Buckets

SECOND of three parts

Now more than ever, Hawaii’s wings must soar for success to be achieved.

Depleted up front amid recent program unrest, the Rainbow Warriors will count on their shooting guards and small forwards to provide much of the heavy lifting in the upcoming 2014-15 season.

A proven entity, senior Garrett Nevels, is joined by two talented newcomers in what could represent a significant percentage of the Rainbow Warriors’ scoring under acting head coach Benjy Taylor.

Nevels, the only returning starter from last season’s 20-11 team, will be counted on to hit shots early and often on a squad seeking a new identity in a condensed span of time. Missouri transfer Negus Webster-Chan and true freshman Isaac Fleming will also get plenty of opportunities, whether it be as starters or reserves.

UH opens with three games in four days in the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic, starting Friday vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

About 10 days ago, amid an NCAA investigation, ineligible star forward Isaac Fotu left the team to go pro after the firing of head coach Gib Arnold and assistant Brandyn Akana. This week Fotu latched on with a top-level club in Spain, CAI Zaragoza. He would have been UH’s go-to player.

"I don’t know if this is a team, now that Fotu’s gone, that will have an 18-, 20-point scorer right now," Taylor said. "I think this is a team that has a bunch of guys who can … average 13 or 14. I look for our wings, in particular Garrett, he should be a high-volume shooter for us. We’ll run a lot of stuff for him. But we have a lot of guys that can score the basketball. I’m looking for our wings to really put the ball in the hole. (They) can also post up a little bit too on mismatches. I just want them getting to the line, I want them making shots and I’m looking for a lot of scoring out of them."

Nevels had the luxury of being a complementary performer in his first year in Manoa, a secondary option to Fotu and another All-Big West performer, Christian Standhardinger, in the paint. The 2-guard averaged 13.1 points on a respectable 46.8 percent from the field, and his 41.3 percent from long range was the fourth-best mark in program history.

Now, though, he’ll have to get it done as a first option.

"He’s been in prime-time situations and he’s going to have a great year," Taylor said. "He’s had a great preseason and he’s much better than last year. I think people will see that in his play."

Much is expected of the versatile Webster-Chan, a role player as a freshman at Mizzou. Arnold thought the Canadian could blossom given the right opportunity. That moment has arrived after he sat out last season per NCAA rules.

"I just like to be on the court. Doesn’t matter what position it is," said the 6-7 Webster-Chan, who has bulked up considerably since his time as a Tiger. "I can shoot it, get to the rim, pull up. Whatever. … Play defense, rebound, and get in the passing lanes, guard the 1 through 4."

Given UH’s shorthanded status in the post, Webster-Chan might spend time at the 4, as will Aaron Valdes, a natural 3 who will be asked to play big. Taylor was mum about which of the two will start at small forward this weekend.

"I don’t think Negus knows how good he is, and I don’t think his teammates know how good he is. But as a staff, we do. … It’s hard for me to say (who’s starting). But at the end of the day, the fans are going to see a lot of Negus Webster-Chan."

Fleming is a lefty combo guard who will add a scoring punch off the bench. He can handle the ball if necessary and looks to drive first — either for his own shot or a kickout — and shoot from the outside second.

But his biggest impact might be defensively, where he’ll bring an athletic, disruptive presence to the wings.

"He’s not your typical freshman," Taylor said. "He’s going to have some big nights offensively for us, but he’s going to have some big nights defensively for us every night. He’s undoubtedly one of the better freshmen. I haven’t seen everybody, but he’s undoubtedly one of the better freshmen in the conference. We look for him to have a big year."

Fleming’s aggressiveness represents a new mentality Taylor wants his athletic perimeter players to possess.

"Things have changed defensively. I want them active, I want them blocking shots," the coach said. "I want them rotating. We’re not going to be cautious defensively. We’re going to be very, very aggressive defensively. … We need to make teams do some different things. We don’t want them running a clean offense. We gotta be very disruptive and I think we can do that with our wings’ size and athleticism."

Taylor has also given his shooting guards the green light to crash for offensive rebounds. Under Arnold, both the point guard and shooting guard were typically in retreat mode to prevent transition baskets.

Nevels, Webster-Chan and Fleming (and Valdes in some lineups) will receive the lion’s share of the minutes at the wing. There’s also fourth-year junior Brandon Jawato, who missed just about the entire preseason, first from rehabbing after ankle surgery then from a serious concussion that has kept him out of action for about a month. It is unknown when he’ll be able to contribute.

Two years ago, he turned heads when he went 7-for-7 on 3-pointers in a half, setting a Big West record. Since then he’s been plagued by injuries.

"Once he gets back on the floor and feels like he’s a part of this whole process, we’re going to see the old Jawato again," Taylor said. "Jawato is a tough kid, and I think he’ll run through a wall for us."

Lastly, true freshman Zach Buscher, a 2014 ‘Iolani graduate, serves on the scout team as he gets acclimated to Division I basketball.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Co-captain Nevels needs to replicate the shooting efficiency he achieved as a junior, but in an expanded role at the top of opponents’ scouting reports. Webster-Chan must live up to the hype as an all-around talent in his first consistent minutes as a Division I player