The Malibu Times Athlete of the Week: MHS boys basketball

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Harrison Kaplan. Photo by Dick Dornan / TMT

Harrison Kaplan, a 6’4” senior forward for the Malibu boys’ basketball team, has been the quintessential example of a player who sacrifices for the greater good of the team. As the team’s “sixth man,” Kaplan has helped lead the Sharks to their first league title in five years.

A season ago, Kaplan started on a Malibu team that finished 8-19 overall and 4-6 in league. He averaged 6.8 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per contest. Determined to have a great senior year, Kaplan worked hard in the summer and off-season improving his all-around game. He was one of four returning starters to a squad that had not won a league title since 2007.

After a 1-2 start to this season, Coach Bobby Tenorio made a decision that at first seemed perplexing to Kaplan but ultimately became a wise one. Tenorio felt Kaplan would serve a better purpose coming off the bench for the Sharks while inserting sophomore guard Anthony Kodomichalos into the starting lineup.

“I felt I needed to make a change for the betterment of the team,” Tenorio said. “Harrison has been wonderful and real positive about it. He comes in and does what he needs to do. He’s been a big part of our success. He brings out the best in his teammates and has also been bringing out the best in me as a coach.”

Kaplan responded to the move by bringing energy and hustle off the bench. In Frontier League action, Kaplan has scored in double figures four times while averaging 8.3 ppg, and his rebounding has significantly increased with eight boards per game. Twenty-one games after the move, the Sharks are 17-7 and Frontier League champs. The decision has paid off.

“At first I was a little disappointed moving to the bench. I didn’t know what to expect,” Kaplan said. “But it has helped the team win so I’m happy. I think it was a great decision by coach to move me to sixth man. I’m glad he did.”

Embracing a role on any sports team is pivotal for the team’s success. Kaplan’s team-first attitude and selflessness has reaped rewards for the Sharks. Malibu has won nine consecutive games and is surging toward the CIF-SS playoffs.

“You have to embrace the role,” Kaplan stated. “I wanted to do whatever would help the team. I needed to be more aggressive off the bench. I took it as a challenge. I just got to thank my teammates for supporting me.”

Kyle Sandler, one of the co-captains on the team, feels Kaplan could be the team’s most valuable player.

“He’s done an unbelievable job for us,” Sandler said. “He’s been consistent all year and probably is our team MVP. He’s the glue that has kept us together.”

Kaplan, 17, lives in Mar Vista and drives 40 minutes to and from Malibu each school day. He grew up in Malibu and moved to Mar Vista two years ago. Instead of transferring and enrolling at his home school, Venice High School, Kaplan wanted to remain at MHS for his four years.

“Attending Malibu High School has been really fun,” Kaplan said. “I’ve met new people and established good relationships and I think it will help propel me into what I want to do later in life.”

Upon his graduation in June, Kaplan aspires to attend either the University of Colorado or the University of Oregon and pursue a career in sports management.

In the meantime, he will look back at a season that produced a league champion. Whether it’s in a starting role or being the team’s sixth man, winning is the ultimate feeling for Kaplan.

“It feels great,” Kaplan said. “We worked hard for two years for this chance. It’s always great to go out on top. I couldn’t be happier.”