It didn’t take too long for Hawaii to reap the benefits of its showing in the NCAA Tournament.
Eran Ganot and the Rainbow Warriors got their first known oral commitment of the spring in Redondo Union (Calif.) High senior Leland Green on Easter Sunday.
“I felt like the coaching staff was very good … I felt like they’ll help me become a better player and a better person.”
Leland Green
Redondo Union (Calif.) guard, on the Hawaii coaching staff
Green, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound shooting guard, is UH’s third overall commit for 2016-17. He can sign a binding letter of intent as soon as April 13.
“I feel like I’m an up-tempo guy, an energy guy that loves to lock up on defense,” Green said in a phone interview. “I’m a guy that can also provide points on offense and feel like I can bring leadership to the team, just to add on to what success they had this past year.”
Green said that among his final choices were Southern Utah and Loyola of Chicago.
UH assistant coach Chris Acker took the lead in recruiting, the guard said. He was made aware of UH’s NCAA sanctions — including the postseason ban — for the coming season but said “I’m not really concerned.”
“I felt like the coaching staff was very good … I felt like they’ll help me become a better player and a better person,” Green said.
He hasn’t visited the islands yet but plans to make a trip in the near future.
Another Southern California guard, Drew Buggs of Long Beach Poly High, signed with UH in the fall along with Australian point guard Matt Owies.
Green went head-to-head with Buggs during their high school careers and were teammates in the Earl Watson Elite AAU program.
“We have a good connection,” Green said.
In 27 games of recorded statistics on MaxPreps.com, Green averaged 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Redondo Union (28-7) lost to Crespi, 66-63, in overtime in the CIF Division I state regional finals on March 19.
Ryan Silver, co-founder of the Earl Watson program, said Green has a college-ready body and will be able to hold his own as a freshman.
“He’s a kid who’s always had big performances his entire high school career, AAU career,” Silver said. “A lot of the guys we’re watching now on TV in the NCAA Tournament are guys he’s competed against in our Earl Watson program. Guys that we beat. The kid is just a total winner.”
