Shaq in the house

Lincoln (Coney Island, N.Y.) High point guard Shaquille Stokes is on Oahu this weekend for one of a few official visits he will take before deciding where to play college basketball, said his coach, Dwayne Morton.

The 5-foot-10 Stokes was the MVP of his highly competitive league after averaging about 19 points, 6.5 assists and four rebounds. Lincoln went 28-3, won the Brooklyn regular-season title and lost in the championship game of the New York public school tournament.

“He’s one of those points that can push the ball up. He can shoot the 3, fast-paced guard,” Morton said. “He did a little bit of everything. (As a senior he learned) how to play the point guard position, when to go get the ball to the right people, or when to take his shot.”

Morton became an academic qualifier late in the school year, which reduced the scope of his interest from recruiters. Another point guard couldn’t hurt UH, which will start the year with sophomore Bobby Miles and freshman combo guard Gerry Blakes. Hoops senior Miah Ostrowski will rejoin the team in December, once football season finishes.

UH coach Gib Arnold recruited some of Morton’s players when Arnold was an assistant coach at USC.

“I’m just so happy that (Arnold) is a friend of mine and I can get him on the phone anytime I want to make sure Shaquille’s alright if he decides to go there. I’m happy that one of his schools is someone that I really know,” Morton said.

Stokes has already visited Colorado State and may visit Western Kentucky after hitting Hawaii.

“(After his visits) he plans to sit down and decide,” Morton said.

UH currently has one scholarship to give.