Hawaii secures Nemeikša return as “Nemo” caps strong class

HONOLULU – Guess who’s back?

After entering the transfer portal back on April 16, University of Hawaii graduate forward Gytis Nemeikša pulled his name and announced on Monday that he will return to the Rainbow Warriors for his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-8 wing led the Rainbow Warriors in scoring last year at 12.3 points per game across 31 contests (14 starts).

The Lithuanian forward was among the most exciting players for UH in 2024-25, turning in multiple scoring outbursts against strong opponents before tailing off in January and February as his minutes fluctuated. Nemeikša turned in six 20+ point outings and three double-doubles in the islands last season.

Other highlights included his 16-point, 10-rebound performance off the bench in 17 minutes against then-nationally ranked North Carolina in the early weeks of the season. A 24-point outburst on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine in a road loss at Grand Canyon punched the forward’s ticket into the starting lineup for the first time in the first road trip of the year.

While 2024’s edition of the Rainbow Warriors struggled from distance mightily, Nemeikša showed the ability to stretch the floor with multiple hits from 3-point range in 10 games. He also stood alone as the only UH player to take at least 100 triples.

“Nemo” returns to a team with a much brighter outlook than one year ago. The forward looks more like the final piece to an excellent recruiting class for Eran Ganot’s staff, joining eight transfers and a three-star freshman on a reloaded Rainbow Warrior team.

Nemeikša was ranked as the top player in the UH class by EvanMiya.com’s scouting service and the second four-star addition to next year’s team with Tanner Cuff. The 6-foot-8 forward was ranked as the 184th-best player to hit the portal this year and was the highest remaining player in the portal from the Big West.

He joins Cuff, Hunter Erickson, Isaac Johnson, Dre Bullock, Ike Finlinson, Isaiah Kerr, Jalen Myers and Yacine Toumi as “additions” from the portal for next year’s team. Hunter Carter, a three-star 6-foot-6 combo guard from Rosemary Anderson (OR), remains the lone high school recruit for the Rainbow Warriors’ 2025 recruiting class.