College basketball preseason events such as Hawaii’s Green & White scrimmage late Saturday night are generally a good way for new players to get acquainted with their fan base.
They’re also an opportunity for lesser-known returnees to reintroduce themselves.
Sophomore small forwards Aaron Valdes and Mike Thomas, both reserves last season, had the brightest showings in front of about 1,500 fans who hung around after UH volleyball’s sweep of UC Irvine at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Valdes defended his slam dunk contest title without a serious challenge and both players performed well in the titular 12-minute intrasquad scrimmage. They combined for 24 points for the Green squad in a 37-24 victory.
"I look at these guys in a little different light in practice," UH coach Gib Arnold said, "but I thought Mike Thomas, I liked how he shot the 3s. That’s good to see. I liked how Valdes was on the offensive glass. So those things were good. I see those things night in and night out in practice, but it was good to see it on the main floor tonight."
The 6-foot-5 Valdes averaged 3.2 points in 9.2 minutes per game last season, while the 6-7 Thomas put up 1.2 in 5.6. Now, they will be tasked with bolstering a frontcourt that lost two rotation guys in Christian Standhardinger and Davis Rozitis and is inexperienced beyond returning All-Big West power forward Isaac Fotu.
Thomas and Valdes were both 5-for-5 from the field in the scrimmage. Thomas showed off a confident 3-point stroke, canning two triples as part of his 14 points. Valdes aggressively attacked the rim with his superior athleticism.
Then Valdes jumped over 5-9 newcomer Brocke Stepteau for a one-handed stuff to seal his no-doubt dunk title against Thomas and guards Isaac Fleming and Garrett Nevels.
"It felt good," Valdes said of the night. "I think it gave me and Mike the confidence that we need going in (to the season). We got minutes last year, but not as much as other guys. So I think it was good confidence for us."
Thomas said: "Big preseason. I think we’re ready to go. Coach did a really good job of resting us in the right places … but also pushing us really hard when it comes to conditioning, weightlifting and all that stuff. So, I think we’ll be ready for this year."
Arnold announced this season’s team captains as juniors Fotu and Quincy Smith and the lone senior Nevels.
Other newcomers making their debuts on the Sheriff court were the true freshman Fleming, junior college transfer Roderick Bobbitt and walk-ons Brocke Stepteau and Zach Buscher. Freshman Sammis Reyes did plenty of cheering from the sideline; he was one of four Rainbow Warriors unavailable for live action due to injury.
"I really liked the vibe, the enthusiasm," said the 6-foot-6 Chilean forward Reyes, who thought he’d be back from a toe injury in perhaps another week. "I’m really trying to get ready mentally and physically for this season. I’m really excited — it’s college basketball, man. I’m going to play hard every game and take care of business."
Fleming had some nice weaves to the basket in the halfcourt and Bobbitt attacked well in transition during the scrimmage. Those two, along with Smith and redshirt freshman Niko Filipovich will battle for the starting point guard job vacated by Keith Shamburger.
Fotu (back), Stefan Jankovic (knee) and Brandon Jawato (ankle) are expected to be back in action later this week. For that reason, Arnold said he anticipates his first full-speed practice to happen Friday.
Fotu showed off his improved 3-point stroke and teamed with the 6-foot-11 Jankovic to beat guards Nevels and Stepteau in a long-distance shooting competition.
Departed senior guard Brandon Spearman appeared as a "guest coach" and got into a mock benches-clearing altercation with the opposing team. The entire UH roster, including coaches, took the court … and performed a flash mob dance — then the scrimmage resumed a minute later. They capped off the night with a four-minute "smalls vs. bigs" scrimmage, although with most of the big men sidelined it was hard to tell which team was which.
UH’s next exhibition for fans is Nov. 6 against Hawaii Pacific at the Stan Sheriff Center. The regular season begins Nov. 14 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
