# Kamaka Hepa > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kamaka_Hepa > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kamaka_Hepa.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaka_Hepa > Source revision: 1351437334 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American basketball player (born 2000)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Kamaka Hepa | image = Kamaka Hepa.jpg | caption = Hepa in 2018 | position = [Power forward](/source/Power_forward) | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 10 | weight_lbs = 215 | league = [Basketball Bundesliga](/source/Basketball_Bundesliga) | team = [KK Cibona](/source/KK_Cibona) | number = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|1|27}} | birth_place = [Barrow, Alaska](/source/Barrow%2C_Alaska), U.S.
{{small|(now Utqiagvik, Alaska)}} | high_school = * [Barrow](/source/Barrow_High_School)
(Barrow, Alaska) * [Jefferson](/source/Jefferson_High_School_(Portland%2C_Oregon))
([Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon)) | college = * [Texas](/source/Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball) (2018–2021) * [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_basketball) (2021–2023) | draft_year = 2023 | career_start = 2023 | years1 = 2023-2024 | team1 = [Zastal Zielona Góra](/source/Zastal_Zielona_G%C3%B3ra) | years2 = 2024 | team2 = [Rīgas Zeļļi](/source/R%C4%ABgas_Ze%C4%BC%C4%BCi) | years3 = 2024-2025 | team3 = [Fraport Skyliners](/source/Fraport_Skyliners) | years4 = 2025-present | team4 = [KK Cibona](/source/KK_Cibona) | highlights = * [NIT](/source/National_Invitation_Tournament) champion ([2019](/source/2019_National_Invitation_Tournament)) | medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's [basketball](/source/basketball)}} {{MedalCountry|{{bk|USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[FIBA Americas U18 Championship](/source/FIBA_Americas_Under-18_Championship)}} {{MedalGold|[2018 Canada](/source/2018_FIBA_Under-18_Americas_Championship)|[Team](/source/United_States_men's_national_under-19_basketball_team)}} }} '''Kamaka Qapqan Hepa''' (born January 27, 2000) is an American professional [basketball](/source/basketball) player for [KK Cibona](/source/KK_Cibona). He played [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) for the [Hawaii Rainbow Warriors](/source/Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_basketball) and the [Texas Longhorns](/source/Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball). ==Early life== Hepa was born and brought up in [Barrow, Alaska](/source/Barrow%2C_Alaska) (now known as Utqiagvik), the northernmost community in the United States.{{cite web |last1=Dauster |first1=Rob |title=From the Top of the World to the Edge of a Dream: Kamaka Hepa's journey from Alaska to Division I hoops |url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2017/07/20/from-the-top-of-the-world-to-the-edge-of-a-dream-kamaka-hepas-journey-from-alaska-to-division-i-hoops/ |publisher=[NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports) |accessdate=April 8, 2020 |date=July 20, 2017}} He grew up playing club basketball for the Alaska Mountaineers, with whom he won tournaments in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina) and [California](/source/California).{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Van |title=Fabulous freshman: Barrow's Hepa is one of nation's rising stars |url=https://www.asaa365.com/news_article/show/456176-fabulous-freshman-barrow-s-hepa-is-one-of-nation-s-rising-stars |publisher=ASAA365 |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=December 10, 2014 |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109082357/http://www.asaa365.com/news_article/show/456176-fabulous-freshman-barrow-s-hepa-is-one-of-nation-s-rising-stars |url-status=dead }} As a freshman and sophomore, Hepa played for [Barrow High School](/source/Barrow_High_School). In each season, he led his team to the Class 3A state title and was named Alaska [Gatorade Player of the Year](/source/Gatorade_Player_of_the_Year_awards).{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=Hayes |title=From Alaska to Austin (and Portland in between), it's been a long journey for Texas men's signee Kamaka Hepa |url=https://www.hookem.com/story/alaska-austin-portland-long-journey-texas-mens-signee-kamaka-hepa/ |publisher=Hookem.com |accessdate=April 8, 2020 |date=January 4, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Moyle |first1=Nick |title=Texas freshman Kamaka Hepa the next 'Alaskan Assassin' |url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/college_sports/longhorns/article/Texas-freshman-Kamaka-Hepa-the-next-Alaskan-13465207.php |website=[San Antonio Express-News](/source/San_Antonio_Express-News) |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=December 13, 2018}} In March 2016, Hepa moved to [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon) to gain more exposure and to play for Portland Basketball Club on the [Amateur Athletic Union](/source/Amateur_Athletic_Union) circuit.