Wednesday, November 25, 1998

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
HPU head coach Tony Sellitto is at ease with his
players, and, below, they with him.

An easy ‘Sell’

Tony Sellitto loves recruiting,
and players love to come and play for
the legendary Hawaii Pacific
University coach

By Jerry Campany
Special to the Star-Bulletin

TONY Sellitto always gets his man.

Hawaii Pacific athletic director and head basketball coach Tony Sellitto could roll the ball out on the floor and let his team coach itself to a winning season. His work this season is already done.

Sellitto is an excellent basketball coach, as his record proves. But his forte is recruiting. Although he lost All-Americans Llewellyn Smalley and J.J. Lucas after last season, his team actually looks better on paper this season. He makes his mark during the long summer months, when college basketball is on hiatus.

Sellitto delegates more responsibility to his coaches than most men in his position. But there's one area that's hands-off -- recruiting.

Sellitto handles every aspect of recruiting alone. He is adamant about the responsibility, not because it is vitally important to the health of his program, but because he loves it.

"I enjoy recruiting more than any other aspect of basketball," Sellitto said.

"It is an area where I can make a positive difference in a young man's life."

Sellitto, 61, was "old school" long before it became cool. Talk to him long enough about sports and the conversation will wind itself back to the days when he played football without a facemask or spent countless hours hitting a baseball without batting gloves to toughen up his hands.

You would think that putting this kind of man with today's athletes would be a recipe for disaster. But because he is genuine, he pulls it off.

Josh Newburn, his newest prize recruit, has already been won over by Sellitto.

"He can relate to us," Newburn said. "A lot of coaches want no part of you off the court, but Sellitto lives for it. Life is not all basketball to him."

Sellitto links his recruiting success to his reputation for winning, and that he appeals to two types of players -- the ones with legitimate professional basketball aspirations and those who want to use their athletic skills to earn an education.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Tony Sellitto with his team.

John Strickland, Lucas and Smalley have parlayed Sellitto's teachings into professional basketball jobs. But Tony Smalley is a prime example of how Sellitto has an edge over most other schools.

Smalley was heavily recruited in 1990 when he got an earful of Sellitto's best pitch and signed on the spot.

"He offered me a chance to win and a guarantee of schooling for as long as I was interested," Smalley said. "No other school could touch it, and six years later I have two degrees paid for by basketball. I wouldn't be in the position I am now without Sellitto, and I owe him a great deal of gratitude."

Smalley was a talented basketball player, but not talented enough to be an exception. The treatment Smalley received is the rule for all athletes under Sellitto. His devotion to his athletes is a prime example of how leadership and winning starts at the top.

"The president of the university built the foundation for a good program," Sellitto said. "I want to win for (HPU president) Chatt Wright. If he didn't support me, I wouldn't be here."

As much as Sellitto loves the recruiting process, Hawaii Pacific's recent move up to NCAA Division II from NAIA has spoiled some of his fun, but he won't let it beat him. He is learning the strict NCAA regulations as he goes, amazed at how unfair it is for a small school like Hawaii Pacific.

"I have never hated anything," Sellitto said. "But I have an extreme dislike for the FBI, IRS and NCAA. They are all too autonomous.

"But at least the first two admit the situation and are trying. The NCAA is all about legitimate rules to govern big basketball schools, and expecting small academic institutions to play by the same silly rules."

But the NCAA can't stop Sellitto from caring. It's what he does best.

Pacific West Conference
Team Capsules

BYU-Hawaii Seasiders

1997 record: 19-8

Coach: Ken Wagner

Key Returnees: F Earl Smith (Sr.); G/F David Evans (Jr.); G Issac Gornichec (Sr.); G Thomas Joyce (Jr.); C Jeff Isom (Jr.); F Pa'ulasi Matavo (Sr.); G Nathan Fripp (Jr.); F Kahi Villa (So.)

Key Newcomers: G Beau Nobman (Fr.); F/C Nate Endicott (Fr.); G Brad Barton (Fr.)

Key Losses: G Brandyn Akana, G/F Chris Bates, F/C Scott Salisbury, G Adam Evans

Season outlook: Head coach Ken Wagner has led the Seasiders since 1979, compiling a 165-81 record. But the move to the Pac West will test his young squad.

"The Pac West is going to be a tough league." Wagner said. "I think that it has six or seven tournament-caliber teams, and we hope to be one of them."

Swingman David Evans returns to post his routine 20 points per game, but someone will have to step up to replace the 30 that Brandyn Akana and Chris Bates combined to average last year.

