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Saturday, February 19, 2000
Departing seniors bid a bittersweet aloha
Hawaii's Alexander, White
By Pat Bigold
and Robinson share their
struggles and triumphs
Star-Bulletin
They endured one of the worst seasons in Rainbow basketball history. And now they're leading one of the nation's more successful turnarounds.
Marquette Alexander, Johnny White and Geremy Robinson say they aren't going to revel in the turnaround until they get at least a berth in the NIT.
But the three seniors have already played key roles in turning a lethargic 6-20 team into a scrappy 15-9 crowd-pleaser.
All the losses have been to good teams with a combined win-loss record of 119-54.
Tonight, Alexander, White and Robinson take their final bows before the Stan Sheriff Center crowd.
Alexander was afraid of how he'd be received by the fans this season after two ejections last season for excessive arguing with officials.
But the powerfully built 6-foot-8 center has more than redeemed himself, becoming a legitimate All-WAC candidate and a role-model leader on the floor.
"I'm going to miss the Stan Sheriff Center," he said. "I met a lot of friends who helped me stay focused."
He is leading the team in scoring for the second year in a row and leading the team in rebounding. He is in the top 10 in four conference statistical categories.
Alexander has kept his poise throughout a very physical season against bigger, stronger men.
But he has never backed down. To Hawaii's inside game, he's been John Wayne blowing open the saloon doors, walking up to the bar and slamming the shotgun down on the counter.
He's been the team's only intimidator down low.
"Marquette comes to play every day," said Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace of his team captain.
"One of the reasons he can lead is because he goes out there and works. He's improved attitude-wise probably more than any other player I've known."
Asked what his most memorable moment was at Stan Sheriff Center, Alexander said it was the last-second victory over Bradley on Dec. 27 in the Rainbow Classic.
With time expiring, White passed to Alexander in the low post to take the critical shot.
"But the ball went through my legs and (Nerijus) Puida had it and laid it in," he said.
"It was just the experience of how we shared in that victory, because we fought so hard."
Alexander expects to play pro ball at some level.
"I will just have to look at my life to come and take care of my family," said Alexander, who has a 5-year-old son back in San Francisco. He has another semester to go to receive his degree in sociology.
White, the soft-spoken, Southern-born son of a professional golf caddy, will be remembered as the stabilizer in Hawaii's offense for two seasons.
With his mild Florida drawl and easy temperament, everyone felt comfortable around the 6-1 point guard. He's been the Rainbows' lightning rod.
"Johnny is the nicest young man I've ever coached," said Wallace. "He had a tough year his first year and took a lot of abuse from people who weren't happy with his play. But he kept his head in the game, worked on it and continued to improve."
White has been the team's iron man, starting all 50 games he's played as a Rainbow and going 40 minutes on a number of occasions.
He said he'll never forget Feb. 6, 1999, at the Stan Sheriff Center when he tipped in a shot to send a game with then-nationally ranked New Mexico into overtime. Hawaii won, 72-68.
"That win brought everybody close together as a team for one night," he said.
But White said that this season's team has been close-knit from the beginning.
"I'll remember how no one had a big ego on this team, and how we always did stuff together like one big family."
White said he will go to summer school and probably graduate next December with his degree in communications. The Rainbows' "quiet man" wants a career in broadcasting.
Robinson has enjoyed the highest level of popularity among the three seniors.
His exceptional speed has burned defenses for court-length drives and one-handed slams. Speed kills, but as Robinson found, it also wins friends.
"I enjoyed being with the people and blending in here," said Robinson, a native of Louisiana. He said the energy of the Stan Sheriff Center crowds made him never feel fatigue.
He said his best memory in the arena was Midnight Ohana 1998 when the crowd adopted him.
"Geremy is a talented young man who struggled in the beginning putting his stuff into the offense and defense that we had," said Wallace. "But he never gave up. He's been the big contributor this year coming off the bench at the 2 and the 3 spots. He's been a very, very coachable, polite, nice young man."
Robinson said he will miss Wallace, despite the fact that the coach has been his sternest critic.
"He's a cool person," said Robinson. "He's helped me a lot. From last year to this year, he's given me heart. He taught me to think and to hustle on the floor."
Robinson said he hopes to play ball in Europe or at some other pro level.
He also hopes to finish work on a degree in communication by December. His interest is movie production.
So long seniors
GEREMY ROBINSON
Pos: Guard -- Ht: 6-4 -- Wt: 193 -- Age: 21 -- Hometown: Baton Rouge, La. -- Major: Communications
Fastest man on team
MARQUETTE ALEXANDER
Pos: Center -- Ht: 6-9 -- Wt: 250 -- Age: 22 -- Hometown: San Francisco -- Major: Sociology
JOHNNY WHITE
Pos: Guard -- Ht: 6-1 -- Wt: 187 -- Age: 21 -- Hometown: Orlando, Fla. -- Major: Communications
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
