Tuesday, May 25, 1999

Riley’s recruiting
ranks up there

One college basketball
recruiting expert says Hawaii's
class might be in
the top 50

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii basketball team has lined up "a great recruiting class," according to a mainland recruiting analyst.

Van Coleman, who is based in Iowa and rates recruiting classes throughout the country, said he thinks the six players Hawaii signed between November and this month will make the Rainbows a contender right away in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I think they had a great recruiting class and their talent level will jump back up in a hurry," said Coleman in a phone interview.

"They might even sneak into the back end of the top 50 (recruiting classes) in the nation when we sit down to rate."

That would be good news for the Rainbows, who are trying to dig out from their first 20-loss season in 12 years.

What Hawaii needed was shooting, a talented extra point guard, shooting, a solid big man, and more shooting.

On paper, it looks as though Hawaii coach Riley Wallace fulfilled his mission.

Wallace, speaking by phone from the mainland, acknowledged this is a much better recruiting class than last year's.

"Last year we made some mistakes because we didn't get the shooters we needed," he said.

"We had to find guys to shoot the ball and that's what we did this time. With all the guys coming back, we'll have some good competition in practice."

Coleman said point guard Roy DelaCruz (San Jacinto J.C., Texas) and forward Nerijus Puida (Weatherford J.C., Texas) were among the top 100 prospects in the nation.

DelaCruz will arrive as a "high major" prospect and Puida is known to put up big numbers.

Coleman said he thinks Hawaii's tallest recruit, 7-foot center Todd Fields (St. Catharine College, Ky.), might be able to help the Rainbows right away.

He said DelaCruz, who averaged eight assists his last season at San Jacinto, is an exciting catch for Wallace.

"He's a proven prospect all the way across because he's been this way through high school and college," said Coleman.

"He was a crucial recruit when we got down to it because we wanted some help for Johnny White at point guard," said Wallace. "We had no other player to handle the ball. (Mike) McIntyre just couldn't do it at the point.

"He's a really good slasher, he penetrates. He's a little better than adequate as a shooter. He's more of a scorer. That's what AC (Anthony Carter) was. He wasn't a shooter but he was adequate as a scorer."

TCU was also in contention for DelaCruz. But the Bronx native, who played for John F. Kennedy High School, apparently backed off when he learned that the Horned Frogs had signed Howard Community College point guard Larry Allaway.

It was then that Hawaii moved in and secured DelaCruz with an intense recruiting effort that ended with DelaCruz faxing in his national letter of intent on the afternoon of May 15 - the final day that binding letters could be signed.

With the signing of DelaCruz, junior guard Damon Lee's scholarship will not be renewed. Wallace said Lee is looking to transfer.

Lee averaged only 1.7 ppg and started in two of the 19 games he played.

DelaCruz needs to pass an exit exam in math this summer at Paris Junior College (Texas) to become eligible.

Wallace said he did not want White, who started all 26 games, to have to play 37 minutes a game again.

"I think Johnny will have a good senior year coming back with experience and some help but we definitely wanted to have a challenge at that position."

Wallace said that 6-6 sophomore guard Predrag Savovic, who redshirted last season, will compete with Puida and Lane O'Connor (Santa Rosa J.C.) to start at small forward.

The 6-6 O'Connor shot an extraordinary 51 percent from 3-point land at Santa Rosa last year.

"He's going to get more than 'I'm-a-shooter' playing time at Hawaii," said Coleman, "and that's what I think he was looking for. It's the right level for him."

Savovic can also play shooting guard and so can returning 6-3 freshman Mike McIntyre, who had a season-high 19 points in an upset of then-ranked New Mexico.

Wallace said Fields is working to rehabilitate an injured leg.

"But if we can get him strong without breaking him down, then he's going to be a great player at center. He has good instincts around the basket.

"You can tell a lot of people wanted him. I was talking to Rollie Massimino at a golf tournament and he wanted him because he felt the same way. The potential is really there. UTEP wanted him and Iowa was involved. And even Kentucky looked at him."

Coleman said Fields could be a critical asset to the Rainbows.

"He runs the floor well and he's a good rebounder," said Coleman. "I think he wanted to go to a school where he would have a bigger impact, and that's why he turned down a few bigger schools."

But Wallace said that he feels confident with returnee Marquette Alexander also able to play center.

The 6-8 Alexander had 18 double-digit games and led the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) last year.

"Marquette, offensively, is as good as we've had there," said Wallace. "He just has to improve his defense and rebounds."

Wallace said he is delighted with 6-8 Bernard McIntosh, who signed last November out of Northland Pioneer College (Ariz.).

"I love him," said Wallace. "He's an athletic type who likes to rebound."