{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Brad |title=Jefferson HS basketball star Kamaka Hepa leaves Portland for Alaskan homecoming |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/highschool/2018/03/basketball_star_kamaka_hepa_le.html |publisher=[OregonLive.com](/source/OregonLive.com) |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=March 22, 2018}} He also enrolled at [Jefferson High School](/source/Jefferson_High_School_(Portland%2C_Oregon)), where he played under head coach Pat Strickland.{{cite web |last1=Lester |first1=Marc |title=Kamaka Hepa's shot, from behind the Arctic Circle |url=https://www.adn.com/features/sports/2018/03/01/kamaka-hepas-shot-from-behind-the-arctic-circle/ |website=[Anchorage Daily News](/source/Anchorage_Daily_News) |accessdate=April 8, 2020 |date=March 1, 2018}} As a junior, Hepa averaged 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading Jefferson to its first Class 6A state title.{{cite web |last1=Daschel |first1=Nick |title=Jefferson claims its first 6A boys basketball title, outlasting Clackamas 70-67 in final |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/highschoolsports/article/jefferson-claims-its-first-ever-6a-boys-basketball-title-outlasting-clackamas-70-67-in-final/ |publisher=[OregonLive.com](/source/OregonLive.com) |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=March 11, 2017}} In his senior season, he led his team to a Class 6A runner-up finish. After averaging 16.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game, he was named Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Brian |title=The Alaskan Longhorn: Kamaka Hepa's long-range shooting welcome after long journey to Texas |url=https://www.hookem.com/story/alaskan-longhorn-kamaka-hepas-long-range-shooting-welcome-long-journey-texas/ |publisher=Hookem.com |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=December 14, 2018}} On October 31, 2017, Hepa committed to playing [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) for [Texas](/source/Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball) as a four-star [recruit](/source/college_recruiting).{{cite web |last1=Nathan |first1=Alec |title=4-Star PF Recruit Kamaka Hepa Commits to Texas over Gonzaga, Others |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2722677-4-star-pf-recruit-kamaka-hepa-commits-to-texas-over-gonzaga-others |publisher=[Bleacher Report](/source/Bleacher_Report) |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |date=October 31, 2017}} ==College career== In February 2019, as a freshman, Hepa suffered a head injury in practice and missed two games in concussion protocol.{{cite web |last1=Eberts |first1=Wescott |title=Texas F Kamaka Hepa in concussion protocol after practice injury |url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/2019/2/18/18230064/kamaka-hepa-concussion-protocol-injury-texas-longhorns-basketball |publisher=Burnt Orange Nation |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=February 18, 2019}} On February 27, 2019, in his first career start, he scored a freshman season-high 11 points in an 84–83 loss to [Baylor](/source/Baylor_Bears_men's_basketball).{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball drops OT heartbreaker at Baylor, 84-83 |url=https://texassports.com/news/2019/2/27/mens-basketball-drops-ot-heartbreaker-at-baylor-84-83.aspx |publisher=University of Texas Athletics |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=February 27, 2019}} He finished the season averaging 1.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game.{{cite web |title=Kamaka Hepa |url=https://texassports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kamaka-hepa/9402 |publisher=University of Texas Athletics |accessdate=April 9, 2020}} On January 15, 2020, in his sophomore season, Hepa scored a career-high 15 points and four rebounds in a 76–64 win over [Oklahoma State](/source/Oklahoma_State_Cowboys_basketball).{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball posts 76-64 win at Oklahoma State |url=https://texassports.com/news/2020/1/15/mens-basketball-posts-76-64-win-at-oklahoma-state.aspx |publisher=University of Texas Athletics |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=January 15, 2020}} As a sophomore, he averaged 2.9 points and two rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game. In his junior season, he played nine games and averaged 2.9 points in 6.4 minutes per game.