Head Coach: Cheyne De La Garza

*******2022 Hawaii State Varsity Boys Champion and Coach of the Year *******

Founder

Born and raised on the island of Maui, Coach Cheyne has actively been involved in the Maui basketball community since the age of 5 both as a player and/or coach. He honed his skills at Kalama Park while his father played pickup games at night and also in the school yard battling it out with a few of his classmates. It wasn't until the 7th grade that he was allowed to play organized basketball. Once allowed to play his natural talent and ability was revealed to the rest of Maui. In his first league he led the Kihei Youth Center to a South Maui league championship. During his first island wide summer league, he led the worst ranked team out of Kihei to another league championship. You could often find him down at Kalama Park at the age of 11 playing pickup games with adults. He then went on to be one of the most decorative high school players to ever play in Maui.

High School -Maui High/Lahainaluna

• 2x MIL Player of Year (2001, 2002)
• 3x MIL Champion (1999JV, 2001, 2002)
• 2x MIL First Team All Star (2001, 2002)
• MIL All Star Honorble Mention (2000)
• All State Second Team (2002)
• All State Honorable Mentioned (2001)
• Nominated McDonald's All American (2002)
• MVP - High School Alaska Shootout (2002)

College

After high school Coach Cheyne went on to play at the University of Hawaii @Hilo (2003) and at Butte College (2004-2005) where he started at the point guard position. 

Bachelors Degree in Business Management @ University of Hawaii @ West Oahu.

Coaching

Some of Coach Cheyne's best attributes as a player was his ability to lead and coach on the floor. With such a love and passion for the game, his playing days leaked over into coaching. It has been a natural fit and he has loved it more than anything to share his knowledge with the youth across Maui. It has been the most rewarding venture throughout his life. He comments: "It gives me the greatest feeling when I fall asleep at night because I know I'm making a difference in young lives." Interestingly, he began his coaching career in the same place where he played in his first organized league. He went on the win a championship in the South Maui league again with the Kihei Youth Center, this time as a coach.

• South Maui Youth League (2007-2009)
• Mentor to MIL POY Lincoln Seto (2007-2009)
• Valley Isle Silverswords (2009)
• Lahainaluna Boys Varisty/JV (2014-2017)
• Westside Hoops (2014-2018)
• Lahaina Boys Menehune (2017-2018)
• Lahainaluna Girls Varsity (2018-2019)
• Maui Basketball Academy (2019-present)
• Maui Prep Boys Varsity (2020-2022)

Why Coach Cheyne?

Coach Cheyne possesses unique qualities, strategic tactics, and secrets that has helped him be successful. Have you ever considered the importance of court awareness? Intuitively seeing something before it happens? Or being able to control the tempo of a game? It takes more than skill and talent to be a special basketball player, it's a mindset. Coach Cheyne is excited to take your game go to new levels you never thought possible!