Mercer Island (Wash.) High School has long been recognized as a boys basketball powerhouse, and the Islanders will begin play in the Fifth Annual Punahou Holiday Classic today with a recognizable name to Hawai'i fans on its roster.

Leroy Lutu, a 6-foot sophomore, has cracked Mercer Island's starting lineup and already is averaging double figures in points. His father, who has the same name, played for University High and was The Advertiser's State Player of the Year in 1978 and 1980 and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year in 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The elder Lutu also was an Advertiser All-State receiver in football and went on to play in two Rose Bowls for the University of Washington.

Mercer Island plays Moanalua at 10:30 a.m. Other first-round games today have Maryknoll playing Radford at 9:30 a.m., Damien vs. Kalaheo at noon, Kamehameha vs. Punahou at 1:30 p.m., Campbell vs. Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) at 3 p.m., Mililani vs. Punahou Division II at 4:30 p.m., Baldwin vs. Kahuku at 6 p.m. and Farrington vs. Kamehameha at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament continues through Friday, with the championship game set for 7:30 that night.

WALTER WONG CLASSIC

The Walter Wong Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament starts today at Saint Louis School's McCabe Gym.

The first-round schedule has Kaimuki playing La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day at 4:30 p.m., Kaiser vs. Schurr (Montebello, Calif.) at 6 p.m. and Saint Louis vs. Saint Mary's (Calif.) at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament continues through Thursday, with each team playing a pre-set schedule.