UH recruits add spice to summer league

By Brian McInnis

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 11, 2011
LAST UPDATED: 10:29 p.m. HST, Aug 05, 2011

• Photo gallery: Hawaii College Basketball Summer League

Shaquille Stokes rocked the ball back and forth in front of his defender like a serpent mesmerizing its victim before lunging in for a lethal strike.

The Hawaii freshman point guard was routinely lighting up any defender who dared stand in his way, and everyone in the Manoa District Park gym knew it. This time, though, Stokes burst past his man, into the paint and smartly dumped the ball off for a teammate and an easy basket in the Hawaii College Basketball Summer League.

"The Little Aristotle!" exclaimed league play-by-play man Robert Bethune over the PA system.

Stokes and his UH teammates have infused the summer league with new life in its 35th running. In the week since most of next season's players arrived for summer school, 10 current Rainbow Warriors have suited up among the league's six teams, the most ever.

"For us, this has been the best year to bring the UH players in to play," longtime league organizer Pat Tanibe said. "It just made a difference in the competition in our summer league. It's good for the players, because it helps improve their skills. I think the university will be good next year, with the quality of talent they have."

While few active UH players suited up in past years — for both injury concerns and because most of them depart over the summer — this year was a special case. UH coach Gib Arnold wanted to keep his players sharp in the weeks leading up to the team's international tour to Asia, and most of the players who will go on that August trip had to be enrolled in summer school on the island anyway.

Fans have gotten early looks at the short (5-foot-10 might be generous) but blazing-quick Stokes, sharpshooting swingman Hauns Brereton and 7-foot center Davis Rozitis, who had to sit out UH's games last season as a transfer from USC.

It's still summer league, meaning defense comes at a premium and triple-digit scores abound. But Stokes' outbursts — he's averaged 27 points to go with some pretty assists in his three games so far — have been worth the price of admission, were there one (it's free).

"I'm just trying to showcase my talents as much as possible before the real season starts, and win games," said Stokes. "Playing in front of the fans, it's a great atmosphere."

The New York City native has heard plenty of nicknames for him, but not "The Little Aristotle," a reference to namesake Shaquille O'Neal, who dubbed himself "The Big Aristotle."

"I'm cool with that," he said, grinning.

UH returnees Zane Johnson, Joston Thomas, Trevor Wiseman and Bobby Miles have also had their moments. Walk-ons Pi‘i Minns and Jace Tavita are in, as is incoming shooting guard Brandon Jawato.

Another player still, 6-foot-9 Tyler McDaniels, the son of UH assistant Benjy Taylor, may join the team before the fall.

Brereton, with the Army team, has relished playing with and against his new Rainbows teammates in an organized game setting. It complements the open gym pick-up games the team runs daily.

"It shows everybody on the team's dedicated to this game, and it shows that we're willing to work for this island," Brereton said. "We want to bring a championship to it, so it's cool seeing everybody at the courts every time we go."

Combined with summer regular Derrick Low (‘Iolani, Washington State) and past UH players Julian Sensley, Bobby Nash and Geremy Robinson, there is a buzz around the league at its midpoint. Electricians Hawaii, coached by Artie Wilson and featuring Low, Johnson, Nash, Wiseman and Rashaun Broadus, is the team to beat at 6-0.

"The level of competition is pretty good, and everyone plays hard, everyone wants to win and it's a good way to get up and down and get into shape for the season, and work on weaknesses," Johnson said.

The only UH returnees not playing in the league are junior center Vander Joaquim, who is in France training with the Angolan national team; junior forward Dominick Brumfield, who is playing in a summer league in Los Angeles; and senior guard Miah Ostrowski, who won't rejoin the UH basketball team until the football season is complete.

Three UH signees from Los Angeles — Gerry Blakes, Ronnie Stevens and Dillon Biggs — were originally slated to play in the league but haven't yet arrived in Hawaii as they must still be cleared for admittance to UH.

The Hawaii College Basketball Summer League runs Thursdays and Saturdays (and sometimes Tuesdays) at the Manoa District Park gym at 6 and 7:30 p.m.