Hawai’i snags Seattle University sophomore big man out of transfer portal

HONOLULU – It’s the biggest add yet.

No, literally.

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team made its fourth addition of the portal cycle on Tuesday as former Seattle University forward/center Houran Dan announced his commitment to the Rainbow Warriors officially on social media.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore appeared in all 35 games for the Redhawks last season, averaging 5.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15 minutes of action per night while helping the West Coast Conference members go 21-14 overall and earn a bid into the National Invitation Tournament.

Dan received interest from a multitude of schools after entering the portal on April 7 but said that Hawai’i stood out among the crowd and continued to separate from the other programs as he learned more about the Rainbow Warrior program and coaching staff.

“The coaching staff, style of play and overall environment really stood out to me,” Dan said of Hawai’i. “I felt like it’s a place where I can grow both as a player and a person … I’ve always liked Hawai’i too, so it just felt like the right place for me.”

Growing up in Neimenggu, China, Dan didn’t begin playing basketball until he was 13 years old. The son of a pair of former professional basketball players, the younger Dan had full focus on his studies before taking an interest in hooping himself.

Once he started though, he was fully invested.

He rapidly developed, earning a spot on China’s U19 team in time for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. While in Hungary, China secured a 10th place finish among the 16-team field and Dan averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds across seven games while playing behind 2025 first round NBA draft pick Yang Hansen.

Dan flashed his collegiate potential throughout the event, including with a 10-point, 2-rebound, 1-block performance in 18 minutes against the United States. He also had six points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks in just 14 minutes during a victory against Korea.

The center prides himself on being a high-effort player, pointing to Derrick Rose as his favorite NBA player for the energy he brings and for the guard’s perseverance through injuries.

Dan brings a similar level of intensity, attacking the glass and the rim consistently. Across two seasons with Seattle, Dan shot better than 56% from the field and showed competence at the free throw line by shooting 67.5% on more than 115 attempts.

An analytics darling, the 6-foot-10 sophomore was effective in limited action as he tallied a total rebound percentage above 10.5% in his Redhawks career. He takes pride in creating extra opportunities for himself and his teammates as well.

“I love competing,” Dan said when describing his personality. “I’m a competitor who plays hard every possession.”

He joins Arizona State forward Marcus Adams Jr., Point Loma guard Jaden Matingou and Northern Arizona forward Zack Davidson as the newest additions to the Rainbow Warrior roster. Hawai’i returns guards Tanner Cuff and Isaiah Kerr after last season’s Big West championship and will see prep standouts Tiger Cuff and Scotty Belnap join the program as freshmen.