Hawaii basketball commit to bring shooting, leadership
HONOLULU (BVM) – The junior college lifestyle isn’t for everybody. It takes a motivated and driven individual to rise from the depths of JUCO athletics, to the glamour of a Division I program.
Amoro Lado is just that, and it’s taken him from the College of Southern Idaho to accepting a scholarship offer at the University of Hawaii.
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“It was tough,” Lado said of the JUCO grind. “It was just having that bigger picture in your head and knowing what you want to do in the end. I knew JUCO wasn’t forever; it was just a stop.”
The 6-foot-3 guard made the most of his one-year stop at CSI, showcasing his elite ability to shoot from deep. Lado averaged 12 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 47% from 3-point range for the Golden Eagles during the 2020-21 season.
Born in San Diego but raised in Nampa, Idaho, Lado was a two-time State Player of the Year during his prep career at Vallivue High School. The future Rainbow Warrior averaged 24.8 points as a high school senior, the most in Idaho’s 4A/5A classification since 1997.
Lado believes he can bring additional shot-making and playmaking ability to Hawaii on the court, but being a leader and great teammate is also high on his priority list.
“I just want to bring energy every day and be an everyday guy at practice,” Lado said. “It’s about setting an example for the younger guys on the team, or for anybody, being first to practice and stuff like that. It’s the little things like being a good teammate and doing what I can to help us win.”
Lado will be joined by four other newcomers to Honolulu in the fall: Kamaka Hepa (Texas) Jerome Desrosiers (Princeton), Juan Munoz (Longwood) and Brock Heffner (Grafton High School, WI).
The influx of talent will certainly attempt to help Hawaii to its first NCAA Tournament since 2016, and Lado has even more in mind.
“We’re definitely looking to win a championship because, in my head, that’s what I play for,” Lado said. “Whether it’s middle school, high school or if it’s JUCO, we’re always trying to play for a championship. I want to help bring a lot of wins.”
Lado will be considered a sophomore when he officially enrolls at Hawaii and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining. His plans for after his time in Honolulu include continuing to play basketball, whether it be professionally or overseas.
“For myself, I just want to lock in, fully embrace Hawaii and get the most out of it,” Lado said. “I’m just trying to get better from these three years and be the best player and person that I can be.”
