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UH men’s hoops team gets commitment from 6-10, 275-pound center

Stephen Tsai
ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                Utah Tech forward Tanner Christensen, left, during the first half of a game against Arizona, in November 2022, in Tucson, Ariz. Christensen, who started all 63 games the past two seasons with Utah Tech, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Rainbow Warriors.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Utah Tech forward Tanner Christensen, left, during the first half of a game against Arizona, in November 2022, in Tucson, Ariz. Christensen, who started all 63 games the past two seasons with Utah Tech, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Rainbow Warriors.

Rebuilding the front court, the University of Hawaii basketball team today received a commitment from a 6-foot-10, 275-pound center.

Tanner Christensen, who started all 63 games the past two seasons with Utah Tech, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Rainbow Warriors.

“I just like the tradition of winning under Coach (Eran) Ganot,” Christensen said of his decision. “I really liked hearing what the coaches had to say. And the feeling of family within the program. Obviously, living in Hawaii is kind of a dream. It’s kind of hard to say ‘no’ to them.”

Christensen is expected to help fill the void in the post. Center Bernardo da Silva and forward Justin McKoy completed their NCAA eligibility at the end of the ’Bows’ recently completed season. Mor Seck, a 7-foot-1 rim protector, announced on Saturday his intent to transfer.

The past season, his second at Utah Tech, Christensen averaged 11.5 points on 56.4% shooting, including 62.9% on 2-point attempts. He grabbed 6.8 rebounds per game and blocked 48 shots.

Christensen grew up in Spokane Valley, Wash., where he was a standout basketball player at University High.

“I’ve always loved playing basketball,” Christensen said. “I had the hoop outside the house, playing whether it was raining, sunny or snowing. I was always out there as a kid.”

Christensen served a two-year church mission in Argentina, where he learned to speak Spanish fluently. After that, he played two seasons at Idaho, including the COVID year, where he earned a degree in finance. He is set to earn a master’s in accounting at Utah Tech. He will pursue a second master’s, in finance, at UH. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

“I’m excited to branch out and start a new adventure,” said Christensen, adding his wife also “is very excited” about the couple’s move to Hawaii.

Christensen said he plans to ink a scholarship agreement with UH on April 17, the first day of the NCAA’s spring signing period for basketball prospects and transfers.

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