[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
Mishap turns
into opportunity
for JesinskisThe UH forward used his
redshirt year to reflect on
valuable life lessons
For Paul Jesinskis, opportunity emerged in the form of a broken bone in his wrist.
Early in the Hawaii basketball team's preseason workouts last year, Jesinskis took a spill on the court and broke his fall with his left hand. He played through the nagging pain in his wrist for the next month, but just prior to the season opener an examination revealed a broken bone.
Three days before the Rainbows took the floor against Arkansas-Little Rock, Jesinskis had surgery that would end his season.
UC Santa Barbara at UH
When: Today, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff CenterBroadcast: TV: Live, KFVE; Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Tickets: Lower Level, $16 (single seats only); Upper Level (adult) $12; Upper Level (student) $5; Super Rooter $8
Fast-forward a year and Jesinskis is back at full strength and ready to take advantage of a second shot at his senior season. He is slated to start at center when Hawaii faces UC Santa Barbara tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Jesinskis said his time away from the court gave him a chance to improve his game by looking at it from a different perspective.
"Being away from it, it's a situation where I can appreciate what it is," Jesinskis said. "I viewed it as an opportunity rather than a negative thing. It definitely opened my eyes and gave me a realization of the reality of things.
"Sitting on the side you realize how important it is to get everybody on the same page and you learn to expect what coach wants. ... You know some things that really annoy him and some things that put a smile on his face."
Jesinskis (6-foot-8, 230 pounds) learned the game from his father, Eriks Jesinskis, in the back yard of their home in South Africa. The elder Jesinskis played professionally in Europe in the 1950s.
Paul Jesinskis transferred to UH from Skyline (Calif.) College in 2000 and played in 21 games as a junior, although he broke double digits in minutes just three times.
He figured to play a significant role in the front-court rotation last year, before he had surgery to have a screw inserted in his wrist. Rather than try to rush back, Jesinskis decided to use his redshirt year.
"That was a bit of a drag, having put all of that time and effort in and just have one part of your body just not functioning screw everything up," he said.
Jesinskis worked his way back into shape and returned to the court later in the season. He became a valuable member of the scout team, giving the starters a physical presence to contend with in the paint during practice.
"It can only help you when all you do is practice, practice, practice," UH associate coach Bob Nash said. "He got more reps on defense, got more reps on offense on the scout team and he kept developing as a player."
He returned to the Rainbows this fall primed to contribute up front along with senior Haim Shimonovich and sophomore Milos Zivanovic. With Shimonovich nursing an Achilles' injury, Jesinskis' hustle and aggressiveness in the paint earned him the starting nod in Monday's exhibition game against Brigham Young-Hawaii.
After a quiet first half, Jesinskis finished with 13 points and six rebounds in the 63-56 victory. He made six of his seven shots from the field and accounted for eight points in UH's decisive run that turned a seven-point deficit into a 49-46 lead with seven minutes left in the game. His layup off an assist from Michael Kuebler gave the Rainbows a lead they would not surrender.
"He played with a lot of emotion, played within himself and didn't try to do things that's outside of his normal routine," Nash said.
Both Nash and Jesinskis said the maturity Jesinskis gained over the last year has helped his development and has allowed him to use criticism from head coach Riley Wallace constructively rather than letting it get him down.
"I think I have a more relaxed attitude about everything," Jesinskis said. "It's keeping everything in perspective, realizing you're human and you're going to make mistakes."
The redshirt year will also allow Jesinskis to complete his academic career at UH in the same semester as his basketball career. He has already completed the requirements for his economics degree and is working on a minor in business before graduating in the spring.
But for now, Jesinskis is focusing on making the most of his second chance on the court.
"I'm really excited -- every game is a challenge for me," he said. "I just want to take the opportunity with both hands and run with it."
AC gives back: Former UH guard Anthony Carter has been named the first national spokesman for the "I Have A Dream" Foundation, the organization announced this week.
The foundation assists youths from low-income communities to pursue higher education.
Carter, now a guard with the San Antonio Spurs, grew up in Atlanta and dropped out of high school after his freshman year. But the program helped him get back into school and he eventually earned a scholarship from UH.
"There are many others, like myself, who have achieved success in their lives thanks to the support they received from the 'I Have a Dream' Foundation," Carter said on the foundation's Web site. "I feel fortunate and proud to be a Dreamer and look forward to the opportunity to impact the lives of future Dreamers by giving back to the organization that helped shape my future."
On the court, Carter was activated by the Spurs on Tuesday. He had been on the injured list since Oct. 31 with patella tendinitis in his left knee.
Probable starters
Notes: UH leads the series 4-3. The teams last met on Dec. 15, 1962 in the California Winter Classic. UCSB won 71-49. ... UH coach Riley Wallace opens his 17th season tonight with a record of 262-216 at the school. The Rainbows are 12-4 in home openers under Wallace. ... UCSB coach Bob Williams is in his sixth season and was named Big West Coach of the Year last season.
UC Santa Barbara (0-0) Ht. Wt. Cl. G Jacoby Atako 6-1 180 Sr. G Cecil Brown 6-4 190 So. G Josh Davis 6-5 205 So. F Cameron Goettsche 6-9 220 So. F Bryan Whitehead 6-8 245 Sr. Hawaii (0-0) Ht. Wt. Cl. G Jason Carter 5-10 155 Sr. G Michael Kuebler 6-4 190 Sr. F Julian Sensley 6-9 235 So. F Phil Martin 6-8 220 Sr. C Paul Jesinskis 6-8 230 Sr.
