Iolani sisters Lily, Jovi to join Rainbow Wahine after winning back-to-back state titles together
HONOLULU (BVM) – Sisters Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu and Jovi Wahinekapu Lefotu might be the most accomplished duo in Hawaii high school girls basketball history.
The full siblings whose surnames are transposed to represent both sides of the family led Iolani High School to back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020. Iolani head coach Dean Young knows the immense success was attained not only because of the sisters’ elite talent, but their innate rapport together.
“They have a great, supportive family and those sisters are really close,” Young said of Lily and Jovi. “They’ve played with each other since they were little so they have great on-court chemistry. At the end of most practices, they’d go after each other playing 1-on-1 where it would get pretty intense but it always finished with laughing and smiling.”
The sisters’ success didn’t end with back-to-back state championships.
After a lost season in 2020-21 to the pandemic, older sister Lily went on to play basketball at Cal State Fullerton and immediately made an impact for the Titans. She averaged 14.7 points (fifth in the conference), 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and was named the Big West Freshman of the Year.
Lily Wahinekapu was in her bag last night 🔥#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ZzSobocFYL
— Titans Women’s Basketball (@FullertonWBB) January 28, 2022
Meanwhile, back at Iolani, Jovi averaged 15.2 points and led the Raiders to an 18-2 record during her senior campaign. The tournament’s Most Outstanding Player then scored 14 points, with eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the state title game to lift Iolani to its third consecutive HHSAA Division I girls basketball championship.
“Jovi has a nice combination of size and skill,” Young said. “It’s rare to have a strong forward who can defend the post, block shots and rebound but who also possesses elite guard and shooting skills.
“Obviously her outstanding and unselfish play has helped bolster the winning culture in our program but she’s also a high character student who’s always smiling so she’s a great ambassador of our program.”
After Lily won the 2020-21 Hawaii Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, it was her sister who claimed the honor this time around.
“Jovi Wahinekapu Lefotu was clearly the best player in the state this year – she makes everyone around her better,” Maryknoll head coach Chico Furtado said in a Gatorade press release. “She has no weaknesses. She can score inside and out, is a great passer, defends all positions and her leadership is off the charts. She has an extremely calm demeanor and doesn’t get flustered. It was a pleasure watching her play.”
The best player in the state, according to Furtado, will remain on the island at the next level.
She's staying home!!!! Jovi Lefotu has signed her NLI and is officially a Rainbow Wahine!!! #GoTheDistance pic.twitter.com/Zdk325D41j
— Hawai‘i Women's Basketball (@HawaiiWBB) November 15, 2021
Jovi is committed to play basketball at the University of Hawaii and will soon be joined by her older sister once again.
Despite a successful first season at Cal State Fullerton where she earned BWC Freshman of the Year honors, Lily entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and soon after, signed with Big West rival and defending conference champion Hawaii with the intention of playing alongside Jovi.
“We are excited to welcome Lily back home and into our ‘ohana,’” Hawaii women’s basketball head coach Laura Beeman said in a press release. “Her body of work both on and off the court speaks for itself. She is a tremendous player and as a person, she will add more aloha to our locker room.
“She (Jovi) has already been given the title ‘a bucket’ on the floor,” Beeman said in a press release. “She is versatile and is a perfect addition to our offense. She has the ability to play the point guard or off-guard position. Smooth, polished, and can shoot. We are so excited Jovi chose Hawaii and can’t wait to see her take the floor for our team.”
The dynamic duo of sisters will be teamed up again for their home state and the excitement is palpable. The Rainbow Warriors, who finished atop the Big West last season at 20-10 (13-3), have added a pair of supreme talents who have already experienced plenty of success together.
“I think they can bring a huge scoring boost to the program,” Young said. “Lily can play the point or move to the wing and Jovi could either play the wing or small forward spot. I think they’ll bring a lot of dynamics to the offense and hopefully infect the rest of the team with their Iolani ‘one team’ mentality.”
