Even before his spectacular game Saturday night, people said they were surprised by how well sophomore Aaron Valdes has played for the University of Hawaii basketball team this season. I wasn’t at all, until this career-high 34-point performance against Cal State Northridge.

Combined with UH’s withering defensive firestorm, Valdes’ effort was why UH ran away from the Matadors. He turned a close game into a 15-point win with breakaway dunks and long-range accuracy. And defense.

You could see last year this guy could play. But you had to watch closely because he wasn’t in the game very long.

The athleticism around the rim, the shooting touch from outside, the energy. But the quick hook after a mistake.

Benjy Taylor saw it, but as associate coach it wasn’t his call to give Valdes more playing time. Gib Arnold, who was the head coach last year, couldn’t find many minutes for Valdes; there were too many experienced players in front of him. Taylor said he would have found a way to get him more minutes somehow.

“Yeah, without a doubt,” Taylor said after the 83-68 win. “Last year he was kind of in the mode of Quincy (Smith) this year. He’d come into the game and change it with his energy and his heart and his hands and getting after guys. And then he’d be out. I think he should’ve played more last year. But this year, that’s helping me that he didn’t because he remembers that and he’s hungry.”

Now, without having to worry about a quick hook, Valdes can take a chance here and there on defense. That’s how he got five steals, anticipating passes.

And in addition to the energizing attributes Taylor mentioned, now Valdes has time to heat up as a shooter. His back-to-back 3-pointers, one from each wing, helped break the game open.

Credit Roderick Bobbitt, too, and not just for his eight steals. As Taylor noted, Bobbitt got Valdes the ball at the right times and in the right places to take advantage of his hot hand.

Does Valdes ever surprise himself?

“I just believe in myself,” he said. “If I was given the opportunity last year I think I could’ve done the same.”

And then, he quickly credited his point guards. He’s a team-first guy, too; something you don’t always see from players who make their living on dunks, steals and 3-pointers.

Matadors coach Reggie Theus, a retired NBA star, said it’s hard to tell how good Valdes can become.

“He’s got to do it more than a couple of games,” Theus said. “But he’s got some things going for him, a good body and he’s got some tools.”

Taylor wants to see a little more consistency from him in practice. And for him to remain hungry.

“Tonight was the best he’s played,” he said. “The great thing about his game tonight is he wasn’t the best athlete on the floor … but he was a good basketball player tonight.”

I’ll take it a step further and say he was great. Or, at least, not bad for a guy who averaged just 9.2 minutes a game last year and started just three times.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.