Bobbitt garners Big West recognition

Roderick Bobbitt continues to steal the spotlight in his junior season with Hawaii.

The steals-happy point guard captured the attention of the Big West this season and was awarded the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award on Monday, in addition to being named to the All-Big West second team.

Bobbitt, who led the junior college ranks in steals at Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College last season, has so far replicated that feat at the Division I level with a nation-best 95 swipes.

The Oakland, Calif., native was appreciative of the former award and somewhat indifferent on the latter.

"It feels good. You know, Defensive Player of the Year, I pride myself on defense, so getting that award means a lot," he said in a phone interview following Monday’s team practice at Cal State Fullerton. "The second (team), whatever, that’s whatever."

UH’s other awards were honorable mention recognition for forwards Aaron Valdes and Stefan Jankovic, the team’s top two scorers in Big West play.

Following Saturday’s 91-70 win at Fullerton in the regular-season finale, fifth-seeded UH (20-12, 8-8 Big West) remained on the mainland and continued to prepare for Thursday’s 11:30 a.m. matchup with fourth-seeded Long Beach State in the Big West tournament quarterfinals at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Bobbitt was key in two meetings with LBSU this season. He helped hold 49ers point guard Mike Caffey to a combined 6-for-28 shooting as the teams split the home-and-home series.

Bobbitt’s defensive award was the first such honor in program history. In UH’s decades in the Western Athletic Conference through 2012, there was an all-defensive team, but no singular player recognized. Vander Joaquim was the last player to make an all-defensive team, in 2011-12.

"I really listen when I get taught about defense," said Bobbitt, who led the Big West in assists per game (5.4) and steals per game (3.0). "Just growing up, I’ve always just stole the ball and been in passing lanes. So I know what to do, and what not to do. Just learning and listening, that also helps."

Along the way, he’s set UH records for steals in a game (10 against Hawaii Hilo on Nov. 19) and for a season (he surpassed Tom Henderson’s 84 in a Feb. 12 win over UC Riverside). His steals against Hilo were part of just the second recorded triple-double in program history.

If he steals five more possessions by season’s end, he’ll be just the fourth Big West player to reach 100 in a season.

"It was special (what he did this season)," UH coach Benjy Taylor said. "And Rod is getting better. He’s actually playing smarter basketball now at both ends of the floor. It’s not a steal or nothing now for him. I mean, he’s starting to sit down and really guard guys. He’s done a good job on Caffey and he’s been our leader. If we can get him consistently playing well in this conference tournament, we have a chance to do something special."

Taylor thought his team’s representation was fair and said UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, the top two regular-season teams, deserved the ample recognition they received. Corey Hawkins and Jim Les of 24-5 (14-2 Big West) UC Davis were the Big West Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. UCSB placed two players on the first team in guard Michael Bryson and center Alan Williams, who was last season’s top player.

"Nothing really surprised me," Taylor said.

The six-member first team was rounded out by Caffey (a three-time recipient); Taylor Johns of UC Riverside; and Will Davis II of UC Irvine.

Bobbitt was joined on the second team by Brian Bennett of Cal Poly; Jaylen Bland of UC Riverside; Stephan Hicks of Cal State Northridge; and Josh Ritchart of UC Davis.

Bland was the Newcomer of the Year and UCSB’s Gabe Vincent was the Freshman of the Year. UC Davis’ Josh Fox was the Best Sixth Player and UCSB point guard Zalmico Harmon was the Best Hustle Player.

Taylor said guard Isaac Fleming "had a real good chance" for the sixth man and freshman awards, but said Fleming’s late-season ankle sprain, which caused him to miss three games, hurt his bid.