Warrior Beat

Expanded coverage of UH football, including practice notes, game analysis, recruiting info and observations on the Mountain West Conference.

About the blog host

Stephen Tsai covers University of Hawaii football for the Star-Advertiser. Follow him on Twitter @StephenTsai and sign up for the Hawaii football newsletter here: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/email-signup/

Latest news

Hawaii football: Rojesterman Farris to Atlanta Falcons, JoJo Ward to Arizona Cardinals

By Stephen Tsai on April 25, 2020

Ninety minutes after quarterback Cole McDonald was selected by the Tennessee Titans, former UH teammate Rojesterman Farris II reached agreement on a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Farris said he welcomes being reunited with Mayur Chaudhari, who was the Warriors’ special teams coordinator in 2016 and 2017. Chaudhari is on the Falcons’ staf. Farris served several roles on speciality units when he was not being used as a shut-down cornerback. Farris, who amassed 54 tackles while playing in all […]

Hawaii football: Cole McDonald drafted in 7th round by Tennessee Titans

By Stephen Tsai on April 25, 2020

The following was posted on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s breaking news. Former University of Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald is taking his talents to Nashville. The Tennessee Titans today selected McDonald in the seventh round — No. 224 overall — of the 2020 National Football League Draft. “I’m excited right now,” McDonald told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a telephone interview. “I’m super excited. I’m at home with a bunch of family and friends. It was pretty awesome. It was surreal to see […]

Hawaii men’s basketball: Drew Buggs narrows transfer choices to 3 schools

By Stephen Tsai on April 22, 2020

Describing it as the “hardest” move he has had to make, point guard Drew Buggs finalized his decision to leave the Hawaii basketball team. Buggs, who entered the NCAA transfer portal in March, said he has narrowed his next school to Iowa State, Missouri or Loyola Marymount. Iowa State is where his parents met. Buggs said he hopes to make a decision this weekend. I just want to say my thank you The University of Hawai’i. I was blessed to […]

Hawaii volleyball: Rado Parapunov, Gage Worsley named to AVCA All-America first team

By Stephen Tsai on April 21, 2020

Opposite attacker Rado Parapunov and libero Gage Worsley today were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s All-America first team. It is the second year in a row Parapunov has reached the recognition. In the recently abbreviated season, Parapunov averaged 4.47 kills and 5.28 points per set. Earlier, he was named the Big West’s Player of the Year. Worsley averaged 2.1 digs per set. First-Team Ryan Coenen, LewisGabi Garcia Fernandez, BYUDavide Gardini, BYUDaenan Gyimah, UCLAKyle McCauley, UC San DiegoCasey McGarry, […]

Hawaii football adds junior college quarterback Armani Edden

By Stephen Tsai on April 20, 2020

While Chevan Cordeiro remains as the presumptive No. 1 passer, the Rainbow Warriors have added depth — and competition — to the quarterbacks’ room. Armani Edden, a multi-skilled passer from College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, Calif.) is set to join the Warriors this summer. His pledge — on Twitter and then to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser — comes a month after Jake Farrell made a commitment to the Warriors. Farrell played high-school ball at Notre Dame Prep in Arizona, then […]

Hawaii men’s basketball: Jessiya Villa transferring to Chaminade

By Stephen Tsai on April 9, 2020

Jessiya Villa is taking his basketball talents less than a mile away. Villa, who redshirted as a UH freshman this past season, is transferring to Chaminade. He entered the NCAA’s transfer portal two weeks ago. “Coach (Eric) Bovaird and I have had a relationship even prior to my graduation at Kahuku,” Villa said. Villa’s grandfather, Bill Villa, is retiring in June as Chaminade’s athletic director. Villa was born in Hawaii but grew up mostly on the mainland. He enrolled at […]

Hawaii men’s basketball: Dawson Carper transfers to Missouri State

By Stephen Tsai on April 8, 2020

Dawson Carper, who has completed two seasons with the UH basketball team, confirmed he is transferring to Missouri State. Carper had entered the transfer portal two weeks ago, citing a desire to attend a school closer to his family’s home in Colorado Springs. Missouri State’s Springfield campus is 640 miles away. pic.twitter.com/k8Yq7CVTkn — Daws (@Dawson_Carper) April 8, 2020 Carper based his decision largely on conversations with MSU coach Dana Ford and forward Gaige Prim. “It’s tough because you can’t visit […]

Hawaii basketball lands high-scoring junior college guard JoVon McClanahan

By Stephen Tsai on April 3, 2020

A prolific junior-college point guard is set to join the UH men’s basketball team. JoVon McClanahan, who is completing his first year at Sheridan (Wy.) College, announced on Twitter and then confirmed to Hawaii Warrior World that he will accept a basketball scholarship from the Rainbow Warriors. If the NCAA schedule holds, McClanahan will be allowed to sign a letter of intent on April 15, the first day of the spring-signing period for basketball recruits. McClanahan, who was an NCAA […]