{{cite web |last1=Gates |first1=Riley |title=Kamaka Hepa enters NCAA Transfer Portal |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Texas-Longhorns-basketball-Kamaka-Hepa-enters-NCAA-Transfer-Portal-Chris-Beard-163758782/ |website=[247Sports](/source/247Sports.com) |access-date=April 26, 2021 |date=April 6, 2021}} In 2021, Hepa was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by ''Diverse: Issues In Higher Education''.{{cite web |title=Kamaka Hepa |url=https://www.diverseeducation.com/awards-honors/arthur-ashe/2021/article/15113745/kamaka-hepa |website=2021 |publisher=Cox, Matthews and Associates |access-date=September 7, 2001}} On April 25, 2021 Hepa announced that he would transfer to [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_basketball).{{cite web |last1=Shimabuku |first1=Christian |title=Hawaii men's basketball gains commitment from Texas transfer Kamaka Hepa |url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/hawaii-mens-basketball-gains-commitment-from-texas-transfer-kamaka-hepa/ |website=[KHON-TV](/source/KHON-TV) |access-date=April 26, 2021 |date=April 25, 2021}} In 27 games, Hepa averaged 9.4 points in 28.1 minutes per game.{{cite web |title=Kamaka Hepa |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kamaka-hepa-1.html |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=December 26, 2022 |date=December 26, 2022}} ==Professional career== On July 3, 2023, Hepa was included in the [New Orleans Pelicans](/source/New_Orleans_Pelicans) 2023 Summer League roster.{{cite web |title=New Orleans Pelicans announce 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League roster presented by TripADeal |url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/new-orleans-pelicans-2023-nba-2k24-summer-league-roster-tripadeal |website=www.nba.com |access-date=July 6, 2023 |language=en}} On August 19, 2023, he signed with [Zastal Zielona Góra](/source/Zastal_Zielona_G%C3%B3ra) of the [Polish Basketball League](/source/Polish_Basketball_League).{{Cite web|url=http://www.basketzg.pl/news/kamaka-hepa-z-rocznym-kontraktem|title=Kamaka Hepa z rocznym kontraktem|last=|first=|date=August 19, 2023|website=basketzg.pl|publisher=|language=pl|access-date=September 23, 2023}} In early December, he temporarily returned to the United States due to the sudden death of his father.{{Cite web|title=Michał Pluta i Kamaka Hepa oficjalnie odeszli z Zastalu |url=https://sport.zgora.pl/kosz/michal-pluta-i-kamaka-hepa-oficjalnie-odeszli-z-zastalu,d51954.html |language=pl |trans-title=Michał Pluta and Kamaka Hepa officially left Zastal |work=sport.zgora.pl |date=January 14, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024}} He was supposed to return, but he officially parted ways with team by mutual agreement on January 14, 2024.{{Cite web|last=Sadłowski|first=Tomasz|title=Michał Pluta i Kamaka Hepa odchodzą z klubu. Dziękujemy |url=https://www.basketzg.pl/news/michal-pluta-i-kamaka-hepa-odchodza-z-klubu-dziekujemy |language=pl |trans-title=Michał Pluta and Kamaka Hepa leave the club. Thank you |work=basketzg.pl |date=January 14, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024}} On June 25, 2024, he signed with [Skyliners Frankfurt](/source/Skyliners_Frankfurt) of the [Basketball Bundesliga](/source/Basketball_Bundesliga) (BBL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.frankfurt-skyliners.de/news-service/details/hepa-24-26|title=Vom lettischen Vizemeister nach Frankfurt: Kamaka Hepa|last=|first=|date=June 25, 2024|website=frankfurt-skyliners.de|publisher=|language=de|access-date=March 5, 2025}} On August 19, 2025, Hepa signed with [KK Cibona](/source/KK_Cibona) of the [ABA League 2](/source/ABA_League_Second_Division) and the [Croatian League](/source/HT_Premijer_liga).{{Cite web |date=2025-08-19 |title=Kamaka Hepa stigao u Zagreb {{!}} KK Cibona |url=https://www.cibona.com/2025/08/kamaka-hepa-stigao-u-zagreb/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=www.cibona.com |language=hr}} ==National team career== Hepa represented the [United States](/source/United_States_men's_national_under-19_basketball_team) at the [2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship](/source/2018_FIBA_Under-18_Americas_Championship) in [St. Catharines, Ontario](/source/St._Catharines).{{cite web |last1=Ringo |first1=Kyle |title=From the Northern Tip of Alaska, Kamaka Hepa Is Showing the North Has Its Share of Hoops Talent |url=https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2018/06/hepa-feature.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129153650/https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2018/06/hepa-feature.