Saturday, April 3, 1999

Guard commits
to Hawaii

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Vernon Jackson, a junior college shooting guard who was MVP of California's Orange Empire Conference last season, has verbally committed to Hawaii.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Jackson led Saddleback Community College, averaging 18 points and eight rebounds. He can also play point guard.

"He's just a real good all-around player - rebounds, shoots, defends, takes it halfway in," said Saddleback coach Bill Brummel, who confirmed the verbal commitment.

"He's a real hard competitor and a lot better shooter than AC."

Brummel also coached former Rainbow guard Anthony Carter, a two-time MVP of the Orange Empire Conference.

Hawaii has four or five scholarships available after signing Bernard McIntosh and Predrag Savovic during the early signing period. All of Hawaii's recruits are expected to by junior college players.

UH coach Riley Wallace is not allowed to comment on recruits until after they have signed national letters of intent. The first day that recruits can sign is Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Hawaii seems to be one of three schools still in the running for 6-5, 200-pound Weatherford College guard/forward Nerijus Puida, who was player of the year in the NTJCAC. He is due to visit UH on Friday, according to Weatherford coach Mark Osina.

Osina said the Lithuanian native can play the 1, 2 and 3 positions, is "a great passer and plays great defense." He averaged 18.8 points a game.

Osina said that what's delaying Puida's decision is the fact that he wants his girlfriend, Dainora Umbrasaite, a 6-4 forward for Weatherford's women's team, to go with him.

"They are a package," he said.