University of Hawaii hoops looking good from near and far as season nears

In a game of Jeopardy, the answer is: the University of Hawaii basketball team’s open-to-the-public scrimmage on Friday night.

The question is: what is Green and White and full of enthusiasm?

“We’re doing OK,” head coach Eran Ganot said of the Rainbow Warriors’ Oahu debut in the annual Green-White scrimmage. “We’re three weeks away (from the season opener). We have a big three weeks to fix some things we obviously need to fix. Overall, I was pleased with the effort out there. As a team, we showed some potential. As always, it’s about consistency now.”

The event in the Stan Sheriff Center was split into two 10-minute games and a six-minute scrimmage. The six-a-side rosters were shuffled each game. The ’Bows played at different tempos and styles.

Eddie Stansberry, a 6-foot-3 transfer from City College of San Francisco, demonstrated his range of deep and deeper. He connected on seven of 11 3s, including 5-for-6 in the two 10-minute games. One 3 that was discounted was launched with a foot out of bounds.

“My teammates made it easy to get some open looks,” Stansberry said. “It wasn’t hard to think about the shot. As soon as my teammates got it to me, I was able to take a shot.”

Stansberry unleashed shots with different motions, including a two-handed push. “I have a regular shot,” Stansberry said. “Usually, my intentions are to catch the ball and shoot it from where I’m on the floor if it’s in my range.”

Ganot said he was “excited” about the ’Bows’ accuracy. “We added Eddie, who is our best shooter, and that says a lot because Jack (Purchase) and Brocke (Stepteau) are pretty good there, too.”

In the third game, Stansberry and Stepteau appeared to engage in their own game of H-O-R-S-E. With the White team packed in a 2-3 zone, Stepteau drained two deep 3s.

“I was trying to match (Stansberry),” Stepteau said, smiling. “I saw him get hot. I wanted to get hot.”

Stepteau said he spent the offseason extending his range. He said he can shoot up to 6 feet behind the 3-point arc, and comfortably from 3 feet past the line. “When I get into a rhythm, it feels good,” Stepteau said.

Zigmars Raimo, a junior from Latvia, led the ’Bows in hustle plays. Raimo grabbed 13 rebounds, including nine off the offensive glass. He also lengthened a possession with a floor-burning dive.

“I’m always trying to be tough,” Raimo said. “I’m always trying to make my guys better. I’m always going for the offensive boards.”

During the offseason, Raimo lost 15 pounds — he now weighs 227 — while maintaining his strength. “I’m just 6-7, 6-8,” Raimo said. “I’m not the tallest guy on the floor. I have to be fastest. I have to be toughest.”

On Raimo, Ganot said: “You can tell it’s a byproduct of one heck of an offseason. He had a little stretch before the tour (of Australia in August) when he missed some time, and that set him back. He had to work his way back. He changed his body every year, and he’s gotten better every year.”

Ganot said he has been pleased with the development of freshmen Mate Colina, Dawson Carper and Owen Hulland in training camp. Hulland was one of three ’Bows held out on Friday because of ailments. Colina was effective on breaks and outlet passes. Carper proved to be a mobile rim protector. Both also adhered to the verticality rule, leaping straight up when they were inside the low-post arc against a driving ball-handler.

“They’re adjusting to the rules,” said Ganot, who offers an inch of praise. “They’re 7 feet when they get a rebound. We say ‘6-11’ when they don’t.”