GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Freshman Ikaika Alama-Francis could play an important role down the stretch for the Rainbows.
Alama-Francis The bench has largely been a foreign place for Ikaika Alama-Francis during his basketball career.
gets his shot
The enthusiastic Kalaheo alum
is trying to move from the scout
team to the starting lineupBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comAlama-Francis was a floor leader for Kalaheo High School since his sophomore season and helped guide the Mustangs to the last two state championship games.
Now as a freshman at the University of Hawaii, Alama-Francis has rarely left the bench for the Rainbows. But he's on his way to changing that sooner than expected.
The 6-foot-6 small forward's effort in practice impressed the UH coaching staff enough to have him turn his reversible practice jersey from scout-team green to the starting gray last week, and as the regular season winds down he's threatening to break into the gameday rotation.
"This is what I've been hoping for," Alama-Francis said after yesterday's workout at the Stan Sheriff Center. "I knew I had to pay my dues and go through what I needed to go through. I figured if I just play hard every day I should be where I want to be, and maybe they'll give me a chance."
Alama-Francis' toughness in the paint and shooting touch from the perimeter at Kalaheo earned him an invitation to walk on with the Rainbows, and he has been an enthusiastic member of the scout team this season.
His efforts led to UH assistants Bob Burke and Bob Nash approaching Rainbows head coach Riley Wallace about giving the freshman a look with the starting group. But the boss was already a step ahead.
"Burke comes in and says, 'I've got a suggestion,' " Wallace said. "I said, 'Don't tell me it's Ikaika, because I already have that suggestion.' "
Said Nash: "It shows that he's worked awful hard on the scout team and Coach Wallace has noticed he's capable of getting some minutes based on his athleticism and his willingness to play defense and rebound."
Alama-Francis was a Star-Bulletin All-State selection last year as a senior at Kalaheo when he averaged 20.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. He was a three-year starter for the Mustangs, helping them win the state championship as a junior and leading them back to the title game last year.
Perhaps the signature play of his high-school career came in last year's Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game when he rammed in a putback dunk in the final minute to put Kalaheo ahead for good in a 61-57 win over Mililani.
"He really grew as a player and a person," Kalaheo coach Pete Smith said. "He wanted to win and he knew what it took to win. That's the kind of competitor he is. You're not going to lose putting a guy like that on the court."
While his height might have dictated he spend most of his time in the post in high school, Smith utilized him as a perimeter player, a move that has eased Alama-Francis' transition to college ball.
"At the Division I level my height is average for a guard," Alama-Francis said. "I realized you need to be a shooter, you need to have ball-handling, and I'm just grateful Kalaheo prepared me for Division I."
Although Alama-Francis' minutes have been limited to mop-up duty so far, his value could skyrocket if he can provide consistent minutes late in the season.
The Rainbows' top six players have accounted for 90 percent of the teams' total minutes played this season. So with the postseason looming, the fresh legs and energy of reserves like Alama-Francis, guard Jason Carter, forward Vaidotas Peciukas and center Milos Zivanovic will become crucial to Hawaii's hopes.
Nash pointed to junior Carl English's freshman year as an example of the impact a reserve can make late in the season. English began that campaign on the scout team, but finished it by leading the 'Bows to the NCAA Tournament with an MVP performance in UH's run to the WAC tournament title.
"There's always someone on that bench who can help you," Nash said. "We just have to be able to search it out and find out who that person is going to be. ... One of those guys is going to have to come in and be a major contributor in order for us to win the WAC tournament."
Nevada at Hawaii Game Day
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Tickets: Lower Level, $15$16; Upper Level (adult) $11$12; Upper Level (student, UH) $7; Super Rooter $8
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Fresno St. 11 3 .786 -- 18 5 Nevada 9 4 .692 1 1/2 14 9 LaTech 9 5 .643 2 12 9 Rice 7 5 .583 3 15 7 Tulsa 7 6 .538 3 1/2 14 8 SMU 7 6 .538 3 1/2 12 11 Hawaii 6 7 .462 4 1/2 13 8 Boise St. 4 9 .308 6 1/2 10 13 San Jose St. 3 9 .250 7 6 15 UTEP 2 11 .154 8 1/2 4 19
Yesterday
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 77, UTEP 72 (nonconference)
Today
Tulsa at SMU
Fresno State at San Jose State
Nevada at Hawaii
Probable starters
NEVADA (14-9, 9-4 WAC)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Kirk Snyder (So.) 6-6 15.4 8.0 2.5 G Todd Okeson (Jr.) 6-0 10.0 1.8 1.8 G Jerry Petty (Sr.) 5-11 9.2 2.3 2.8 G Garry Hill-Thomas (Jr.) 6-4 11.6 4.7 1.2 F Sean Paul (Jr.) 6-9 5.5 4.4 0.3
HAWAII (13-8, 6-7 WAC)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Mark Campbell (Sr.) 6-4 5.4 3.4 6.1 G Michael Kuebler (Jr.) 6-5 12.6 2.9 2.3 G Carl English (Jr.) 6-5 20.0 5.8 2.3 F Phil Martin (Jr.) 6-8 10.3 5.0 0.6 C Haim Shimonovich (Jr.) 6-11 8.5 7.6 2.8
Notes: The series is tied 6-6, but Hawaii has won the last five meetings in Honolulu. ... Nevada defeated Hawaii 73-65 Jan. 25 in Reno. ... Senior guard Terrance Green is Nevada's top scorer off the bench, averaging 13.1 points per game. He scored 31 in the Wolf Pack's loss to Louisiana Tech on Saturday and hit five 3-pointers to become the school's all-time leader with 189. ... UH center Nkeruwem Akpan (7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) was the only Rainbow reserve to play in UH's 55-54 loss to San Jose State on Saturday. ... Nevada coach Trent Johnson is in his fourth year (50-60). UH coach Riley Wallace is in his 16th year (256-212).
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