Tuesday, May 12, 1998
Wallace likes his
recruiting class
The UH basketball coach
By Cindy Luis
thinks his team will be 'in real
good shape' next season
Star-Bulletin.In a word: Great.
That's what Riley Wallace thinks of his recruiting class this year. The University of Hawaii men's basketball coach took care of the last of his seven available scholarships yesterday when getting a commitment from Alabama-Birmingham transfer Predrag Savovic.
"It's a great class," said Wallace. "And with what we've got coming back . . . I think we'll be in real good shape."
Savovic, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Montenegro (formerly a part of Yugoslavia), played sparingly in 21 games as a freshman for the Blazers this past season. The 21-year-old was slowed by an early ankle injury and ended up averaging 2.4 points.
Savovic, considered an excellent perimeter shooter, chose Hawaii over St. John's, a school that had recruited him out of high school. He will redshirt next season and have three years of eligibility.
Available for duty this coming season are: 6-9 post player Marquette Alexander, who averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds at City College of San Francisco; 6-4 guard Geremy Robinson, an outside shooting threat with "great hops" from Pearl River (Miss.) College; and Johnny White, a 6-2 guard from Brevard (Fla.) College, the MVP of the Sun Coast Conference.
The Rainbows received three commitments during the early signing period in November: versatile 6-4 junior Damon Lee from Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) College; 6-5 sophomore forward Gary Gillman out of Cuesta (Calif.) College; and 6-2 freshman guard Mike McIntyre from Long Beach (Calif.) Poly.
Hawaii redshirted two players last season who are expected to contribute immediately: 6-11 freshman center Peter Kecskes from Hungary and 6-5 freshman guard Philipp Czernin from California.
The Rainbows will return between two and five players from the 21-9 team that lost in the NIT quarterfinals. Back for their senior seasons are 6-8 forward Erin Galloway, 6-5 guard Casey Cartwright and 7-foot center Bryan Moeller.
Wallace is still waiting on paperwork from Mike Robinson's first junior college, Gulf Coast Community, in order to petition for another year of eligibility. The 6-8 forward attended class but never played, leaving school to return to be with his ailing mother.
The fate of incoming senior Chad Hook is up in the air, according to Wallace. The 6-2 point guard left for Iowa yesterday and was to let the Rainbow coach know about his decision to return after speaking with his family.
The scholarship offer for 7-2 center Terry Sellers expired without the Compton (Calif.) standout returning his letter-of-intent. Sellers had given a verbal commitment to the Rainbows but has since declared for next month's NBA draft; he is expected to work out with the Portland Trail Blazers this month.
A former Rainbow redshirt will apparently show up in the WAC next season. Point guard Shane Willis, who left for a two-year mission for the Mormon Church, will walk on at Utah.
The Rainbows open the season Nov. 15 against California.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