Pa'ulasi Matavao returns to the squad after redshirting last season and is expected to team with Earl Smith to carry the load at forward.

Thomas Joyce steps into a starting role at shooting guard and Nathan Fripp gets his chance to run the team from the point.

"I'm real positive about the season," Wagner said. "We are young and have our usual tough schedule, but I think we will do well as we grow accustomed to each other."

Chaminade Silverswords

1997 record: 12-14

Coach: Al Walker

Key Returnees: F Stanley Martin (Jr.); C Derrick Tracy (Sr.); C Matt Morgan (Sr.); G Kaweo Feeney (So.)

Key Newcomers: G Tamir Berkovitch (Jr.); F John Krafels (Jr.); G Kenzie Weir (Jr.)

Key Losses: G Darnell Clavon, G Michael Farrell, F Roman Rivera

Season outlook: The Silverswords come into the season banking on one thing, and expect to ride it as far as it will take them.

"We are awful big and strong this year," Chaminade head coach Al Walker said. "Size is the difference between winning and losing, and we have it."

On paper, the team doesn't look so big. Derrick Tracy -- all 6-foot-6 of him -- returns to play the pivot, with 6-10 Matt Morgan returning to back him up.

"We will never be as athletic as HPU and BYUH," Walker said. "But all the teams in Hawaii are similar enough that chemistry will make the difference."

Stanley Martin, Pac West Newcomer of the year last year, will be sidelined for a couple months with a broken left wrist, but should return by the new year. He averaged 16.5 points per game and seven rebounds in the shadow of Darnell Clavon.

"Stanley is a very good player," Walker said. "He is as tough mentally as he is physically. It is up to him to set the tone on both ends of the floor."

Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors

1997 record: 22-5

Coach: Tony Sellitto

Key Returnees: G Willie Flowers (Sr.); G Shannon Lee (Sr.); F Scott Kato (Jr.); C Cordell Ray (Sr.)

Key Newcomers: F Robert Parker, Jr. (Sr.); F Josh Newburn (Jr.); G/F Stacey Nolan (Sr.)

Key Losses: G Llewellyn Smalley, C J.J. Lucas

Season outlook: Tony Sellitto has reloaded once again. Hawaii Pacific lost NAIA All-Americans Llewellyn Smalley and J.J. Lucas, but Sellitto said the team has improved in the off-season.

"We look so good it's scary," Sellitto said. "Without injuries we can go as far as there is to go."

Robert Parker Jr. returns after redshirting last year and will fill the void left by Smalley. In 1996-97, Parker averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg and is expected to improve on that.

"Parker is the best player in the country," Sellitto said. "He will not see a player better than him this year."

Replacing Lucas may be a problem. His backup, 6-foot-10 Cordell Ray, moves into the starting center spot after an ineffective junior year, but his performance in training camp has Sellitto pleased and excited to see how Hawaii coaches will react to him.

"Cordell Ray is the single-most improved player on the team," Sellitto said. "He is going to surprise everyone."

Point guard Shannon Lee returns to run the show and will share the backcourt with Willie Flowers, giving the Sea Warriors a lethal do-it-all combination outside the arc.

UH-Hilo Vulcans

1997 record: 10-17

Head Coach: Jeff Law

Key Returnees: F Merriel Jenkins (Sr.), G Maceo Thomas (Sr.), F Drazen Padoven (Jr.), F Ed Ellis (Sr.)

Key Newcomers: G Mario Baca (Jr.), F Kapena Lum (Fr.), G Scott Prather (Fr.), G Caleb Shamp (Fr.), G Erik Bucklew (Fr.)

Key Losses: Mario Claytor, Brian Yule, Pete Torres, Jayme Carvalho, Eric Culberson, Travis Lindstrom

Season outlook: After eight years as Riley Wallace's assistant at Hawaii, Jeff Law takes over as head coach for Hawaii-Hilo.

This will be Law's first head coaching position, and it will be no easy task turning around a floundering Hilo program.

The Vulcans return Merriel Jenkins, Ed Ellis and Maceo Thomas from last year. The trio may not recognize the program they led last season as Law has made numerous changes.

With a new offense and an emphasis on team defense, Jenkins won't be asked to carry the entire load again this season, although he will remain a key component.

"Jenkins will probably remain the first option," Law said. "But he will not be the only one. As talented as he is, we can't win by standing around watching him."

Junior college transfer Mario Baca pushes Thomas into a shooting-guard role while he mans the point.

"Baca is a pure point guard and lets Maceo (Thomas) be more aggressive in his new position," Law said.