Honoring the Treasured ‘Iolani Tradition of “One Team”

In 2002, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the passing of legendary Father Kenneth Bray, the ‘Iolani Prep Classic began the tradition of presenting The Ray Wong Team Award to the team that best exemplifies the qualities of good character and sportsmanship in its performances at the tourney.

This prestigious award honors the legacy of men who have dedicated their lives to insure that athletic competition fosters the valued traits of selflessness, humility, perseverance, and integrity. At ‘Iolani, this tradition was begun by Father Kenneth Bray, and carried on by Edward Hamada and future generations of coaches. The impact that these men have had on countless numbers of ‘Iolani athletes is immeasurable.

Two decades ago, Glenn Young ’59 had a vision to create the ‘Iolani Prep Classic in order to elevate the quality of basketball in Hawai‘i. There is little doubt that Glenn’s dream has become reality. Essential to that success has been the generous support of many corporate and individual donors.

No single sponsor has been more generous or more consistent than Mr. Ray Wong ’49. An ‘Iolani graduate and disciple of Father Bray, Ray realized the tremendous value that this tournament had for the youth of the entire state, and he pledged his resources to its success. In typical “One Team” fashion, his generosity came with only two conditions. First, he asked that the tournament include as great a variety of local Hawai‘i teams from year to year so that the entire state could benefit from it. Second, he wished that his sponsorship remain anonymous. Credit simply was not important to him.

We broke our promise to Mr. Wong, and in 2002 established an award in his honor, and in the honor of the traditions that he has steadfastly upheld. We believe that this award is the most significant one that we will dispense. Championships and individual recognitions are fleeting honors, but values such as those recognized by this award are timeless and everlasting virtues. Mr. Wong passed away on July 17, 2022, at the age of 90, but dedication to good character and sportsmanship live on.

In Honor of Mr. Glenn Young ‘59

The ‘Iolani Prep Classic, one of the nation’s premier high school basketball tournaments, was the brainchild of Glenn Young ’59 after his talented 1982-83 ‘Iolani Raiders squad had a humbling tournament experience in Las Vegas. After returning, he began plans to bring top mainland teams to Hawai’i to expose local players and coaches to the kind of competition that ‘Iolani faced in Nevada.

A steady stream of elite high school teams to the ‘Iolani Prep Classic began in 1983 with West Philadelphia. It went on to include well-known programs such as: Oak Hill, St. Anthony’s, Fairfax, Montrose Christian, Flint Hill Prep, Rice (N.Y.), DeMatha, Findlay Prep, Montverde, and many others. It didn’t take long for Glenn Young’s idea to take shape quickly and become a can’t-miss holiday event that has the attention of avid high school basketball fans throughout the country. The tournament has also gone worldwide with its impact, including teams from China, Germany, Italy and Japan in ‘Iolani Prep Classic fields through the years.

With the assistance of his family and the ‘Iolani community, Glenn Young shepherded the ‘Iolani Prep Classic, which added the girls tournament in 2007, for over 30 years. From coordinating transportation, food and staffing, to setting the brackets and publishing the program, he was involved in all aspects of one of the most illustrious tournaments in the United States.

A member of ‘Iolani School’s Class of 1959, Glenn Young also coached football at his alma mater, where he spent 43 years as a teacher and department head. He passed away on Nov. 12, 2015, at the age of 73, but not before becoming a friend and mentor for many at ‘Iolani School, and making a lasting impact in the Hawai‘i basketball community and beyond.