Remember Gib Arnold’s first recruiting class two years ago? The University of Hawaii got nine new basketball players in quick order.

Largely due to the big number of additions, HoopScoop online listed the Rainbow Warriors’ as the seventh best recruiting class. … No, not in the WAC, seventh in the NATION.

Most of us recognized the pure folly in that. Still, it looked like Arnold had pulled together a pretty solid group of high school stars and college transfers (many with three years eligibility) that he could build upon for the future.

You’d think that foundation might be solid now with experienced players — especially when you consider that only two seniors completed their UH hardwood careers this season, Bob-Nash-regime holdover Zane Johnson and moonlighting football player Miah Ostrowski (although we hear Ostrowski may appeal to the NCAA for another year).

Just about everyone from that first recruiting class is supposed to still be at Manoa, all seasoned veterans now. Right?

Didn’t work out that way. Of course you expect some attrition. But not 56 percent.

Gone from that first group, all prior to expending their eligibility: Bo Barnes, Dominick Brumfield, Jordan Coleman, Anthony Salter … and, now, Joston Thomas.

Only star center Vander Joaquim and role players Bobby Miles, Davis Rozitis and Trevor Wiseman remain as of Tuesday.

In today’s world of college basketball, transition isn’t just about fast breaks. It’s a roster fact of life, as players come and go quicker than you can say one-and-done.

But UH isn’t getting elite players making quick campus visits on the way to the lottery like the Kentuckys and Dukes. (Sorry, Thomas is more likely to be drafted by Uncle Sam than the NBA, and Selective Service hasn’t conscripted anyone since 1973.)

Also, the bulk of the first choices for last year’s class failing to get admitted to UH doesn’t help.

Some of the personnel losses are very shruggable, and sometimes you need an extremely well-tuned BS detector to know who left on their own and who was shown the exit. Thomas was a very productive performer when he was focused. But that wasn’t often enough to negate his recurring high-maintenance requirements.

Comparisons of Thomas leaving early with Carl English doing so nine years ago are specious. English had given UH three solid and sometimes spectacular seasons, a stark contrast to Thomas’ wild inconsistency. And talk of English making a "mistake" by leaving with a season remaining was from the perspective of jilted UH fans — if he were an NBA-level player he’d have made it either way. He’d earned his degree and was ready to move on from college.

English didn’t get drafted, isn’t in the NBA, but is a veteran pro making a nice living playing basketball.

Thomas has the raw talent, but not the polish. Another year at UH might have helped his future.

I found Joston Thomas always entertaining — whether dominating against Xavier or missing a dunk in spectacular fashion. But I have no investment in wins and losses.

For those who do, UH now has a void of 24.2 minutes and 13.7 points-per-game. Take everything into account, however, and the departure of the guy who provided those numbers might be addition by subtraction.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.