The Rainbow Warriors can throw a little bit of everything at opponents through their diverse pick of floor generals.

That’s out of necessity. Coach Gib Arnold relies heavily on his point guards to initiate the team’s variety of set plays, and he is fond of playing two or even three of them on the floor at once.

Point guards are also the first line of defense and set the tone when the Rainbows have their backs to the basket.

Senior Hiram Thompson (6-3, 175), a starter the last two years under Bob Nash, was joined by junior college transfer Anthony Salter (5-11, 170) and true freshman Bobby Miles (6-1, 190).

"Point guard will be the players who I have the most interaction with, and who I will demand the most out of," Arnold said. "They’re an extension of me out on the floor. I was a point guard, so a lot of it comes from that. I expect them to know what they’re supposed to do, as well as the other four guys. I expect them to control the tempo offensively and defensively."

Each of the three brings something different to the hardwood.

Thompson, a seasoned veteran, offers quiet leadership and a crafty style that allows him to combat quicker players. He’s dealt with injuries throughout his UH career (somewhat due to a minutes overload), but should finally have some deserved relief this season. He’s become a fine shooter, albeit a reluctant one.

The lithe Salter offers a change of pace with his quickness and scorer’s mentality. He’s not afraid to shoot and is capable of freelancing to break down slower defenders. He’s also a vocal player who learned to take verbal command of his last team at Iowa Western Community College. Salter was slowed in the preseason by a partial tear in his left heel.

Miles had a breakout preseason and has impressed the coaching staff with his poise and ability to run various sets. He’s one of the better athletes on the team (he has the highest vertical leap at 37 inches) and is the strongest of the three. His outside shot needs some work, but there’s plenty to like at this young stage of his college career.

All three should see playing time this season. And don’t be surprised to see the keys turned over to Miles increasingly over the course of the season.

"He’s taking responsibility, he’s being vocal, being a leader," said assistant coach Brandyn Akana, who helps oversee the point guards. "And that was a big surprise. Early on, we thought he was young, just finished (high school), is going to be a tough transition. But he’s accepted his role kind of quickly."