Chaminade University of Honolulu

Men's Basketball

39th Annual Maui Invitational

Tournament officials decide to shift location to Oahu  

It’s official. The 39th Annual Maui Invitational will be played on O‘ahu, from Nov. 20 to 22. Tournament officials attribute the necessity to relocate the event due to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s current use of Lahaina Civic Center as its Disaster Recovery Center for Maui wildfire recovery efforts.  

“We understand that circumstances warrant moving the Tournament, which has been held on Maui for the 37 years,” says Dr. Lynn Babington, President of Chaminade University of Honolulu. “However, this year is like no other, and it will stand alone in history as one of the most difficult for our West Maui residents.”  

Ironically, the tournament returns to the city where it all began. In 1982, Chaminade, then a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school, shocked the collegiate sports world by defeating No. 1 Virginia, led by two-time national player of the year Ralph Sampson, in Honolulu.  

Often considered one of the premier in-season tournaments, the 2023 Maui Invitational assembled one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history with Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Chaminade University, which has hosted this event for the past 36 years. Combined, the eight teams boast 263 NCAA Tournament appearances, 17 NCAA Tournament Championship Titles and three AP Coach of the Year award—Mark Few (2017), Bill Self (2009, 2016) and Shaka Smart (2023).  

“While we have to move this year’s Tournament off of Maui, we are determined to celebrate and honor the culture and traditions that make this event so special,” says Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperSports LIVE, the operator of the Maui Invitational. “Throughout this process, we’ve seen the spirit of ‘ohana in action. Thank you to Governor Josh Green, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and Mayor Richard Bissen, as well as the staff at Chaminade University of Honolulu and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for working tirelessly with us to keep this tournament in Hawai‘i.”  

Other college basketball programs across the country are showing their support for Maui through charity games and fundraisers. Michigan State hosts Tennessee on Oct. 29 in a charity exhibition, while Kansas and Illinois will do the same in Champaign, Illinois. Saint Mary’s will visit Honolulu on Oct. 20 to play an exhibition game against Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center.  

Meanwhile, the Maui Invitational launched its Hoops for ‘Ohana online auction last week in partnership with Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. All the proceeds will go directly to wildfire relief and recovery efforts. Fans can bid on unique items donated by past Maui Jim Invitational basketball programs and Tournament partners.  

“Although this year’s Invitational will be held on O‘ahu, Maui will forever remain in the hearts and minds of the teams who participate in it,” Babington says. “We feel a heightened responsibility to support our Maui neighbors, and we look forward to returning home to Lahaina in 2024.”  

Student-Athletes Score Awards

54 Silverswords honored with Academic Achievement Award

Nine seniors played their final game with the Silverswords Women's Soccer team.
Nine seniors played their final game with the Women’s Soccer team.

Now in its 16th year, the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award is a program that recognizes the scholastic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. This year, a record 54 Silversword student-athletes were honored with the award, eclipsing last year’s number of 52.

“Intercollegiate athletics is an important component of the student experience at Chaminade,” says President Dr. Lynn Babington. “As a Marianist, Catholic institution, we value the development of the whole person, and athletics creates the opportunity for our students to not only excel in sports, but to learn teamwork and leadership and provide school spirit to the campus.”

To be honored with the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, the school’s athletic director must be a current dues-paying member of the D2 ADA. Also, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have attended a minimum two years (four semesters) of college level work ,and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her academic year.

Eleven Silverswords posted 4.00 grade-point averages during their time at Chaminade with two senior student-athletes—Peyton Oshiro (men’s cross country) and Hoku Schatz (women’s soccer)—wrapping up their playing careers with perfect GPAs.

In all, a record-breaking 19,646 student-athletes from across 196 NCAA Division II institutions were recognized with the award.

Isaac Amaral-Artharee ranks 11th in the all-time scoring list with 1,326 points ... second in 3-pointers made (192) ... fourth in free throw percentage (83.5; 198-of-237) ... seventh in starts (69) ... sixth in minutes played (2,842).
Isaac Amaral-Artharee ranks 11th in the all-time scoring list with 1,326 points.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our student-athletes, who earned the prestigious honor of being a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner,” said Chaminade Athletic Director Tom Buning. “Having a school record number of awardees is a testament to our Silverswords dedication to excellence in the classroom and competition. This accomplishment is even more noteworthy when considering that travel for the PacWest Conference competition requires extended absences from class.”

Of the more than 1,100 NCAA member universities and colleges, about 300 classify their athletics programs in Division II.
 
Division II is all about balance. Students participate in highly competitive athletics, have the best access ratio to NCAA championships of any division and can earn athletics scholarships, but their college experience includes so much more than sports participation. The balanced approach in athletics, academics and community engagement allows Division II student-athletes to focus on their academic pursuits, internships, studies abroad and all that interests them.
 
