Former University of Hawai'i and Kalaheo High School standout Alika Smith has been named boys basketball coach at Punahou, Buffanblu associate athletic director Kale Ane announced yesterday.

Smith, 33, will take over for Dan Hale, who stepped down last month after three years at the helm, including a state championship season in 2008.

"It's a great opportunity to coach at such a prestigious school, and I'm up for the challenge," Smith said. "And talking with the administration, they're going to be at my side with support. That's the feeling I got."

Ane, who was part of a nine-member selection committee that included faculty/athletic department staff, deans, alumni and one parent, said Smith was one of "nine or 10" finalists who were interviewed.

Candidates included Mainland applicants.

"Everything (Smith) said demonstrated a potential to be a great coach," Ane said. "We thought he could bring a good balance of competitiveness and player relationships. He loves basketball, he has a passion for it."

Smith was boys varsity head coach at Academy of the Pacific the past two seasons. Prior to that he was an assistant for two seasons under Riley Wallace at UH, where he was responsible for the scout team and breaking down opponent game film.

Smith also was an assistant to Jeff Law at UH Hilo from 2001 to 2003.

But Smith had been a familiar figure in local basketball circles long before that.

His late father, Pete, was a legendary coach at Kalaheo who guided the Mustangs to three state championships. Alika Smith was a freshman sixth-man on Kalaheo's 1991 state runner-up team and went on to earn Advertiser All-State first team honors the following three years, including Player of the Year as a senior.

Smith also was an All-State pitcher/first baseman in baseball, but he signed on to play basketball at UH and eventually joined future NBA point guard Anthony Carter to form one of the school's most famous backcourts, the "Dynamic Duo."

Smith helped the Rainbows to two National Invitational Tournaments and finished his career ranked third all-time in UH scoring, second in steals and sixth in assists, along with setting a school record with 161 career 3-point goals (since surpassed by Predrag Savovic and Carl English).

Smith then embarked on a brief pro career in Greece and the Continental Basketball Association.

But as a coach, Smith said he always comes back to what he learned from his dad, who guided Kalaheo to 14 O'ahu Interscholastic Association titles and 18 state tournament appearances (one for every year he coached), including 14 semifinals.

"I helped my father coach the 2001 state championship team, and with him it was always about teaching the kids fundamentals," Smith said. "It was also about preparing them for life after high school."

Smith said he also takes on his dad's low-key sideline approach.

"They called him 'The Humble Bear,' " Smith said of Pete Smith, who was 6 feet 4 and husky. "I use his same teaching methods, ways to get the point across. He showed respect for the kids and always wanted what was best for them.

"If you fight for them, they'll fight for you."

Punahou advanced to last year's state quarterfinals, where the Buffanblu lost to eventual runner-up Kahuku by one point.

The team is expected to return several key players, including sophomore posts DeForest Buckner and Malik Johnson and junior guard Matt Feldman.

"It's exciting to have a chance to compete for a state championship year-in and year-out," Smith said.

Ane said the committee was confident Smith is prepared to deal with the school's lofty expectations. Sports Illustrated ranked Punahou No. 1 among 38,000 high school athletic programs the past two school years.

"There's pressure for all of our teams, a lot of expectations," Ane said. "But we liked the way he handled pressure situations in the past, ever since his playing days ... he's been positive with the media."

Smith said he is in the process of putting a staff together.

"You have to have a good base in order to succeed," he said.