Former Sydney Kings wing Lueth Awan finds home with Hawai’i

HONOLULU – Going down under to fill up the seats.

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball dipped into the NBL to continue finishing out the 2026-27 roster, gaining the commitment of former Sydney Kings G Lueth Awan on Tuesday morning.

The 6-foot-7 wing from Australia spent last season in the NBL on a Developmental Player deal, appearing in 13 games for a Kings squad won the 2026 NBL championship over the Adelaide 36ers. He knocked down 5-of-12 attempts from 3-point range in limited game action while he matured behind the scenes as a player and person.

“My time with the Sydney Kings was invaluable,” said Awan. “Being around experienced professionals every day taught me what it takes to compete at a high level. I learned a lot about preparation, professionalism and the little details that separate good players from great ones.”

Despite interest from other schools, Awan said he was drawn to Hawai’i as the best fit for his basketball and personal future. Previous years of player development and culture building were among the attributes that stuck out about the Rainbow Warriors, but Awan emphasized the coaching staff’s impact on picking the islands as home.

“They reached out to me and showed genuine interest in me,” the 21-year-old said. “Not just as a basketball player but as a person. [The more I learned] about the program, the culture, and the direction they’re heading, it felt like a place where I could continue to develop and compete at a high level.”

The Rainbow Warriors were also tossed an assist by former NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova, who was teammates with Awan on the Sydney Kings last year and spoke glowingly of UH’s Eran Ganot as the young wing decided on where to play next.

“Hearing the way Delly spoke about Coach Ganot and the mutual respect they have for each other definitely gave me confidence in the program,” Awan said, emphasizing Hawai’i as an environment that best fit his pursuit of his long-term goals.

Kings head coach Brian Goorjian spoke glowingly of the young wing after Awan scored eight points in six minutes in a 119-77 victory over Cairns in late December last season.

“He came in and you saw the talent, but then his work ethic, his development in the weight room, on the day-to-day and then you can tell he’s a really good connection piece with the guys. The guys really, really respect him as a player but also really enjoy him as a teammate,” said the 7-time NBL champion and reigning NBL Coach of the Year.

Awan’s addition makes it a dozen new players in 2026-27 for the Rainbow Warriors, completely refreshing the roster after a Big West swan song championship season. Hawai’i still has one roster spot available before the first trek through the Mountain West begins, though they do not have to fill it.