Despite a largely successful start to the Hawaii men’s basketball season, the Rainbow Warriors have lost two players.

When asked about missing players Anthony Salter and Jordan Coleman after last night’s practice, UH coach Gib Arnold said he’d issue a statement on both guards before today’s afternoon practice.

Salter, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior point guard out of Iowa Western Community College, seemed more than halfway out the door before the Rainbow Warriors’ last road trip. He voiced displeasure about low playing time and said he was considering transferring out. His absence yesterday during the team’s first action since the 0-2 trip pretty much sealed it.

Coleman, an athletic freshman combo guard, confirmed he was leaving via text message last night.

His departure comes as a surprise. The quiet 6-foot-4, 175-pound Los Angeles native showed potential in practices, but was the only one of four freshmen not to see regular playing time under Arnold.

The loss of Salter and Coleman drops the UH active player roster down to nine, and depletes the backcourt severely.

Salter, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., was the last scholarship player signed by Arnold for the 2010-11 season. He overcame a heel injury to play 16 minutes in UH’s season-opening win against Montana State, but his time sharply plummeted in four ensuing home games. In his last action, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Salter committed a turnover moments after being inserted, and was yanked by Arnold.

He averaged 6.2 minutes in five games. He shot 3-for-9 from the field and had three assists against six turnovers.

Coleman, a graduate of Calabasas (Calif.) High, was UH’s first signed scholarship recruit for the 2010-11 season, when Bob Nash was coach. Arnold reached out to Coleman immediately after taking the program’s reins in March, and resecured his commitment to the program.

Coleman appeared in two games, notching three rebounds and a block in 8 minutes.

UH (5-2) plays Hawaii Pacific (3-3) on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.