History was made on Sunday as Kahuku High School alumnus Tolu Smith became just the second Hawaii high school graduate to appear in an NBA regular season game.

Making his debut for the Detroit Pistons in a 140-133 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Smith impressed with 14 points, eight rebounds, and a 6-of-9 shooting performance in just 22 minutes off the bench.

The 24-year-old forward, who starred at Mississippi State after graduating from Kahuku in 2018, has spent most of the season with the Pistons’ G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. There, he averaged an impressive 18 points and 14 rebounds over 28 games.

With his debut, Smith joins Hilo’s Red Rocha — a 10-year NBA veteran and 1951 All-Star — as the only players from Hawaii high schools to play in the NBA. Rocha last appeared in a game in 1957.

'It seems like yesterday he was walking around the community in his Red Raider uniform' – Kahuku basketball celebrates Tolu Smith’s NBA debut with Pistons, the first appearance for a Hawaii High School graduate since Red Rocha in 1957 https://t.co/nePtloXKhy #NBAHawaii #Hawaii… pic.twitter.com/cLXBWNKKhc

— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) April 15, 2025