StarBulletin.com

Arnold lands first recruit in 6-8 Wiseman


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POSTED: Wednesday, March 31, 2010

He's been called a point forward, a matchup nightmare, and a special talent.

This fall, Trevor Wiseman will answer to “;Rainbow Warrior.”;

Wiseman, a Golden Valley High School (Calif.) senior, said yesterday he gave his oral commitment to play for the Hawaii men's basketball team for the 2010-11 season. He is the first known player to commit to new UH coach Gib Arnold, who has remained in the western U.S. to recruit this week.

“;I've always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I would have never thought of playing basketball there,”; the 6-8, 220-pound Wiseman said. “;Once (Arnold) gave me an opportunity to play there, I took it. I'd love to play there.”;

He averaged about 23 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game as a senior. Despite his size, he was the Grizzlies' primary ball-handler and playmaker.

Wiseman, a three-year varsity starter, said he was offered a scholarship last week. After waiting “;a day or two,”; he accepted, turning down a later offer from UC Riverside and some moderate interest from UNLV. His decision was first reported by The Signal newspaper of the Santa Clarita Valley yesterday.

How the rebuilding Rainbows make use of his unique blend of size and skills remains to be seen.

“;I always liked the ball in my hands and I just liked making decisions,”; said Wiseman, the Foothill League co-MVP and a selection to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division III-A first team. “;My court vision was always good. But I was always taller than everyone, so coaches didn't really know where to put me. I've played center before in rec ball and stuff like that. But I always wanted to play point guard, and I got a chance to play it in high school.”;

He can sign on April 14.

Wiseman helped coach Chris Printz's team to the division quarterfinals this season.

“;It's amazing. He's gone back and forth (in position) for us and really the last three years he's been a varsity player, he's been a matchup nightmare for other teams,”; Printz said. “;That ability to play him at the point, that ability to play him in the post, with that ability to adjust depending upon how they defend us, even within games. You're lucky as a coach to come across a talent like that and he's been a big, big part of our success.”;

He was on the McDonald's All-American Game watch list, but didn't receive many Division I looks. He is the first D-I basketball player to come out of Golden Valley High, which has been around about five years.

Wiseman hasn't been to Hawaii, but said he'd probably take a recruiting visit in late April. Grizzlies assistant Larry Keys thinks Wiseman's improving maturity and game will make him a fan favorite.

“;He really eats, sleeps, and drinks basketball,”; Keys said. “;His mid-range game is very good and he's very strong obviously around the basket. The deeper perimeter game is definitely still developing. It really wasn't something he had to do much of to be successful out here, but it's definitely something he's worked on and proved mightily over each year.”;

Wiseman's school is about 30 minutes away from Calabasas, Calif., home of UH fall signee Jordan Coleman. Both are just outside of Los Angeles.

UH lost five seniors from last year. With Coleman still on board and Wiseman now in the fold, that leaves a minimum of three scholarships remaining to hand out. That number jumps to four, however, if forward Ji Xiang graduates over the summer and returns to China as expected.

Arnold said he will remain on the mainland to recruit until tomorrow, then head to the Final Four in Indianapolis later this week to interview coaches to fill out his staff.

Arnold said he plans to announce his associate head coach sometime this week.