interior passer; reads pressure, decision-maker with crafty demeanor; disruptive defender, leader.”
Leader may be last on the list, but it’s the biggest compliment. It is also something her long time coach pointed out as her top quality.
“I have seen her grow so much over the years,” said Bobbie Awa. “She has always been a leader, but this year she really embraced that role. She brought a competitive nature and desire to get better to every practice and the rest of the team followed. I think it inspired everyone.”
With the decision of her future now behind her, Molina has her full focus on her senior year.
“It’s all about improving mentally, playing smarter and making better decisions,” she said. “We had great basketball and volleyball seasons last year and I want to do that again.”