Hawai’i receives commitment from Utah Tech 6-foot-10 shot blocker

HONOLULU – The re-loading of the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team has kicked off with a big body in the middle. 

Former Utah Tech starting center Tanner Christensen announced his commitment to the Rainbow Warriors on Monday, giving head coach Eran Ganot’s team a much-needed shot blocker on the roster after the graduation of starter Bernardo de Silva and Mor Seck’s decision to enter the transfer portal. 

“What stuck out to me was how under [Ganot and staff] … that they’ve had a winning program and a history of competing for Big West titles,” Christensen said in a message to Hawai’i Sports Radio Network. “I’m most excited to play in front of the great fan base at UH and to explore the island.” 

In the past nine seasons, Hawai’i has won 60.5% of their games and has never finished a season under .500 in Big West play since Ganot took over. 

The big man from Spokane, WA also attended the Hawai’i men’s volleyball match against UC Santa Barbara to close out March, seeing the power of the Stan Sheriff Center when full.  

“I thought the fans and the atmosphere were awesome,” he said glowingly. 

Christensen, who stands at 6-foot-10 and 275 pounds, averaged 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season for Trailblazers while shooting 56% from the field and 60% from the charity stripe. He has increased his scoring average every season in college, blocked more shots last season than any player has in Ganot’s time at Hawai’i and has one season of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer. 

It is the first of what many expect to be a flurry of additions for Hawai’i this offseason as the Rainbow Warriors lose six seniors to graduation and saw sophomore 7-foot-1 big Mor Seck enter the transfer portal. 

Hawai’i will also add prep guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor as part of the 2024 recruiting class, a 3-star recruit according to 247Sports and the 2023-24 West Coast Preps Bay Area player of the year. The former ‘Iolani guard said in a text that he is “excited to play with Christensen” and has been working on his strength since his senior season at Salesian ended in the CIF Open Division State Championship game against Harvard-Westlake.