After seeing 11 departures via graduation, the transfer portal and professional opportunities following a disappointing 2024-25 season, the UH men’s basketball team enters the offseason looking at a major remodeling of the roster. The Rainbow Warriors struggled to fill positions quickly in the portal last spring after losing six key members of the 2023-24 rotation, ultimately leading to a below .500 finish for UH for just the second time in Eran Ganot’s decade-long stint leading the program.

Hawai’i returns talented freshman point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor (2.5 A/TO, T-3rd in Big West) alongside veteran Harry Rouhliadeff as solid pieces to build on this offseason. The Rainbow Warriors will also add another key piece in three-star recruit Hunter Carter next year after the 6-foot-6 combo guard completed a fantastic senior season with Rosemary Anderson (OR) on the Grind Session Power Conference circuit.

Since contact with recruits/transfers has been permitted, the UH men’s basketball staff has been busy trying to find strong fits to return the program to the top of the Big West standings in the final year in the conference. Below, you can find an up-to-date list on the latest in ‘Bows basketball recruiting – from rumors to offers to commitments.

You can stay up to date on the latest in Hawai’i men’s basketball recruiting news by following Paul Brecht on X/Twitter, @12brecht, or by following along with HSRN’s 2025 Recruiting/Transfer Portal Tracker here. 

Hawaii retains leading scorer from ’24-25, Nemeikša granted waiver [RETURN]

(August 4) Graduate forward Gytis Nemeikša has been granted a waiver for another year of eligibility from the NCAA and will pull his name from the transfer portal to return to the University of Hawaii, the program announced on Monday. The 6-foot-8 Lithuanian wing led the Rainbow Warriors in scoring last season, averaging 12.3 points per game across 31 appearances (14 starts). 

Nemeikša will be one of four returning Rainbow Warriors for the 2025-26 season, joining AJ Economou, Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and Harry Rouhliadeff alongside an entire new cast of characters for UH’s final year competing in the Big West. He enters a much more competitive frontcourt as well with former Norfolk State forward Jalen Myers, former Seton Hall forward Yacine Toumi and Rouhliadeff all expected to compete for minutes next to Utah State center Isaac Johnson.

Former Big East forward picks Hawai’i to close out college career [COMMIT]

(JUNE 6) Former Seton Hall F Yacine Toumi announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, becoming the eighth transfer to join the Rainbow Warriors this offseason. The 6-foot-10 forward spent one up-and-down season with the Pirates, but had two standout years in the Missouri Valley Conference with Evansville as he averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Purple Aces.

Toumi crossed over with fellow UH transfer Tanner Cuff during his time at Evansville and entered his name into consideration for the 2024 NBA Draft after the 2023-24 campaign before deciding to return to school and transfer to Seton Hall. After one season in the Big East, the French-Tunisian forward will finish his college career in the Big West.

Hawai’i picks up former NCAA Tournament starter, strong rebounder [COMMIT]

(MAY 2) Former Norfolk State F Jalen Myers announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the Rainbow Warriors after spending one season with the Spartans. The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in his lone year with the MEAC regular season and tournament champions, shooting 52% from the field and 86% from the free throw line while knocking down 20 3-pointers for good measure across 31 games (29 starts).

Myers scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds in the Spartans’ first round NCAA Tournament loss to eventual national champion Florida to close out his time at Norfolk State. The forward was the third-ranked player in the state of Alabama in the Class of 2020 and was named the state’s Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year while he averaged a double-double at Bob Jones High School.

All-CCAA 1st-team selection takes jump to D1, becomes latest UH add [COMMIT]

(APRIL 26) Chico State G Isaiah Kerr announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Saturday morning, leaping back up to the Division I level after spending the past two seasons competing in the elite California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) at D2. Kerr, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 29 appearances.

Kerr drilled 35% of his 3-point attempts last season, knocking down 43 tries from beyond the arc as he finished as the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer. Chico State won a program-record 19 conference games, including 13 straight, and finished as CCAA runners-up to eventual national runner-up Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Nation’s best JUCO player picks Hawai’i as elite class forming [COMMIT]

(APRIL 25) Shooting changes games in a heartbeat.

