Warrior Beat: Washington State guard Ahmed Ali joining Hawaii men’s basketball team
Ahmed Ali, a 5-11 guard who started 24 games for Washington State the past season, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser this morning he is joining the Rainbow Warrior basketball team.
After two years at a junior college and one at WSU, Ali has two years to play one season. He is seeking a waiver that would allow him to play this season without redshirting.
“That’s the goal,” Ali said of the waiver. “That’s what I’m hoping. That’s what I’m banking on now.”
Here’s the skinny on Ali:
> Ali, who was born and reared in Toronto, once scored 103 points in a high school game. He hit 22 3-point shots in that performance.
> In 70 career games at Eastern Florida State College, he averaged 16.9 points and 4.8 assists while converting 42.6 percent of his 3s. As an EFSC sophomore in 2017-18, he was named to the NJCAA Division I All-America second team after averaging 17.9 points on 40.1-percent shooting from behind the 3-point arc. “He’s a phenomenal passer,” EFSC coach Jeremy Shulman said. “He has range up to 30 feet.”
> At WSU, he played in all 32 games with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.4-to-1.
> He entered the transfer portal after the WSU switched coaches following the Cougars’ first-round ouster from the Pac-12 Tournament.
> “Just the way they showed me love,” Ali said of his decision to join the ‘Bows. “I felt wanted. And just the place in general. Doing my research there … I feel that will be home for the next year or two. It’s a great opportunity. I’m excited.”
Welcome, Ahmed
Best of Luck on a swift and supportive waiver…
Welcome to the Warrior Ohana Ahmed!
Ali! Ali! Ali! Great pickup to cap this recruiting class. I’m wondering, though, if he’ll be successful with his appeal to play immediately. Either way, a solid addition to the program. A hundred and three points? That’s crazy.
Probably will have to redshirt? Don’t look like he can play this year.
From what I understand, he has a good chance to play this year.
Any chance getting Tolu Smith?
Welcome home Ahmed!
Need that scoring punch at the point.
where are they now ?
Blaze Soares.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2019/08/08/blaze-soares-leads-saber-defense-into/
Switching to football . . . I see that John Usua, who was initially assigned jersey #15 by the Seahawks, is listed on tonight’s roster as #5, his college number. I hope . . . I hope this portends good things to come, like, “we’re giving you your number because we expect you to stick around.” It could also be a typo, but anyway, food for thought.
FOOTBALL !!!
http://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/nevada-opponent-preview-hawaiis-senior-laden-talent-will-test-wolf-pack
for whatever reason(s), UH defense , in the 20th century have given up a lot of points — same is true for 2007 undefeated regular season only to lose in the 2008 Sugar Bowl and Georgia, IMHO, should have been ranked #1 and LSU #2
it still befuddles me how the entire team entered the stadium — totally lack luster and a “pre-cursor” to what will take place.
still, one of if not the best road game we attended!!!!!!!!!!!
so, I miss the games in the 1970 – 1985 where UH beat some very good teams or held good teams to low scoring games at the Termite Palace and newly built Aloha Stadium ( 1975 )
UH 42 — Arizona 38
Is Adam applying for another job ? There is a UH job posting for a Associate or Assistant Basketball Coach (Men), per another blog.
Uh 21 Arizona 42
Broncos – Seahawks on the tube now.
Nope. Ursua is #15.
I like…what I see. Now the MBB program has some international flavor onto this roster. 3 of Australia, 1 player each from Latvia, Canada and Brazil. The question is, can coach Ganot put all the pieces together and make a big run in the 2019-20 season with all the returners and the newcomers they got? That’s going to be a tricky situation. Especially because, well for starters, who is going to be the starting 5 in the lineup? With Owen Hulland fully healthy, the forward position could be up for grabs, and especially with Bernardo da Silva as the freshman sensation, he could probably make an impact for this team in the long haul. Webster could be a lucky charm at the guard position, especially with his resume on the numbers he put up in his two high schools (20.6 ppg at Prestonwood Christian Academy, 16.2 ppg at Harwood Military Academy with 45% on 3-pointers). Even Jessiya Villa and Kameron Ng are probably an interesting pair of local recruits we could see them get their growth to the game. Madut even could provide some backbone to the team with his balance. This MBB program, I gotta say, should be an interesting team to watch.
ai-eee-sops, thanks for the link. Interesting write-up.
Sorry typo, so-eee-“soos”. Just noticed spell check made the change.
per ST’s column …
Associate head coach Adam Jacobsen is leaving the University of Hawaii basketball team after four seasons.
15. Matt, good comment about putting the pieces together. Are you the Matt that calls Fan Phones ?
Who do you favor to replace Adam ?
There’s always at least one doubting Thomas (#12). How do you figgah? I have ties to UA since my daughter graduated from there and they are not that good. They are ripe for the plucking. Go Warriors !!
Mr. A-House, they knew JJ was bailing on them. Kill fight.
Hawaii always seems to not be favored in the first game every season, nothing new.
I copied this off the Hawaii Athletics (UH) site’s preview of quarterbacks and specifically regarding Cole McDonald: “He has unbelievable drive and he’s very competitive—no one is going to outwork him, whether it’s in the weight room or on the field,” Stutzmann said. “Every time he takes a rep, he’s trying to be the best. It really translates to his game. He’s able to be coached and become a better quarterback.”
I wish Cole would just relax and enjoy the ride. I feel this self-imposed intensity makes him too tight to be fluid and ultimately hampers his success.
per ST: MBB to play at Illinois and Oregon.
Full schedule.
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/08/09/sports/sports-breaking/university-of-hawaii-basketball-schedule-includes-games-at-illinois-oregon/
1 road trip to play 2 non-conference games would make sense.
2 road trips to play 1 non-conference game each makes no sense.
Sad and counter productive that some locals still want to see Rolo fail, with hope that June Jones will be rehired at UH. Not going happen, as he made his bed at SMU.
GO WARRIOR!!
New post: https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=50545