Jefferson might have earned more time at the point

The Hawaii men’s basketball team might have found its backup point guard.

Junior Garrett Jefferson had perhaps his best game as a Rainbow Warrior in Saturday’s 77-63 loss at UNLV, tallying eight points, three rebounds, two steals and a block in 22 minutes off the bench.

Oh yeah, and a career-high five assists against a single turnover. For some perspective, he had two dimes in five previous games this season and 11 all of last year.

"Just getting more comfortable at the position," the understated Jefferson said. "It just happened. Things started to work out a little bit."

Jefferson was asked just before the start of preseason practices to transition into a play-making role from his comfort zone as a slashing wing player. After starter Jace Tavita, there were no natural point guards on the roster eligible to play.

"We knew we needed him. He may not have done the greatest early on this season, but at practices he’s been doing really well," said assistant coach Brandyn Akana, who oversees the point guards. "Doing what we want him to do. He’s going to play more and more."

Especially after Saturday’s performance. The 6-foot-3 Lakewood, Calif., native thrived before his parents and several other family members at the raucous Thomas & Mack Center.

His play, particularly in the second half, allowed UH (4-2) to entertain thoughts of catching the Runnin’ Rebels at their own game — in transition. He found teammates for inside buckets with a heretofore unseen passing sense, helping the ‘Bows get within eight points before the Rebels closed it out.

Jefferson feels he’s coming along in the play-making aspect. He regularly confers with Tavita (7.0 assists per game) for pointers.

"I always try to keep my confidence up," he said. "(The UNLV game) helps a little bit, but you just gotta know that you have confidence in yourself and just keep grinding every day."

There hadn’t been a clear-cut backup at the point thus far; Jefferson and freshman Manroop Clair have split the job depending on the matchup, with Jefferson getting the nod against the more athletic teams.

"Garrett’s the one guy we got this year (who matches up) when you play against an athletic team like that," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "I thought he did a great job. Maybe his best game since he’s been here, as far as playing in control, playing to his strengths."

Saturday’s opponent, Pepperdine (4-3) of the West Coast Conference, isn’t as athletic as UNLV, raising the question of how much playing time Jefferson earned himself with his big game.

Against the now-No. 21 Rebels, Jefferson initially checked in at the off-guard spot alongside Tavita, but was gradually given more ball control as the game progressed and he proved the more effective of the two.

"The idea is, I want him to get a rhythm of the game at the off guard, which is his more natural position. And then we were able to sub out Jace and move him over to the point," Arnold said. "I think that really helps him to gain confidence in transition. So we’ll probably stick with that a little bit more."