RAINBOW BASKETBALL
’Bows land junior college standout
Hawaii accomplished a recruiting coup yesterday, as small forward Roderick Flemings chose the Rainbow Warriors over Kentucky and other big-name basketball schools.
The junior college All-American from Dallas is the sixth player to sign with the Rainbows this year and is the final piece of the 2008-09 recruiting class.
Flemings was recruited by several top-flight schools, including Connecticut, Georgetown and West Virginia, before narrowing his choices to Kentucky and Hawaii.
"This is an exciting day for Hawaii basketball," coach Bob Nash said. "The elite programs across the country were after Roderick and he decided Hawaii was the best fit for him."
Flemings was named a first team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association after a stellar sophomore season with Weatherford College in Texas.
"He's a very good all-around player," Weatherford coach Mark Osina said. "He's a really good defensive player, offensive player, team player, great passer. He's a player."
Flemings never visited Kentucky and said last night that Hawaii was a good fit for him.
"I liked Hawaii last weekend -- it was real fun," Flemings said. "Overall I liked what Coach Nash was talking about. He told me what I was going to be to the team next year. I liked what he was talking about, so I decided to come to Hawaii. I'm just trying to get to the NBA really, man. The travel doesn't really matter. I'm going to have to travel anyways, so might as well (go through it) now."