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |publisher=[USA Basketball](/source/USA_Basketball) |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=June 13, 2018}} He averaged 3.3 points and five rebounds per game, winning a gold medal.{{cite web |title=Hepa: "I'm proudly representing my community, Alaska and the USA" |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/americas/u18/2018/news/hepa-i-m-proudly-representing-my-community-alaska-and-the-usa |publisher=[FIBA](/source/FIBA) |accessdate=April 9, 2020 |date=June 15, 2018}} ==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}} ===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season) | style="text-align:left;"| [Texas](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball_team) | 27 || 1 || 10.3 || .291 || .310 || '''.857''' || 1.6 || .3 || .0 || .3 || 1.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season) | style="text-align:left;"| [Texas](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball_team) | 22 || 10 || 13.5 || .361 || .292 || .667 || 2.0 || .6 || .2 || .6 || 2.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season) | style="text-align:left;"| [Texas](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_Texas_Longhorns_men's_basketball_team) | 9 || 1 || 6.4 || '''.500''' || '''.500''' || .000 || 1.0 || .1 || .1 || .2 || 2.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season) | style="text-align:left;"| [Hawaii](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_basketball_team) | 27 || 27 || 28.1 || .440 || .396 || .804 || 5.0 || 1.4 || .4 || .7 || 9.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_season) | style="text-align:left;"| [Hawaii](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Hawaii_Rainbow_Warriors_basketball_team) | '''33''' || '''33''' || '''32.6''' || .424 || .387 || .842 || '''6.6''' || '''1.5''' || '''.5''' || '''.8''' || '''11.5''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career || 118 || 72 || 20.9 || .413 || .374 || .808 || 3.8 || .9 || .3 || .6 || 6.6 {{S-end}} ==Personal life== Hepa's father, Roland Hepa, died in December 2023. He was originally from [Kapa'a, Hawaii](/source/Kapaa%2C_Hawaii) and was of Hawaiian and [Filipino](/source/Filipinos) descent. Hepa's mother, Taqulik (née Opie), is an [Iñupiaq](/source/I%C3%B1upiaq) from Utqiagvik.{{cite web |last1=Barnhouse |first1=Wendell |title=The odyssey of Kamaka Hepa, from a remote town in Alaska to four-star Longhorns recruit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/317136/2018/04/17/the-odyssey-of-kamaka-hepa-from-a-remote-town-in-alaska-to-four-star-longhorns-recruit/ |website=[The Athletic](/source/The_Athletic) |access-date=April 8, 2020 |date=April 17, 2018}} His mother played basketball for Barrow High School, while his father was a multi-sport athlete in high school. Hepa's older sister, Lynette, was a standout basketball player for Barrow High School before playing collegiately at [Fort Lewis College](/source/Fort_Lewis_College). On November 23, 2015, his half-brother, Radford Kawika Hepa, was shot and killed in [Anchorage, Alaska](/source/Anchorage%2C_Alaska). Kamaka’s younger brother, Keoni, is a collegiate football player at Simon Fraser. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons}} *[https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kamaka-hepa/19534 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors bio] *[https://texassports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kamaka-hepa/9402 Texas Longhorns bio] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20220526144132/https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/mens/h/hepa-kamaka.aspx USA Basketball bio] {{Skyliners Frankfurt current roster}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hepa, Kamaka}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Alaska Native people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century Inuit people Category:American expatriate basketball people in Poland Category:American men's basketball players Category:American people of Ilocano descent Category:American people of Filipino descent Category:Sportspeople of Filipino descent Category:Basketball players from Alaska Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball players Category:Inupiat people Category:People from Utqiagvik, Alaska Category:Power forwards Category:Small forwards Category:Texas Longhorns men's basketball players Category:Zastal Zielona Góra players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kamaka Hepa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaka_Hepa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaka_Hepa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.