Report: Hawaii G Aaron Hunkin-Claytor intends to enter transfer portal
Hawaii G Aaron Hunkin-Claytor handles the ball during a home game against Utah Tech. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN
HONOLULU – Let the music begin.
Just under two weeks ahead of college basketball’s annual game of musical chairs starting for the 2026 cycle, the University of Hawai’i found out their point guard from this past season would be joining the collegiate free agency frenzy.
UH guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor intends to enter his name into the transfer portal when it opens on April 7, his agent Drake U’u told 247Sports’ Travis Branham on Wednesday morning.
The sophomore, who suffered a season-ending left foot injury in the middle of January and missed the final 16 games of the year, averaged 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 28.1 minutes per night in 17 starts in 2025-26. He also appeared in 29 games as a true freshman for the Rainbow Warriors, earning the starting gig for the final 11 contests of the 2024-25 campaign.
Hawai’i was 13-4 with the 6-foot-3 point guard healthy last season but finished 11-5 over the final 16 games on the way to a second-place finish in the conference’s regular season standings, a Big West tournament title and an opening round NCAA Tournament loss against No. 4 seeded Arkansas.
The decision for Hunkin-Claytor comes amid questions circulating around the future of head coach Eran Ganot, who will see his current contract expire on April 30 unless his representation and UH are able to agree to an extension in the coming weeks.
University of Hawai’i athletics director Matt Elliott has played quiet overall on where talks with the veteran head coach stand but told the Star-Advertiser’s Stephen Tsai after the team lost in the first round of the March Madness tournament: “I want him to come back.”
While declining to reveal details of ongoing discussions with #HawaiiMBB HC Eran Ganot, athletic director Matt Elliott said: "I want him to come back."
— Stephen Tsai (@StephenTsai) March 20, 2026
Ganot, who just completed his 11th year leading the Rainbow Warriors and became the second coach in program history to help take multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament, has also been complementary of UH and showed little indication of a desire to leave the islands despite the lack of future security throughout the 2025-26 season.
After winning the Big West title in 2026, the Rainbow Warriors need to replace six graduating seniors, along with any other players lost to the transfer portal. According to sources in Hunkin-Claytor’s camp, a return to Hawai’i has not been taken off the table.
The transfer portal window officially opens on Tuesday, April 7, and will remain open for players to enter into until Tuesday, April 21. Once the portal closes, student-athletes may not enter their name in unless a coaching change is made.
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