The first time Alan Cabanting saw Max Slaughter, the longtime Moanalua volleyball coach was convinced.

Cabanting believed that the then 5-foot-5 outside hitter would make a decent addition. But not to the powerhouse varsity team. The coach received video footage from Slaughter’s father shortly before the family relocated from Alabama to Oahu. That was nearly three years ago, prior to Slaughter’s sophomore season.

“He was a scrawny, 5-foot-5 hitter. Compared to his other teammates, he was smaller, and he had skill. OK, all right. Well, we have a good JV team,” Cabanting said. “The team he was on, there wasn’t a lot of bump, set, spike.”

Then the Slaughter ohana moved to Hawaii.

“Oh wow, he grew a little bit. He was maybe 5-8, his movement to the ball was nice. Then he came to club tryouts, and the Kuikahi coaches were like, ‘Oh no, this must be another Punahou kid. Where does Punahou get these kids?’ I said, no, he’s Moanalua.”

My, how times changed. Slaughter, now 6-2 and refined at the outside hitter position, developed into a kill machine for Na Menehune. As a skilled back-row stopper, a blocker at net and, in supreme fashion, an unstoppable force on every swing, Slaughter sparked Moanalua to the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship. His team reached the semifinal round of the state tourney, falling in five sets to eventual champion Punahou.

Slaughter had 30 kills in that bittersweet defeat for Moanalua (14-3).

Coaches and media voted the persistent, relentless senior the Star-Advertiser All-State player of the year. Punahou junior Jack Deuchar was second in the balloting, which is the closest finish since the Fab 15 format was installed.

Back in 2015, Slaughter was still in Tide country, commuting 90 minutes to club practice along with his mother and sisters. His mom, Kim, is a setters coach. Older sister Ally played for UAB.

“They were always helpful,” Slaughter recalled.

Growing 9 inches in three years came with challenges.

“He needed to learn how to hit hard. Because his volleyball IQ was high, he would use roll shots and tips, but in a men’s game you have to hit it hard,” Cabanting recalled. “It was more on the mental side, where he was controlling it instead of just blasting it. Fastball, change-up.”

Slaughter then learned how to use more options once he grew comfortable with swinging at full force.

“I’m excited to see him next year after he’s been in the weight room,” Cabanting said. “From high school to college, that’s when they grow into their bodies fully. He’s going to pack up and hit the ball even harder.”

Slaughter will play at Menlo, an NAIA program, next season. Cabanting draws a comparison to former King Kekaulike standout Colton Cowell, a 2015 All-State player.

“Colton also played for Kuikahi, and he was scrawny. He went to UH and he worked hard to get where he’s at,” Cabanting noted.

Coach of the year honors went to Rick Tune, who guided Punahou to its eighth state championship in a row despite losing five starters to graduation. Tune was a narrow selection over Dandi Holder, who guided St. Francis to the Division II state title for a second year in a row. Jordan Inafuku of ‘Iolani was third in the voting after leading the Raiders to their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu title since 2008. Randy Nako of Kamehameha, Sivan Leoni of Kalaheo and Cabanting also received votes.