Hawai’i holds off late HPU rally to complete collection of local wins

Hawai’i holds off late HPU rally to complete collection of local wins

Apr 1, 2025

Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University shake hands after a competitive 10-8 game on Tuesday night, won by the Rainbow Warriors. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i holds off late HPU rally to complete collection of local wins

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 1, 2025

HONOLULU – Battle to the end. 

The University of Hawai’i baseball team officially secured victories over each of the local Division II opponents on Tuesday evening, outlasting Hawaii Pacific inside Les Murakami Stadium, 10-8. Freddy Rodriguez picked up the victory for the Rainbow Warriors while redshirt freshman Ethan Thomas recorded his first career save in a game that UH head coach Rich Hill used nine different pitchers in. 

Jacob Vanek was charged with the loss for the Sharks, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in one inning of work. HPU used seven pitchers of their own, seeing the back end of the bullpen find success with three straight scoreless frames to close out the night as the Division II visitors made their lone visit to Les Murakami Stadium this season. 

Hawai’i tallied 10 hits throughout the night, seeing Ben Zeigler-Namoa, Matt Miura and reigning Golden Spikes National Player of the Week Kamana Nahaku record two hits each as the Rainbow Warriors won for the ninth time in the last 10 outings. Shortstop Jordan Donahue went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in and a pair of runs scored while Draven Nushida added an RBI double for his lone hit in three at-bats. 

HPU showed off its dynamic offense with 14 hits spread across the nine innings, coming back multiple times to make the Division I Rainbow Warriors sweat it out through a game that ran for three hours. Leadoff hitter Kan Taguchi set the table well for the Sharks, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and another batted in. Third baseman Tyler Arnold also went 3-for-4, showing off his power with a loud three-run homerun in the top of the second inning and again with an RBI double in the top of the eighth. 

Former Rainbow Warrior and current HPU star Bronson Rivera enjoyed his return to his old home stadium, turning in a 2-for-4 night at the plate with two runs scored and two more runs batted in. The left fielder, who is currently tied for the most homers in a single season in Sharks’ history, was held without an extra base hit but did reach base a third time with a walk. 

Hawai’i jumped on HPU starting pitcher Jacob Vanek from the very beginning, seeing the first five batters reach and three runs home before finally making the first out with an RBI sacrifice fly from Nushida. Kedren Kinzie tacked on the final run of the opening frame for the Rainbow Warriors with an RBI groundout to shortstop before Vanek got Aidan Kuni to fly out to end the first with the Sharks down 5-0. 

HPU was able to fight back in the top of the second after back-to-back singles and an error by new UH pitcher Danny Veloz put runners on second and third with nobody out. Arnold crushed a no-doubt homer a few pitches later to bring the Sharks back within a pair, 5-3.  

After trading zeroes, HPU allowed UH to tack on another run in the bottom half of the third when Zeigler-Namoa lifted an RBI sac fly to short left field that barely scored Miura from third on a bang-bang play at the plate. The Rainbow Warriors added three more runs to seemingly break the game open in the fourth, but a Bronson Rivera single to center field plated two runners and brought the Sharks back within striking distance, 9-5. 

The sides held each other scoreless over the next two full frames before HPU made one final comeback push with three runs in the top of the eighth inning, but the magic in Mānoa runs into the ninth for only one team – and they don green. 

Ethan Thomas slammed the door shut with two scoreless innings of work, getting the Rainbow Warriors out of the jam in the eighth before a dominant ninth inning saw him sit down the Sharks in order. The redshirt freshman tallied four strikeouts and allowed only one baserunner in his two frames, getting his first college save as Hawai’i took down Hawaii Pacific, 10-8. 

The Sharks (19-15) return to action on Friday, playing host to the University of Hawai’i-Hilo for a four-game weekend PacWest series. The Rainbow Warriors (21-6) will kick off a three-game tilt with Long Beach State on Friday, hosting the Dirtbags before heading to the continent for a critical California road trip. 

