[ UH MEN'S BASKETBALL ]
The best recruiters make prospects feel like part of the family. Burneika makes
recruits feel at homeBy Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinUniversity of Hawaii basketball player Mindaugas Burneika did so to the extreme without even realizing it last weekend as he played host to Paul Jesinskis.
"Mindaugas reminded me of my dad," said Jesinskis, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who sent his letter of intent to UH yesterday. "Not that he's old or anything ... just his mannerisms and things."
So how does a guy from Lithuania (Burneika) make a guy from South Africa (Jesinskis) think of his father?
"My dad's originally from Latvia," Jesinskis said.
Jesinskis, who has played at Skyline College in San Bruno, Calif., the past two years, also said Hawaii reminded him of his hometown of Durban.
"As soon as I arrived I felt comfortable. The big city atmosphere with mountains and water nearby made me think of home," he said.
Jesinskis also picked Hawaii over Rider, Northwestern and St. Mary's (Calif.) for basketball reasons.
"This is an opportunity I couldn't pass on," he said. "This is a situation where it's already a good team and I could have a chance to come in and contribute."
UH needs help in the frontcourt with Troy Ostler, Nerijus Puida, Lane O'Connor and Todd Fields all completing their eligibility. Rebounding was a weak spot last year as it was.
Jesinskis averaged over 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first 25 games at Skyline last season before tearing the meniscus ligament in his right knee and missing the rest of the season after surgery.
"I have no doubt I'll be ready for the season," he said. "I'm already running and playing some."
Class complete?
Jesinskis joins 6-9 forward LucArthur Vebobe, 6-8 forward/center Tony Akpan and 6-4 point guard Mark Campbell in the Rainbow recruiting class.With the departures from the program of Ricky Terrell and Jeep Hilton (see page B1), one more scholarship is freed up (not two, because of the NCAA's new rule limiting teams to five scholarships a season and eight in two seasons).
Wallace said the Rainbows probably won't fill the other scholarship immediately, unless a player he considers special becomes available.
Schedule takes shape
Miami of Ohio, Arkansas State and Holy Cross have joined Boston College, Portland and Georgia for the Rainbow Classic, Dec. 19-22, Wallace said.The Rainbows will also play in the Big Island Invitational, hosted by former UH assistant Jeff Law's Vulcans, Nov. 23-25. Other entrants are Louisiana State, Wisconsin, Pepperdine, Mercer, Colorado State and Weber State.
Also, Drake and San Diego State are on UH's home nonconference schedule, and "we're working on Iona," Wallace said.
What about Savo?
Wallace said UH is progressing on eligibility questions regarding returning senior guard Predrag Savovic. During the NCAA Tournament in March, the Dayton Daily News reported that the all-Western Athletic Conference performer played nine games as a professional in his native Yugoslavia before enrolling at Alabama-Birmingham (he played a season at UAB before transferring to UH)."We've proven that he didn't have a contract in Europe," Wallace said. "He said he did not know he was playing on a pro team, and that he had no reason to know."
Wallace said he did not think the NCAA would penalize Savovic or UH, but it is still possible.
"The worst that could happen is that he loses nine games (of eligibility)," Wallace said.
Tip-ins:
Sophomore forward Bosko Radovic, who broke the tibia in his right leg last season, expects to receive his medical release June 1, meaning he is physically ready for full practice and competition. ... Ostler is an alternate for an NBA scouting combine in Chicago this summer. ... Savovic hopes to attend law school at UH after graduation.
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