You can call one official, with another not far behind.
Hawaii basketball coach Gib Arnold announced Missouri transfer Negus Webster-Chan as his newest player on the first day of the spring (late) signing period on Wednesday.
Another UH commit, Garrett Nevels of Mount San Antonio College (Calif.), said he’d sign his letter of intent paperwork in a ceremony at his school on Friday. Arnold can’t comment on him until the paperwork is received.
Webster-Chan will not be of immediate help as Arnold enters his fourth year at UH — the last year on his current contract. Webster-Chan, a 6-7, 200-pound swingman, must sit out 2013-14 per NCAA rules as a Division I transfer.
For the program’s long-term prospects, though, Webster-Chan could be a significant get. He was a reserve for a 23-11 Missouri team that went to the NCAA Tournament out of the SEC. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds, but highlights included a 12-point, five-rebound game against Virginia Commonwealth and a six-point, six-board outing against eventual 2013 champion Louisville.
"Negus is an extremely skilled and athletic player who can play four positions," Arnold said in a statement from UH. "I’m thrilled to have a top 100-caliber player join our program and we expect great things from him. The future is very bright with Negus coming on board."
Webster-Chan was a member of Canada’s U17 and U19 national teams. He played at Huntington Prep in West Virginia, the same school that recently departed ‘Bow Manroop Clair attended. Webster-Chan played point guard there ahead of Clair.
UH officially acknowledged the previously reported departures of Clair and fellow freshman Ozren Pavlovic from the program in the same press release as Webster-Chan’s signing.
Nevels was the postseason MVP for Mt. SAC, the California Community College Athletic Association champion. He averaged 19.8 points per game on 57 percent shooting.
"At Hawaii I just felt more comfortable," Nevels said. "I loved the arena, 10,000 people, you can’t beat that. Coach Arnold, he’s been the only coach to come down to L.A. consistently and see me consistently. It was my decision and that’s what I wanted."
City College of San Francisco point guard Quincy Smith is believed to be part of a multi-player contingent taking official visits to UH this weekend. UH has at least one more scholarship to work with for 2013-14.