The Hawaii men’s basketball team will likely be light at least one player at the start of official practices on Oct. 15.

UH coach Gib Arnold said this week that Dominick Brumfield will probably still be out by then as the junior college transfer forward recovers from a fractured kneecap he suffered before arriving in Hawaii this fall.

Returning point guard Hiram Thompson, a senior, has also missed time during workouts as he recovers from hernia surgery, but is expected to be back in time for full practices.

"Hiram’s getting closer; he’s been in more of the workouts, strength and conditioning," Arnold said. "Dominick still has a ways to go. He hasn’t been in anything. He’s still riding an (exercise) bike, that kind of stuff."

Thompson, a team captain last year, is expected to compete with JC transfer guard Anthony Salter for the starting job at the point. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound Brumfield averaged 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a freshman at Big Bend (Wash.) Community College last year, and will be one of several players competing in the frontcourt.

"That’s kind of our goal, to have (Thompson) ready by Oct. 15," Arnold said. "(Dominick) might take a little longer. His is a little more severe."

The Rainbow Warriors had their first 2-hour workout period as a full team yesterday, as allowed once per week at this stage by the NCAA.

"It’s a good group. They’re playing hard, playing with emotion," the coach said.

Between workouts, Arnold has been flying in and out during the latest recruiting period, most recently to Australia for two days. But that trip was less for any specific player than "building relationships" with national coaches.

Other recent recruiting stops have been Maine, Buffalo (N.Y.), Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Houston, Hutchinson, Kan., and of course, his main hub in California.

"I’ve put on a few miles," he quipped.

DHC ready for long haul

ESPN Regional Television, owner and operator of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, appears committed to UH’s nationally televised holiday tournament for the foreseeable future.

When the eight-team tourney to be played around Christmas was announced in 2008, it was on a four-year contract starting in 2009 through 2012. But ERT senior vice president Pete Derzis has been pleased with the progress of the event, which is coming up on its second installment on Dec. 22, 23 and 25.

"We’re working four, five years out talking to schools coming to Hawaii," Derzis said. "We’re already contracting out, so we’ve got some teams already committed for the out years."

The second DHC features Butler, Baylor, Florida State, Mississippi State, Utah, Washington State, San Diego and host UH.

Derzis estimated five teams are under contract for the third installment, though he did not name any schools.

Chaminade exhibition set

The Rainbows will meet the Chaminade Silverswords in an exhibition at the Stan Sheriff Center on Nov. 6 in a precursor to the regular season.

"The exhibition will be great for our guys for the regular season, and of course Maui (the Maui Invitational) as well," Chaminade coach Matt Mahar said. "So we’re thankful to Gib and his staff for giving us the opportunity.

"It’s great for our program to play over there, and I think it’s great for Hawaii basketball, too."

UH and Chaminade met last year in a regular-season game, with the Rainbows pulling out a 70-61 win that could have gone either way in the final minutes.

UH’s regular-season opener is Nov. 12 vs. Montana State in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

White out, McMillan in

Former UH point guard Johnny White, who served as the team’s video coordinator under Bob Nash and was set to continue under Arnold, has taken an assistant coaching job at Division II Saint Augustine’s College (N.C.).

Meanwhile, Arnold added Chris McMillan to the staff as strength and conditioning coach. McMillan was a four-year starter at point guard for Wyoming, helping the Cowboys to two Mountain West championships and an NCAA Tournament berth.

"I recruited him (at Pepperdine), never coached him," Arnold said of McMillan, who was at Centenary last year as director of basketball operations. "Followed his career a little bit. … His background is strength and conditioning, but he’s a basketball guy, too. He’s joined us in that capacity. He’s up here all day working on his master’s degree as well."