Among the most distinguishing features in Division II is its athletics scholarship model, which awards partial scholarships that students combine with academic or need-based grants to construct their financial aid package. Division II believes it is important to acknowledge and financially reward students’ athletics abilities. This partial scholarship model keeps athletics budgets more closely proportioned with the total institutional budget.

The following Silversword student-athletes were recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award (listed by sport):

Men’s Basketball
Isaac Amaral-Artharee
Scott Ator
Dorian Harris
Kameron Ng
Braden Olsen
Patrick Renane
Kobe Young
 
Women’s basketball
Olivia Crigler
Mia Ming
Emma Morris
 
Men’s Cross Country
Elijah Bernardo-Flores
Peyton Oshiro
Peter Jan Ramos
Josiah Rodrigues
 
Women’s Cross Country
Leila-Jayne Casison
Montserrat Lanfranco
Eri Leong
Ashley Yoshikawa
 
Men’s Golf
Kal O’Brien
Schuyler Peterson
 
Men’s Soccer
Kekoa Kuloloia
Kaulana Navares
Daniel Villalva
Brandon Yasue
 
Women’s Soccer
Lece Aviles
Gracie Bowers
Ruby Burroughs
Caili Cain
Gracie Knowd
Jenna McLean
Kira Nishiki
Dayna Nishimura
Hoku Schatz
Clara Slate-Liu
Kyla Takazono
Nicole Vontsolos
 
Women’s Softball
Kobe Brown
Taryn Fujioka
Kailah Gates-Coyaso
Taylor Genera
Haley Hayakawa
Bailey Jacobsen
Kieren Lopez
Chasity McKean
Cheyne Obara
Keolani Takemura
 
Women’s Tennis
Sydney Danielson
Emily Ramirez Miranda
 
Women’s Volleyball
Alexia Byrnes
Sasha Colombo
Greta Corti
Brooklen Pe’a
Kaybrie Pe’a
Sophie Schilling
 

Silversword Basketball

Maui Invitational Chaminade versus Butler

It was born out of college basketball’s “biggest upset.”

In 1982, the Silverswords grabbed national headlines — and the national imagination — when they dominated No. 1-ranked Virginia. The final score: 77-72. Two years later, Chaminade launched what’s now known as the Maui Jim Maui Invitational as the premier early-season basketball tournament.

And the invitational is still going strong.

The 38th annual event, held in Las Vegas this year because of COVID protocols, wrapped up in November and once again attracting the nation’s top programs and continuing to underscore Chaminade’s outsized role in college basketball. There’s hope the invitational will return to Maui in 2022.

But this year at least, the Ninth Island was close enough — and a popular stand-in for attendees. Spectators converged on the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino from Nov. 22-24 to watch the action. This year’s eight participating teams were:

  • Chaminade University;
  • Butler University;
  • University of Houston;
  • University of Notre Dame;
  • University of Oregon;
  • St. Mary’s College (making their first appearance);
  • Texas A&M University;
  • and University of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Badgers took home the championship title, beating St. Mary’s College.

Chaminade, which participates every other year in the tournament, was the sole Division II team represented. The Silverswords went up against the Oregon Ducks, Notre Dame and Butler Bulldogs.

Chaminade’s role in the tournament — both on and off the court — has continued to underscore the University’s strong tradition of basketball. So it’s no coincidence that a long list of Silverswords go on to play professionally. Here’s a look at some of the Chaminade alumni who are currently playing pro:

  • Grant Dressler ‘19 plays in Slovakia and previously played for a team in Germany.
  • Kuany Kuany ‘17 used to play in Australia and now represents Osijek in Croatia.
  • Rohndell Goodwin ‘17 plays with VfL Kirchheim Knights in Germany. Averaging 16.3 points a game, Goodwin previously played with the UK’s Bristol Flyers and for other teams in Germany.
  • Tyler Cartaino ‘20 plays for the Reading Rockets in the UK, averaging 18.8 points a game.
  • Eliet Donley ‘20 is playing with Japan’s Toyama Grouses.
  • Marko Kolaric ‘08, averaging 20 points a game, plays with a team in Austria.
  • Andre Arrissol ‘20 is on the UK’s VfL Kirchheim Knights team. 
  • Previously playing in Denmark, Austin Pope ‘18 has signed to Serbia’s Novi Pazar team.
  • Sam Daly ‘17 plays with Australia’s Sturt Sabres.
  • And Kendall Small ‘20 plays for the San Diego Guardians.

2016 Maui Jim Maui Invitational Expanded Wrap-up

2016 Maui Invitational Champions, University of North Carolina

Fourth-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels captured its fourth Maui Jim Maui Invitational title after defeating 16th ranked Wisconsin 71-56 on Wednesday, Nov. 23, the final day of the tournament. After three days of substantial wins, North Carolina looked like a national title contender.

Its first game on Monday was against the Silverswords with a final score of 104-61. Though that was a tough game for the Silversword men’s basketball team, Chaminade was able to hold its own in the two games that followed. On Tuesday, the UConn Huskies barely squeaked by Chaminade 93 to 82. The game was kept close because of Chaminade’s sharp shooting. In Chaminade’s final game, Tennessee skimmed past Chaminade 95 to 81.

