The curtain is up and the gauntlet has been thrown down on the Hawaii men’s basketball preseason.
Coaches vs. players. Old vs. young. Only one generation’s pride can remain intact by the end of the Ohana Hoopfest tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
To introduce themselves to their fans following the UH volleyball game against Utah State, the Rainbow Warriors decided on a talent competition, the specifics of which remain a closely guarded secret.
Here’s what’s known: the stakes. The coaches, led by a fanatical Gib Arnold, outdid the players last year with a shirtless rendition of the haka. It’s been brought up — repeatedly.
"The players have spent a year hearing it from the coaches, how at 40-plus, we had better moves than they had," Arnold said. "And so they promised to bring it this year, and the game is on."
The event’s estimated start time is 9:15 p.m. Fans are encouraged to stay after the volleyball game, but those waiting outside the arena will be admitted for free at that point.
Rumors have circulated of players-only late-night meetings to perfect a mystery routine. The fans will be the judges.
"I’m not going to tell you what we’re going to do, but the coaches have no chance," sophomore center Davis Rozitis said. "We’re pretty confident. They have no chance. They’re still cocky, they think they can take us. But everybody can say what they want. It’s going to come down to (tonight), and we’ll let the fans decide."
Dana Takahara-Dias’ UH women’s basketball team will also introduce itself with a performance.
Celebrity games and performances will follow until about 10:30 p.m. Confirmed celebrities include musician Jack Johnson, cast members from "Hawaii 5-0" and "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and entertainers Augie T. and Vili the Warrior.
The main attraction still figures to be a look at the Rainbow Warriors, who went 19-13 (8-8 Western Athletic Conference) last year. Several new players are expected to contribute in 2011-12, including point guard Shaquille Stokes, swingman Hauns Brereton and shooting guard Garrett Jefferson.
Jefferson, a sophomore out of Citrus College (Calif.), is still learning what Arnold expects in the halfcourt, but he figures the players can show up their elders when it comes to showmanship.
"We’ve got some top-secret stuff going … maybe some dances or something like that," he said.
No concerns about what the coaches might bring?
"Oh, I’m extremely confident," Jefferson said. "Me and the players, come on, with these old guys?"
Players from both UH teams will be available afterward for autographs. There also will be a UH student halfcourt shot contest.
Prep center to take in Hoopfest
Caleb Dressler, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound senior center at Evergreen High in Vancouver, Wash., will visit the Manoa campus around the Hoopfest this weekend.
The left-handed Dressler reportedly averaged 17 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a junior at Evergreen. Various websites have reported interest from Pac-12 and West Coast Conference schools.
UH currently has two scholarships available for the 2012-13 season, when Dressler will be eligible.
Jawato given scholarship
Freshman shooting guard Brandon Jawato confirmed this week he was given a scholarship by Arnold over the summer.
"I’m on a full ride," said the 6-foot-4 Jawato, who committed to UH without a scholarship guarantee. "I’m pretty excited. We’ll see how everything plays out this year. I’m going to talk to Coach Gib about redshirting. … It’s back and forth right now. There’s going to be a nine-person rotation, so we’ll see how everything works out."