Snow College F Ike Finlinson announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Friday, choosing the Rainbow Warriors over Oakland, UC San Diego and Southern Illinois after being named NJCAA D1 National Player of the Year. The 6-foot-8 forward knocked down 38.5% of his 3-point attempts last year, leading the Badgers with 18.7 points per game while hauling in 6.6 rebounds.

Finlinson started his career at Utah Tech, taking a medical redshirt after appearing in just two games in 2022-23. The forward is the fifth player to join the Rainbow Warriors via the transfer portal this offseason and the second commitment of the week after South Dakota G Dre Bullock chose UH over Oregon State on Monday.

High-flying South Dakota guard picks ‘Bows over Beavers, others [COMMIT]

(APRIL 21) Hawai’i, we have lift-off – former University of South Dakota guard Dre Bullock announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Monday, becoming the fourth player to transfer into the program this offseason. The springy 6-foot-6 wing took a visit to O’ahu over the weekend and connected with the coaching staff while enjoying the warmth of the islands.

Bullock averaged 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in his lone season with USD, scoring in double figures in 17 of his 30 games played. He becomes the fourth player to transfer into the program this offseason, joining fellow guards Hunter Erickson and Tanner Cuff along with center Isaac Johnson.

‘Bows guard Kody Williams enters name into portal [TRANSFER]

(APRIL 17) Hawai’i’s roster from the 2024-25 season has essentially flipped over. Junior guard Kody Williams became the eighth player from last year’s squad to look for a change of scenery after three years with the Rainbow Warriors. The 6-0 guard spent his first two seasons as a walk-on with the program before earning his way onto scholarship before last year and becoming the opening night starter at the point guard spot.

Williams led UH with 36 made 3-pointers and averaged 7.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest in 26 appearances (21 starts) before missing the end of the regular season with a wrist injury. The twitchy guard led the team in giveaways per game, turning it over 2.1 times in 23.5 minutes per night.

*** UPDATE: Williams announced his commitment to Hampton on Thursday, May 15 ***

Hawai’i sophomore co-captain Tom Beattie enters portal, Nemeikša testing waters [TRANSFER]

(APRIL 16) Sophomore guard Tom Beattie reportedly became the latest UH men’s basketball player to hit the portal on Wednesday, according to Stephen Tsai of the Star-Advertiser. The 6-foot-5 New Zealand native appeared in 60 games (27 starts) across two seasons with the Rainbow Warriors, averaging 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds on 42.5% shooting from the floor.

Beattie took on the role of co-captain in just his second year with the program after a promising freshman campaign, but struggled with turnovers and long-range shooting on a middling roster and saw his minutes fluctuate because of the inconsistencies. Forward Gytis Nemeikša, who led the Rainbow Warriors in scoring last season at 12.3 points a night, also entered his name into the portal before it closes on April 22 as he petitions the NCAA for additional eligibility.

*** UPDATE: Beattie announced his commitment to UC San Diego on Monday, May 12 ***

Bullock to visit islands after taking OV to Oregon State [RUMORS/VISIT]

(APRIL 11) The pursuit to get more athletic and more shooting continues for the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program. The Rainbow Warriors will host South Dakota G Dre Bullock for a visit beginning on April 17, multiple sources confirmed. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported the plans of a visit for the graduate student.

The 6-foot-6 guard has shot 37.2% from 3-point range over the course of three seasons at the Division I level and provides a spectacular highlight reel of dunks in both half court and in transition. He also ranked among the top three in steals and blocks last season for South Dakota despite playing the sixth-most minutes for the Coyotes.

‘Bows turn sights on frontcourt, JUCO Jam National Player of the Year [RUMORS]

(APRIL 5) Back to the Utah pipeline? The UH men’s basketball team will bring in Snow College forward Isaac “Ike” Finlinson for a visit in the next couple weeks after the 6-foot-8 shooter visits Oakland. Finlinson was named the JUCO Jam National Player of the Year after leading the Badgers to a 32-2 overall record and multiple weeks as the top-ranked team in NJCAA Division I.

Finlinson shot 38.5% from long range last season at Snow, drilling 65 3-pointers as he led the team in scoring at 18.7 points per game. The forward started his college career at Utah Tech in 2022-23, appearing in just two games and playing four total minutes before transferring into the Badgers’ program and spending the past two seasons developing. Kody Williams led the Rainbow Warriors with 36 made 3-pointers last season (though only 25 came against Division I opponents) while UH shot just 32% from long distance as a team.