Former Utah sharpshooter Hunter Erickson commits to Hawai’i

Former Utah sharpshooter Hunter Erickson commits to Hawai’i

Apr 1, 2025

Photo Credit: Hunter Erickson / Hawaii Athletics

Former Utah sharpshooter Hunter Erickson commits to Hawai’i

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 1, 2025

HONOLULU – You can never have enough shooting. 

Former Utah guard Hunter Erickson announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Tuesday, becoming the third transfer member in the Rainbow Warriors’ 2025 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 shooter averaged 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 70 appearances (2 starts) in two seasons with the Utes, knocking down 55 3-pointers on 34.4% shooting from beyond the arc. 

“I think Hawai’i presents a unique opportunity to make an impact somewhere that will matter to an entire state,” Erickson said in an interview with HSRN. “One thing that stuck out was the fact that they’re the only D1 basketball team for the entire state and [with only one year of eligibility left], I feel like I could come in and have an impact that would matter not only to the team but to the entire state.”

The Rainbow Warriors were one of the first programs to reach out to the 6-foot-3 guard after he hit the transfer portal, quickly making Erickson feel wanted with visions of what his impact could be in the islands. Previous connections with assistant coach Gibson Johnson and other transfer commits Tanner Cuff and Isaac Johnson also helped make the decision easier for Erickson as to where he would call home for his final year of college hoops. The guard spent his final season of 17U AAU as teammates with Isaac Johnson and crossed over with Cuff for one year at the JUCO level.

“I think both are fantastic players, and both are guys that I have some experience with already,” Erickson said of the other two UH commits from the portal. “I think [that familiarity] will be great for getting some early chemistry on the team.”

Erickson was a prolific high school scorer at Timpview, accumulating more than 1,100 career points and averaging over 22 points per game before graduating in 2018 and embarking on a two-year church mission. Afterwards, the guard followed through on his commitment to play basketball for BYU. 

After two seasons with the Cougars resulted in a lackluster number of minutes, the Provo native bounced to the junior college level and spent one season with Salt Lake City Community College (SLCC) to re-find the magic. In his lone year with Bruins, Erickson averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists and shot 42.1% from 3-point range across 30 starts, helping lead SLCC to the NJCAA Division I Tournament as they went 29-5 and won the Region 18 and Western District championships.

Erickson provided plenty of memorable moments during his time with Utah, knocking down multiple clutch shots and to go along with some high-flying theatrics. Other highlights from his time with the Utes included a 15-point outing against Hawai’i during the 2023-24 season and a 13-point burst against UC Irvine during the opening round of the NIT later that same year. 

“I want to bring a conference championship and NCAA tournament berth back to Hawai’i,” Erickson said of his goals for his lone season with the Rainbow Warriors. “I want to leave a mark that will matter and last a lifetime. I look forward to getting out there!”

The extra eligibility for the Class of 2018 guard comes after the NCAA announced at the end of December that athletes who competed at JUCO, NAIA and other non-NCAA schools and would have exhausted college eligibility after the 2024-25 season have another year to compete. 

Erickson is rated as a three-star transfer by EvanMiya.com and joins fellow guards Hunter Carter and Tanner Cuff as additions to the Hawai’i backcourt. Former Utah State center Isaac Johnson also has joined the Rainbow Warriors’ recruiting class after UH graduated five players and saw sophomore forward Akira Jacobs hit the transfer portal, leaving multiple spots to fill for Eran Ganot and staff during the offseason. 

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

UH Men’s Basketball: 2025 Offseason Recruiting/Transfer Portal Tracker

UH Men’s Basketball: 2025 Offseason Recruiting/Transfer Portal Tracker

Mar 30, 2025

UH Men’s Basketball: 2025 Offseason Recruiting/Transfer Portal Tracker

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 30, 2025

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 ***

Hawai’i reels in commitment from former Utah State big Isaac Johnson

Hawai’i reels in commitment from former Utah State big Isaac Johnson

Mar 29, 2025

Former Utah State center Isaac Johnson announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Saturday, becoming the second member of the 2025 transfer recruiting class for the ‘Bows. | Photo Credit: Isaac Johnson, Hawaii Athletics

Hawai’i reels in commitment from former Utah State big Isaac Johnson

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 29, 2025

HONOLULU – The ‘Bows reeled the “Big Fish” in the portal. 

