Akana may not be back with ‘Bows this year

Assistant coach Brandyn Akana was absent when the Hawaii men’s basketball team took its annual picture Monday and multiple sources say he is not expected back for the remainder of the 2013-14 regular season.

Akana has missed eight of the Rainbow Warriors’ past 10 games.

Athletic director Ben Jay would neither confirm nor deny whether Akana has been suspended. "This is a personnel matter and I won’t comment," Jay said.

Earlier this month Jay declined to say if Akana is still being paid.

Akana was absent for four games Jan. 23-Feb. 1. He then returned for two games, but was absent from games Feb. 13-22.

UH left Tuesday for a game Thursday at Long Beach State, one of three regular-season games remaining before the Big West Conference tournament March 13-15.

Jay refused to say if Akana’s absence is related to an inquiry into an "addition" to a document said to have been sent to UH concerning a recent recruit. Missouri transfer Stefan Jankovic, from Toronto, is the only player UH has officially added this semester.

Akana has not retuned phone calls from the Star-Advertiser.

In his only public comments earlier this month, head coach Gib Arnold said Akana’s absences were "absolutely nothing." After Monday’s practice, Arnold said he had no updates on Akana’s status.

An NCAA spokeswoman said in an email, "Due to rules put in place by the membership, we cannot comment on current, pending or potential investigations."

A Big West source said UH has advised the conference of a "situation," but refused further comment.