‘Bows offer C/O ’26 Utah Prep forward [OFFER]

(APRIL 3) Utah Prep forward Jackson Kiss became the latest high school hooper to receive an offer from the University of Hawai’i on Thursday. Kiss, a 6-foot-7 forward from New Zealand, helped Utah Prep win the ‘Iolani Classic in December after bursting onto the big stage on basketball scene last summer at the U17 FIBA World Cup in Turkey. Kiss averaged 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in just under 17 minutes per game over the seven contests he played in the World Cup, shooting 50% FG as he helped lead New Zealand to a fourth-place finish in the event.

Palm, Greene taking extra JUCO year, hitting portal [TRANSFER]

(APRIL 2) After spending one season with the Rainbow Warriors, center Jerome Palm and guard Marcus Greene are moving on – just not completely because they were honored on Senior Night this past season. Both players will be taking advantage of another year of eligibility after the NCAA announced at the end of December that athletes who competed at JUCO, NAIA and other non-NCAA schools and would have otherwise exhausted college eligibility after the 2024-25 season would have another year of eligibility.

Greene averaged 7.3 points per game on 30.2% shooting from 3-point range across 31 appearances in his lone year with UH men’s basketball while Palm chipped in with 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game while seeing nine minutes of work each night.

Former Utah, BYU guard picks Hawai’i for final hurrah [COMMIT]

(APRIL 1) No joke here – former University of Utah G Hunter Erickson announced his commitment to Hawai’i on Tuesday afternoon, electing to spend his final season of eligibility with the Rainbow Warriors. The 6-foot-3 sharpshooter knocked down more than 34% for his 3-point attempts across 70 appearances for the Utes, playing a key role in the team’s run to the 2024 NIT semifinals.

Erickson has made stops at BYU, Salt Lake Community College and Utah during his college career, providing high-flying highlights and plenty of 3-point buckets across time with all three programs. The Provo, UT-native is the third member of the Rainbow Warriors’ transfer recruiting class, joining G Tanner Cuff and C Isaac Johnson as new faces from different places as Hawai’i looks to bounce back to the top of the Big West.

Two-time PacWest Defensive Player of the Year, Hawai’i show mutual interest [RUMORS]

(MARCH 30) Former University of Hawai’i-Hilo center Nadjrick Peat may not be leaving the islands quite yet. The two-time winner of the PacWest Defender of the Year award & Vulcans’ all-time leading rebounder has garnered interest from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa – among other Division I schools – since entering the transfer portal earlier this month.

Peat blocked 181 shots across three seasons with UH-Hilo and developed into a solid rim-running threat on offense with a knack for rebounding. The Rainbow Warriors have maintained interest in the 6-foot-11 rim protector even after securing former Utah State center Isaac Johnson on Saturday, according to sources. Hawai’i lost both centers from last year’s team in Tanner Christensen and Jerome Palm and lacked true rim protection, recording the second-least amount of blocked shots in the Big West in 2024-25.

*** UPDATE: Peat announced his commitment to Coastal Carolina on his Instagram on Saturday, May 3 ***

‘Bows battling with top programs for ascending scorer from Utah Valley [RUMORS]

(MARCH 29) After snagging a pair of high-level additions already via the transfer portal, Hawai’i is reportedly looking at another big swing after checking in on former Utah Valley G Tanner Toolson. The 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore was the second-leading scorer last year for the Wolverines and averaged more than 13 points per game last year for the regular season WAC champions, knocking down 35% of his 3-point attempts in his second year with the program.

Toolson entered the portal and immediately heard from a plethora of programs such as Cal, Utah State, BYU among many others. The Vancouver, WA product started his college career at BYU, spending one season with the Cougars and playing in just six games before transferring to Utah Valley.

The Rainbow Warriors also have reached out to Toolson and are expected to bring the scorer to the islands for a visit in early April. UH assistant coach Gibson Johnson played with Toolson’s older brother, Connor, and the two won the 2016 NJCAA Division I national championship together at Salt Lake Community College before Johnson joined the Rainbow Warriors as a player for his final two seasons of eligibility.

