There’s hustle, and then there’s hustle.
One brand is all-out, relentless effort. That’s Quincy Smith.
The other is out-witting your opponent, setting him up and pouncing when the time is right. That’s Roderick Bobbitt.
After watching the University of Hawaii guards a couple of seasons now, I think Bobbitt and Smith each deserve a spot on the program’s all-time Floorburn Team.
You haven’t heard of it until now because it never existed until now. I asked five other media members who cover UH basketball, two of them former players, to help choose the team that ran through walls — or manipulated opponents into doing so — to help their team win.
This is who Bobby Curran, David Hallums, Kanoa Leahey, Brian McInnis, Artie Wilson and I came up with.
>> Roderick Bobbitt (2014-16, guard) — Sometimes he resembles the sneaky 50-year-old guy at the Y who always finds a way to get open and drain a set shot for game. But that’s a ruse, as Bobbitt is quick when he wants to be and elevates just fine when he feels like dunking. He drops all matter of dimes to teammates, and plays basketball like a chess master. He knows what opponents are going to try to do with the ball before they do. Try, because it so often ends up in Bobbitt’s hands.
>> Anthony Carter (1996-98, guard) — He played the hardest despite being the most talented player on the floor, and that’s where he often was … on the floor. Leahey: “I’m pretty sure we can add AC to that list, the way he chased down loose balls and led the floor breaks.”
>> “Little Matt” Gibson (2004-08, guard) — Feisty and fierce on the court. Plenty of swag off it, too. Legend has it on a road trip he bummed a cigarette from the bus driver and enjoyed a smoke break with him.
>> Tom Henderson (1972-74, guard) — Another all-time UH great who played with uninterrupted intensity. Bobbitt is closing in on his career steals record. Wilson: “Tom competed. He never took a night off, or a day off.”
>> Luke Meyers (1996-98, guard) — He had little business on a college basketball court, except maybe to wipe up other guys’ sweat. But the walk-on Riley Wallace nicknamed “Rudy”earned his roster spot the third year he tried, and then tackled every task with enthusiasm.
>> Bob Nash (1970-72, forward) — One of the most polite people I’ve ever met. But not when he was crushing anything between him and a rebound. Wilson: “The Nash people see now isn’t anything like he was then.”
>> Tim Shepherd (1989-93, center) — At 6 feet 5 he fought for every inch of turf under the basket, and finished his career among the UH all-time top 10 in rebounding and field-goal percentage.
>> Vincent Smalls (1988-90, forward) — First to come to mind for several panelists. “You’re killin’ me Smalls,” was the lament of rivals he locked up on D years before “The Sandlot” hit theaters.
>> Quincy Smith (2013-16, guard) — Watching his shooting improve is fun. But the heart of Smith’s game remains his smothering, pesky defense and open-court motor.
>> Brandon Spearman (2012-14, guard/forward) — The ultimate “glue” player and leader who delivered consistent production at both ends of the court at any position he was asked to play.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.