Former Utah State center Isaac Johnson announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Saturday, becoming the second transfer member of the Rainbow Warriors’ 2025 recruiting class. The 7-foot junior spent the past two seasons with the Aggies, appearing in 65 contests (43 starts) and averaging 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. 

Hawai’i came onto Johnson’s radar after high school teammate Tanner Cuff announced his commitment to the Rainbow Warriors to open the transfer portal period. After connecting with UH assistant coach Gibson Johnson and talking to head coach Eran Ganot, “The Big Fish” was sold on being the next key piece to returning Hawai’i to high-level success. 

“I was really impressed with [the coaching staff’s] vision of how I can help the team for this upcoming year to win,” the former Utah State center said of Hawai’i’s courtship.  

A versatile big man, Johnson was a four-star recruit and ranked as the 53rd-best high school player in ESPN’s Top 100 list in 2019. The talented shooting big man committed to play his college ball for the Oregon Ducks after he finished serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ohio. After his LDS mission, the highly rated center spent one season with the Ducks and saw action in 13 games before transferring to Utah State in 2022.  

After spending a year redshirting with the Aggies, Johnson burst onto the scene in 2023-24 as an impactful stretch five for new head coach Danny Sprinkle. The center played in all 35 games for USU, tying him for the third-most appearances in a single season for any player in Aggies’ history, and proved to be a quality floor spacer as he shot 34.2% from long range. 

He saved his best performances for late that season though, turning in a career-high 19 points and four blocks in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Johnson helped Utah State dispatch TCU and advance into the Round of 32 for the first time in more than two decades. Kevin Harlan referred to Johnson as “a big fish” during the win and consistently referenced a chomping motion celebration that the seven-footer displayed after big plays.  

“I’m excited to see what the game plan is for me and what I can do to help this team win,” said Johnson of his transfer to the islands. “As a teammate, I try to be uplifting and as supportive as I can in all of my teammates’ successes. Whether on or off the court, I want my teammates to succeed.” 

After Sprinkle left USU for the University of Washington job, Johnson saw his minutes dwindle as less of a fit in new head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s scheme. After playing double-digit minutes in 25-out-of-35 games in 2023-24 with Sprinkle, Johnson saw under 10 minutes of action in more than half of his appearances in 2024-25 under Calhoun but stuck in the rotation while appearing in 30 games. 

“Each team I’ve been on has had at least 20 wins and I have learned so much from each one and each staff,” Johnson said. “That [winning pedigree] is something I will try to bring to the team this year.” 

The 7-footer provides a floor-spacing threat from the center position, adding a pick-and-pop option for guards to work with while giving more space to operate in the paint. Johnson still provides the usual benefits of a big man with the ability to go down low to score over defenders on one end while showing off glimpses of solid rim protection. 

Johnson is rated as a three-star transfer and top 20 center in the portal by EvanMiya.com and joins former Evansville guard Tanner Cuff and Rosemary Anderson star Hunter Carter as offseason additions to the Hawai’i roster. The Rainbow Warriors graduated five players and saw sophomore forward Akira Jacobs hit the transfer portal, leaving multiple rotation spots to fill for Eran Ganot and staff during the offseason. 

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. 

Hawai’i sweeps UC San Diego behind super swings of Sakanoko, Titriyski

Hawai’i sweeps UC San Diego behind super swings of Sakanoko, Titriyski

Mar 28, 2025

Hawai’i OH Louis Sakanoko smirks during a home match for the Rainbow Warriors. The sophomore had 13 kills and a spectacular backwards kill in UH’s sweep over UC San Diego on Friday night. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i sweeps UC San Diego behind super swings of Sakanoko, Titriyski

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 28, 2025

HONOLULU – Alone at the top. 