*** UPDATE: Tanner Toolson announced his commitment to TCU on Sunday, April 20 ***

‘Bows reel in “Big Fish” from Utah State [COMMIT]

(MARCH 29) Hawai’i added a big piece from the portal on Saturday, reeling in the commitment of former Utah State center Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson as the second member of the program’s 2025 transfer recruiting class. The 7-foot, 230-pound big man has one season of eligibility remaining and comes to the islands with a chance to fill a key role in the middle for the Rainbow Warriors after both centers from last year’s rotation in Tanner Christensen and Jerome Palm moved on.

Johnson was high school teammates at American Fork (UT) with UH commit Tanner Cuff, winning a state title together in 2019 to snap a 40-year championship drought for the program. Originally listed as a forward coming out of high school, Johnson earned a four-star rating from ESPN and was ranked as the 53rd-best prospect in the Class of 2019 before committing to Oregon.

After serving an LDS mission and playing sparingly for a year with the Ducks, the 7-footer transferred over to Utah State and spent three seasons with the Aggies – starting and helping deliver the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in over two decades in 2024.

Hawai’i showing interest in nation’s rebounding leader [RUMORS]

(MARCH 28) With multiple holes to fill in the front court, the University of Hawai’i was among a long list of schools to reach out to Northern Arizona transfer Carson Towt after the portal opened earlier in the week. The 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward scored 13.3 points per game and led the nation with 12.4 rebounds per contest across 34 appearances in his redshirt junior season with the Lumberjacks.

Towt also finished with the sixth-most double-doubles among all Division I men’s basketball players, consistently producing for NAU after joining the program in 2019-20 and redshirting. The Gilbert, AZ-native stayed home and has been the best player on multiple team iterations for the Lumberjacks, including the past year for an 18-16 squad, but did miss the entire 2023-24 season due to an injury.

*** UPDATE: Carson Towt announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Sunday, April 13 ***

Hawai’i, athletic South Dakota sharpshooter linked to each other [RUMORS]

(MARCH 25) Hawai’i has been in contact with former South Dakota guard Dre Bullock since the 6-foot-6 graduate transfer put his name into the portal. A native of Franklinton, NC, Bullock averaged 12.1 points and 1.4 steals per game in his lone season with the Coyotes – good for third-most on the team as Bullock and company went 19-14 in a solid Summit League.

Bullock has stops at three different Division I institutions, also playing a single season for Louisiana Tech (2022-23) and Niagara (2023-24) before spending last year with the Cougars. The guard started the final 11 games of the season for South Dakota and finished in double figures in all but two of those contests.

Former Evansville guard becomes first transfer addition for ‘Bows [COMMIT]

(MARCH 24) Former Evansville guard Tanner Cuff became the first player to transfer to Hawai’i this offseason on March 24, announcing his commitment to the Rainbow Warriors on Monday after spending the last two seasons with the Purple Aces. The 6-foot-7 guard went from bench standout in 2023-24 to consistent starter in 2024-25 as he averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game across 32 starts last year for Evansville.

Cuff is rated as a four-star transfer recruit by EvanMiya.com and comes to the islands with two seasons of eligibility remaining. The big playmaker is prone to filling up the box sheet and putting teammates in good scoring positions – Cuff has never finished a season with less than 72 assists (approx. 2.4 APG) and racked up more than a steal per game in his final season with the Purple Aces.

Hawai’i sees F Akira Jacobs, two others enter portal on Opening Day [TRANSFER]

(MARCH 24) University of Hawai’i sophomore Akira Jacobs was one of three Rainbow Warriors to enter their name into the transfer portal on Monday, choosing to look for a new home for his final two seasons of college eligibility. The 6-foot-10 forward from Japan appeared in 56 games (8 starts) across the past two years with UH, averaging 4.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game while knocking down 32.2% of his 3-point attempts.

Guards Logan Robeson and Jacopo Van der Knaap also will begin searches for new homes after playing sparingly last season. Robeson, a redshirt freshman from Moraga, CA, played in 10 games and knocked down one 3-pointer for Hawai’i while Van der Knaap, another freshman, leaves after appearing in two total games and also hitting one 3-pointer for the Rainbow Warriors.

*** UPDATE: Akira Jacobs announced his commitment to Fordham on Wednesday, April 16 ***