Tuesday, April 17, 2001
[ BASKETBALL ]
Wallace, assistants UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII men's basketball coaches Riley Wallace and Bob Nash spent some of their vacation time yesterday afternoon taking a stroll -- walking a picket line with UHPA strikers.
working hard in
many ways
The UH basketball coaches are
bringing in recruits and
supporting strikersBy Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin"It's just a show of support for the rank-and-file. We pay union dues," Wallace said. "It's not for publicity."
The coaches -- in somewhat of a gray area between management and labor -- haven't spent as much time as they'd like in their UH offices since the strike began over two weeks ago. But they've been working hard on recruiting, burning up phone lines and hosting prospects.
Three potential Rainbows visited UH last weekend, including 6-foot-9 small forward Luc-Arthur Vebobe. UH is in a pitched battle with Western Athletic Conference rival Reno for the transfer from Foothill College (Los Altos, Calif.).
"He was close to committing to Nevada, but he decided to go to Hawaii (to visit)," Foothill coach Todd Petersen told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Vebobe was expected to make a decision as early as this week, according to the Reno paper.
Per NCAA rules, coaches are not permitted to talk specifically about potential recruits.
Vebobe, who is originally from France, is a finesse forward. The physicality of his play has been described as somewhere between that of UH forwards Bosko Radovic and Phil Martin. He averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds last season.
A player with more potential as an inside rebounder, 6-8 Tony Acapan, also visited, as did 6-6 swingman Lucky Williams. Both are originally from Nigeria but played high school ball in Alabama this past season and would each have four years of eligibility.
Several point guard candidates are expected to visit in the coming weeks. Internet recruiting site postings indicate UH is in the running with Fresno State for 6-2 second-team JC All-American Chris Sandy of Westark (Ark.) JC. Also, 6-4 Mark Campbell of Clackamas (Ore.) CC, is visiting this weekend. Campbell led the nation in assists last season.
UH has four or five scholarships available. The letter of intent signing period ends May 15.
Tip-in:
Nash said yesterday that Northwestern won't be joining Portland, Boston College, Georgia and Hawaii in this year's eight-team Rainbow Classic. UH's associate head coach, who handles scheduling, said he may have some teams committed later this week.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
