2 new recruiting names
The Twitterverse revealed two new recruiting prospects for the Hawaii men’s basketball team over the last 24 hours.
The first is Newark Memorial High (Bay Area, Calif.) senior point guard Joey Frenchwood. The 6-foot-1 Frenchwood picked up his first Division I offer on Sunday from Hawaii, he said in a phone interview Tuesday. He said he plans to take a visit to the islands before deciding — but UH’s odds seem good here, as his other interest is from Montana State.
“I’m liking Hawaii a real lot right now. … It feels really good (getting that first offer),” Frenchwood said. “I know I want to take a visit for sure. If I like it a lot, I’m sure I might commit. (I want to visit) as soon as possible, honestly.”
“(My approach is) whatever I need to do to win. I can score, I can facilitate. I’m a pretty good defender, I’d like to say. Whatever my team needs me to do to win, I’ll do it.
“It was a good year. It was a little up and down. We started off strong, then we had a drought where we dropped seven games straight. Then we picked it up, ended up winning 20 straight and going to the (open division) state tournament. We lost in the first round. But it was a real good year. I was happy how we ended.
Here’s a YouTube montage for Frenchwood.
The other player is Dallas Jesuit High senior point guard Brocke Stepteau, who said Tuesday he’s taken a preferred walk-on spot to play for UH in 2014-15 and will arrive in July.
“It feels really good. I’ve been wanting to make a decision for a while. … I’ve been talking to Coach Gib for a little bit and yesterday (Monday) I just let him know I wanted to be a part of the UH program. I’m going to be coming out July 7.”
He helped Dallas Jesuit win its district in Texas’ 5A ball, but his team lost in the first round of the playoffs. More recently, he’s played for the Dream Elite Unsigned Seniors, with whom he averaged 15 points and seven assists.
“I work really hard to get better in every aspect of the game. I like to get my teammates involved as a point guard, and I can also shoot really well from the outside,” he said. “I think I can score very well and defend for my position very well.”
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Stepteau’s other options were Florida Atlantic, St. Peter’s and Houston Baptist, he said. He’s looking to put on 10 points of muscle once he gets here.
“Definitely the distance is pretty far, but I’m going to enjoy it and I can’t wait to get out there,” said Stepteau, who was on Maui last summer for a vacation. “It’ll probably take a little bit to get used to, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem at all.”
Here’s a YouTube montage for Stepteau. and a pretty crazy buzzer beater he made.
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In case anyone is wondering if Stepteau’s arrival will prevent Tyler Harville from following up on his decision to walk on at UH, Harvillle said Tuesday he still plans to be here in July for summer school.
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If anyone’s wondering what became of Vander Joaquim, here’s a story about Joaquim’s optimism to expand his role with the Angolan national team this summer. He had very brief looks with two NBA summer league squads last year and latched on with a pro team in his native Angola.
Brian:
what about the other preferred walkon guards..Harper..Hackman…Enos..Filopovich..with Stepteau and Harville..that makes 6 walkons..will they all be back next year?..
also, will Gib still get that shot blocking big?
As of now still only 2 more scholarships..hope at least one goes to a big.. UH is very thin in frontcourt.
Mahalo, Brian,
1) Hope the ‘New Guys’ bring higher levels of skills, athleticism, quickness, defense, etc,;
enough to make an impact, Win a Few More Games, Get Deeper into Post-Season…
2) Also Hope the Returning Players with an additional year in the system, with improved, developed skills, can forge a more cohesive team, display improved defense and team skills…
3) Hope The Combined Team is Greater Than The Sum of the Parts …
Starts, Continues and FINISHES Stronger…
…and maybe takes The Program to a Whole ‘Nother Level…
…and a lot of fun along the way…
Aloha Brian,
If Frenchwood signs, that makes 12 scholarship players for next season, with one scholarship to offer. Last year walk-on include:
Valdes
Harper
Enos
Filipovich
Hackman
then you add in this year walk-on recruits:
Stepteau
Harville
if all walk-on returnees return for next season the roster would be 19 players minimum if Gib does not use the last scholarship. It could be 20 players if Gib does a late signer.
I don’t think there’s a rule for the # of players on a bb team but the availability of lockers may be the limiting factor.
Any news of current walk-on players leaving the program or maybe the new sport complex having more lockers for the bb team?
Correction,
18 players minimum and 19 if Gib signs a late signer
That seems very accurate, the head count of walkons….The key for Gib…he has to sign at least ONE BIG, and athletic defender of the paint for next season…would help the rotation of Bigs down low.
Gib, mentioned, he is pretty confident to sign one, hope he does…He has a lot of guards..Nevels, Smith, Bobbitt, Fleming, Jawato, being so far…the Scholarship guard, the rest..as you stated are preferred walkons…wonder if they are ALL staying on, they could, if they wanted to finish school at UH, earn degree,..what family support!
Brian will let us know the walkon preferred and scholarship count. Thanks in advance Brian!
You know with the visit by Frenchwood, is IS a Visit, wonder if he will view the log jam at the guard spot, and really think it over..guess, we will know, if he does commit, or not, he would have Smith, Nevels, with experience ahead of him, and Bobbitt with JC 2 years experience, and 3 star guard Fleming to contend with..Should be interesting if he signs..
Hey Brian,
read your SA print edition about the 2 guards addition to UH , Stepteau and Frenchwood, you metion returning guards Smith and Enos, No mention of Nevels? Is Garrett coming back for his senior season, or was it just a mistake in not mentioning Nevels as a returning starter?
Just curious, if Garrett were gone, that is a huge loss.
Hope it was just a mistake in print. Returning guards, Enos, Smith and Nevels..
Poorboy,
It was not a deliberate omission of Nevels or any other player not listed there (Filipovich, Harper, etc). His status for next year is fine, as far as I know. I didn’t have space in the print edition to list everyone.
Brian…..in behalf of a lot of MBB fans….wheeewww!….sigh of relief….UH will have a lot of options at guard…Thankyou for your addressing the matter.
With Filopovich, Smith, possibly Frenchwood at PG, Bobbitt, Fleming, Nevels at SG, and the walkons Harville, Stepteau, Hackman and Harper, whom I think can play SF or wing, UH will have a lot of perimeter help.
Gib will surprise us hopefully, with that announcement of the defender supreme Big! That would make this coming 2014-15 season, potentially a Monster Season!
Mahalo Brian…you always answer our inquires, questions, thanks again!!
Too many is too good? or not? Wow , looks a bit guard heavy , choke guys going sit on the chairs behind the front row guys. Wheres the big man, maybe some good news at the banquet May 1 at the Sheraton. Maybe hard to get but i’m sure the staff was working on gettng one for the past year or more.
Brian:
I hope this NCAA investigation thing is not too hurtful to program..would be horrible if it was like the Seventies, sanctions. UH had to get back on track. It took BB program, 17 years to reach NIT with Wallace’s Reggie Cross led team in 1989.
Shoots, just when things were looking bright for 2014-15…hope it is a soft blow, or does not take down Gib and whole program he has built..
Actually the last time UH was in NIT before Seventies NCAA sanctions was in 1974 with the Tom Henderson , Melton Werts led team. They beat Fairfield in first round, then lost to Purdue in 2nd round at Madison Square Garden..then, Fiasco with NCAA, next coach Larry Little, then Frank Arnold, and Riley Wallace who took his second year NCAA turnaround team of the year, to NIT, led by Reggie Cross, Chris Gaines and company in 1989
Interesting to read that Shamburger committed today to play at Missouri next year.
Brian:
Coach Scot Fisher, moving on to another job elsewhere!
Thanks. Did not see him at the Basketball Banquet.