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Tuesday, April 25, 2000
Rainbows’ forward
By Pat Bigold
Puida, former junior college
teammate reunited
Star-BulletinMindaugus Burneika and Nerijus Puida were a pretty effective combination when they led Weatherford Junior College in Weatherford, Texas, to a 33-4 record and third-place finish in the nation two years ago.
The next time they play together, it will be as University of Hawaii Rainbows.
A national letter of intent from Burneika, who met Puida six years ago in Lithuania, was received yesterday by the Hawaii coaching staff.
"I understand his moves and he understands mine," said Puida, a 6-foot-5 starting small forward who was the Western Athletic Conference's second-leading assist man last season.
"He is a smart player, and he can play inside or shoot outside. You will see what he is like when he gets here," Puida said.
The 6-7, 225-pound forward is the fourth recruit to sign with the Rainbows in two weeks. Burneika's signature took the fourth and final scholarship head coach Riley Wallace had available for the 2000-2001 season.
But Hawaii apparently is still interested in signing 6-9 Skyline Junior College (Calif.) center Dennis Williams, who made his campus visit here two weeks ago.
Williams said Hawaii is high on his list, but he also has interest in Wyoming, Nebraska, Fresno State and Tulsa.
Williams said his formal visits have been to Hawaii and Nevada. He made an informal visit to Fresno State.
Point guards Ricky Terrell of Santa Monica College (Calif.) and David Hilton of The Hyde School (Conn.) and 6-10 center Haim Shimonovic of Israel signed with the Rainbows on April 12.
"He (Burneika) is a good passer and scorer and he plays physical defense," said Wallace. "He is the second player we have gotten from Weatherford College where he has played for a highly successful program under (coach) Mark Osina.
"He said he wanted to play with his friend, Nerijus."
Burneika, who was player of the year in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference, averaged 19 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists a game last season. He led Weatherford to a 26-6 record.
Puida was player of the year in the same conference in 1998-99.
Burneika once played in the European championships as a member of the Lithuanian junior national team.
Despite having been seriously recruited by Arkansas State, Texas Tech and North Carolina-Wilmington, Burneika had said for the past few weeks that Hawaii was at the top of his list. He recently took a trip to visit Texas Tech.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