The fourth-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team clinched its fourth consecutive 20-win season on Friday night, sweeping No. 11 UC San Diego (16-5, 2-1 Big West) behind big offensive efforts from Kristian Titriyski and Louis Sakanoko – (25-21, 25-21, 25-18). The victory also moved the Rainbow Warriors into sole possession of the Big West’s pole position after No. 1 Long Beach State (20-1, 2-1 Big West) fell to No. 5 UC Irvine (15-4, 1-2 Big West) in straight sets earlier in the evening. 

Hawai’i (20-2, 3-0 Big West) looked well-rested after the team’s final bye of the regular season last week, seeing balanced efforts all over the floor. Titriyski led the way with a match-best 16 kills, adding one of the Rainbow Warriors’ six total service aces to go along with four digs and a block as the freshman opposite seemed unstoppable. 

Sakanoko delivered the play of the night, somehow finding floor on a spinning, no-look attack with his back facing the Tritons’ side of the net for one of his 13 kills. The sophomore matched libero ‘Eleu Choy and fellow Frenchman Adrien Roure with a team-high seven digs while also recording an ace in a well-rounded showing. 

Tread Rosenthal dished out 33 assists in the straight set victory for UH, helping the hosts outhit UCSD, .326 to .181 over the three frames. Ofeck Hazan provided quality reps for Hawai’i after Justin Todd tweaked his left ankle in the opening set, getting a hand in on a pair of blocks while also adding a couple of digs and a kill across parts of three stanzas. 

Todd, who UH head coach Charlie Wade said during his Spectrum Sports postgame interview could have returned to the match if needed, suffered the injury midway through the first set after landing on Sakanoko’s foot. 

Despite the loss of Todd in the lineup, Hawai’i pushed ahead as the hosts scored three straight points to snag a 21-18 advantage late in the first set, forcing UC San Diego to call for a timeout. It only delayed the inevitable as a locked-in Titriyski smashed six kills and led the Rainbow Warriors to a victory in the opening frame, 25-21. 

Hawai’i continued the momentum as it took a slim two-point lead by the second set’s media timeout behind Titriyski’s continued dominance. Despite a couple of rallies from the visitors, UH held the Tritons back far enough to secure a comfortable 2-0 set lead as Sakanoko closed out the second frame for the Rainbow Warriors with the same score as the first, 25-21. 

The third set continued to show off the French invasion as Sakanoko dazzled the volleyball world in-and-outside the Stan Sheriff Center with a spectacular spinning swing that put Hawai’i up by a point in the early going. His fellow countryman Adrien Roure followed it up a few points later with a solo denial of UCSD’s Leo Pravednikov to push the Rainbow Warrior advantage to six, sending the crowd of over 5,000 fans into another craze.

The Hawai’i lead stayed comfortable through the remainder of the third set and Titriyski’s powerful swing ended the match as the Rainbow Warriors swept the Tritons in straight frames to snap UCSD’s seven-game winning streak and move into sole possession of first place in the Big West for the first time this year. 

Anthony Cherfan led the way for UC San Diego, putting down 13 kills on 33 swings while committing five attack errors. The senior opposite also added five digs and three blocks as the Tritons fell for the first time in over a month. Redshirt junior Josh Schellinger chipped in with seven kills and four digs for UCSD. 

Adrien Roure had an up-and-down offensive night, going 7-for-19 on the attack with three errors, but made up for it with massive contributions on the defensive side as he racked up a team-high four blocks and seven digs. Kurt Nusterer added three kills on six swings and a trio of blocks himself as the Mānoa Roofing Company got active again after a two-week hiatus. 

Hawai’i plays host to UC San Diego again on Saturday night, searching for a sweep of the Tritons for the first time since 2023. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT.