Entering the offseason in April, the Hawaii basketball team was in fast-break mode.
“We were prepared for it,” associate head coach Gibson Johnson said of filling up to 13 pukas on the 2026-27 roster. “I thought we did a good job adjusting to the new rules of college athletics. We did a real good job in the transfer portal last year, and we did another good job this year. We had a stretch where we announced 10 (new) players. That was a lot of phone calls and not wasting time. Because the best players are available early.”
In addition to the NCAA-approved summer workouts, the Rainbow Warriors were granted 10 additional full practices ahead of a tour to Australia. The Warriors had closed scrimmages against two Australian pro teams, and last month dominated in a scrimmage on the mainland.
Head coach Eran Ganot was impressed with the ’Bows’ chemistry in last week’s 89-60 exhibition victory over Hawaii Pacific.
“The biggest takeaway is the sharing, the passing, the shot selection, and the quality of the shooting,” Ganot said.
With the exception of guard Tanner Cuff, who missed last season because of an ACL injury, the other nine who played were first-year ’Bows.
“You wouldn’t have known watching them that they were so new,” said Ganot, whose ’Bows play host to Seattle in Monday’s season opener at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
“We’ve got a lot of dudes who can go,” said point guard Jaden Matingou, a transfer from Division II Point Loma who scored 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting against HPU. “We had five guys in double digits. It can be anybody’s night. We don’t have to rely on one person.”
Forward/wing Marcus Adams, who transferred from Arizona State after playing at Cal State Northridge, said the ’Bows “got real close the first week. It’s more than, ‘Oh, we’re just a team.’ I feel we’re brothers. Everybody says that. But I feel it’s way beyond that.”
Adams is the cook for team gatherings at the house he shares with Matingou. The ’Bows are learning French from Paris-reared Maidy Douglas, Australian phrases from Bol Dengdit and Lueth Awan, and life lessons from Cuff.
“We love to learn different cultures,” Adams said. “Everybody loves each other.”
Ganot is hopeful that unity transcends into the season opener. Ganot was awaiting the availability of guard Isaiah Kerr, the lone returner with game experience as a ’Bow; wing Manie Joses, and center Houran Dan. They were held out of the HPU exhibition.
“We’ve had some guys out,” Ganot said. “Adversity hits during every season. We don’t run from it. We embrace it. I like it. I love it. It’s living. We just happened to be going through it recently.”
In practices, Dan, Bol and Zack Davidson have been rotating in the post. Adams, who is 6-8, can be a stretch four, if needed. Kellen Hampton, a 6-7 transfer from Pacific, can play the four or five when the ’Bows want to incorporate a quick post.
There is positional versatility throughout the roster. Tanner Cuff and his younger brother Tiger, who completed a two-year mission in June, can play the point, off guard and wing. Chance Trujillo, a sharp-shooter from Utah Tech, also can play the one through three positions. While the Cuff brothers offer post-up skills and weak-side rebounding at guard, Matingou brings speed at the point. Matingou and Kerr were clocked at 2.99 seconds in the three-quarter-court sprint.
With nine newcomers, Seattle also is seeking rotational clarity.
“I want to see us go out there and compete and play hard and be physical,” said Chris Victor, who is in 10th season with the Redhawks, including six as head coach. “It’s going to be a heck of a game for us. The problem with playing Hawaii over there is they’re really a good team. Eran’s done a good job out there. … What adds to the travel and game is Hawaii’s so good at home. It’s a tough place to play and tough place to win.”
Victor’s Redhawks are known for defense (67.3 points per game last season) and forcing turnovers (15th nationally at 14.8 per game). They have won at least 20 games four of the past five seasons.
Forward Junseok Yeo, who averaged a team-best 12.0 points per game, is the leading returner. Guards Tyler Boston, who transferred from Holy Cross, and Mason Williams, who missed last season after moving from Eastern Washington, have impressed in preseason training. Freshmen Jaden Bailes and Amare Larane, who averaged 27.1 points as prep senior, earned spots in the rotation.
The Redhawks rallied to defeat Oregon last week.
“It was an exhibition game,” Victor said. “I don’t like to take those results as having much meaning. We’ll see how this team is. I really like who we brought in. I like the makeup of the team.”
