HILO, Hawaii: The University of Hawaii-Hilo announces the return of a former wahine Warrior to play ball in her hometown.

From the Sports Information Office:

Waiakea High School alum Kamie Imai is returning to Hilo to play for the University of Hawaii at Hilo announced UH Hilo Women’s Basketball Coach David Kaneshiro.

“We are very excited that Kamie has decided to continue her college basketball career back home in Hilo,” said Kaneshiro. “She is an athletic wing player who can score in a variety of ways.

“She brings a lot of experience having competed at the Division I level for the last couple of seasons. In addition to that experience, she is a hard worker, intense competitor, and has a strong passion for
the game of basketball.”

Imai played two years at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. In 2011-12 Utah State finished 21-10 and qualified for the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

As a standout hoopster at Waiakea High School, she was named to the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Division 1 BIIF first team as well as being the 2008 and 2010 Division 1 Basketball Player of the Year. Imai was also
honored by the Hawaii Star Bulletin as one of the Fab-Five players in the State of Hawaii in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and was inducted into the 2010 Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor.

On the national level, Imai was a 2010 McDonald’s All-American semi-finalist as well as an ESPN 2010 Nationally Ranked Player.

She is the younger sister of 3-year Vulcan Kirsty Imai.

Imai joins forwards Jazzmyn Davis (5-10, Pacoima, Calif.) and Briana Smythe (5-11, Winnetka, Calif.) in Kaneshiro’s 2012-13 recruiting class.