“I thought our guys played their butts off,” said Eric Bovaird, Chaminade’s head coach for the men’s basketball team. “Really proud of the effort and the execution.”

Chaminade’s Rohndell Goodwin made the Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team.

The Invitational Expanded

The Invitational has always been more than just the three games played by the teams. Just ask the youths who participated in a free basketball clinic offered by the Swords, or the Chaminade student fans, who came on Monday to experience Maui and the game. Saturday, Nov. 19 to Wednesday, Nov. 23 were five very fast and furious days for the Silversword men’s basketball team and their Chaminade fans.

Saturday

ADIDAS HOOPS CLINIC PRESENTED BY HMSA AND FEATURING CHAMINADE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

2016 Maui Invitational: Hoops Clinic

Held on Saturday afternoon at the Lahaina Civic Center Outdoor Courts, the adidas Hoops Clinic presented by HMSA offered a free basketball clinic to youths. More than 60 third through eighth graders showed up hungry to play and to learn the game. The children performed the drills tirelessly, passing and shooting their basketballs as the college players shared their approval with smiles, encouraging words and high fives. The kids were especially ecstatic to receive two free tickets (one adult, one youth) to Chaminade’s Monday night game against University of North Carolina.

Chaminade University, The Maui Jim Maui Invitational Tournament, adidas and HMSA have hosted similar basketball clinics this year throughout the state. The overall goals of the clinics have been to promote the fundamentals of the game and to offer opportunities to learn from qualified, collegiate coaches and administrators.

EVENING AT THE COACHES LUAU

2016 Maui Invitational: Luau

That Saturday evening, the teams and their entourages attended the Coaches Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa. It was a traditional Hawaiian Luau, complete with ono food and entertainment. There were also a hula competition and a bean bag tournament. Tar Heel Joel Berry II won the overall hula dance-off and eventually earned the Maui Invitational tournament MVP award. The Tar Heels also won the bean bag tournament.

Wounded Warrior, veteran Tommy Counihan IV was honored at the luau. Chaminade regent, Carolyn Berry Wilson, and her husband David Wilson have annually sponsored this Wounded Warrior project, which covers all the Maui Jim Maui Invitational costs for the selected veteran.

Sunday

COACHES PRESS CONFERENCE

2016 Maui Invitational: Coaches Press Conference

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational held its annual Sunday morning Coaches Press Conference at the Sheraton Maui Resort Spa. It was an opportunity for all of the eight head coaches to speak about their teams before heading into the start of Monday’s championship round.

Chaminade head coach, Eric Bovaird, remarked, “This is the most experienced team that I’ve had in six years. I’m really excited about where we’re at.”

The press conference was moderated by NBA Hall of Famer and broadcast commentator, Bill Walton.

FREE THROW CONTEST

After the press conference, the eight head coaches took up a friendly free throw competition. Each coach teamed up with a local middle schooler. Every person had three free throw attempts on a portable basketball, which was set up along Kaanapali Beach. Chaminade’s head coach, Eric Bovaird, and his student tied with Oklahoma State’s Brad Underwood through the initial round, with Bovaird hitting all three free throws. Bovaird and his young protégé Reizel of Lokelani Intermediate School went on to win the free throw contest in overtime.

Monday (a.k.a. Maui Monday)

Thirty-eight Chaminade students with some staff and faculty braved an early morning trek to Maui. Though the game was not until evening, the Silversword students took the opportunity to explore Maui, thanks to a day trip arranged by the Office of Student Activities and Leadership (OSAL). After landing, the students headed to Krispy Kreme where they indulged in the breakfast of champions: donuts (yes, plural) and coffee. With a sugar-caffeine high, the students tackled a Maui Nei 2-hour walking adventure tour in Lahaina. Guided by a Native Hawaiian kumu, they explored Lahaina’s rich history and learned about old Hawaii during the missionary and whaling times, and about the monarchy and plantation eras.

After the tour, the students ate lunch at a nearby beach park. Later, they visited the Maui Ocean Center, the nation’s largest tropical reef aquarium. The students explored a mix of more than 60 indoor and outdoor exhibits.

After all the educational activities, they arrived at the Lahaina Civic Center pumped up for the game. The students got a chance to hang out at Fan Fest, where they enjoyed a “basketball” meal and bought souvenirs and gifts. They even made their ESPN debut, showing their Silversword spirit for the cameras.

Finally, it was game time. Wearing their Chaminade t-shirts that they received earlier that morning, they formed a sea of blue in the stands behind the Chaminade bench. They were loud and proud. Though the Swords lost to the University of North Carolina, the students cheered for their home team until the last buzzer. Exhausted and hoarse from cheering but glad that they had made it to Maui, the students returned to Honolulu later that night. After all, there were still classes to attend on Tuesday.