Point guard
commits to ’Bows

Point guards topped the Hawaii basketball team's shopping list heading into recruiting season and the Rainbow Warriors appear on their way to filling the order.

Hiram Thompson, the point guard for California Interscholastic Federation Division II state champion Oak Ridge High (El Dorado Hills) has committed to join the UH program next year.

"Talking to my parents, we just felt that's where I should go. It felt good," Thompson said last night. "The program's good, the school's good, so it's a perfect fit for me."

Thompson (6-foot-4, 175 pounds) completed a four-year varsity career by leading Oak Ridge to a 31-4 record and the state title. He was also named the Sierra Valley Conference's MVP.

He averaged 15 points and six assists for the Trojans.

"His stats are a little misleading because we had a balanced team and his job was to get everybody involved. He can score a lot more if he needs to," said Oak Ridge coach Steve Scott, who ran track at UH in 1976.

"He's a tremendous on-ball defender and sees the floor really well. ... He's very excited. He was smiling ear to ear."

Thompson was also recruited by Vermont, Boston College, St. Mary's, and BYU, but his Hawaii ties helped tip the scales in UH's favor.

His grandparents and uncle live in Laie and his father said the family visits the islands once a year.

"I think a lot of pieces to the puzzle all kind of fit together," said Matt Thompson, Hiram's father. "It was everything he liked as far as the beach, the food, the people, the family, and especially the program and the coaching staff."

The UH coaches placed an emphasis on finding a point guard following the 'Bows' 16-13 campaign and could bring in another for next season.

UH coaches are not allowed to comment on a recruit until the school receives a signed national letter of intent. The late signing period begins April 13.

Hawaii signed guard Matt Lojeski and forward Ahmet Tidiane Gueye in the fall to join seven players expected to return.