UH adds depth to
its backcourt

Another day, another point guard.

A day after signing a high school guard from California, the Hawaii basketball team continued to add depth to its backcourt when John Wilder of Weatherford (Texas) College sent a national letter of intent to UH yesterday.

Wilder (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists as a sophomore at Weatherford last season and the UH coaches believe he can give the Rainbow Warriors a boost with his athletic and play-making ability.

"He's a really good athlete. He's a complete guard," said UH coach Riley Wallace, who compared Wilder's physical skills to those of former UH guard Anthony Carter. "He'll push the ball and he's strong. He's a set-up guy, but he'll look to score."

Wilder, who is originally from Mobile, Ala., is the latest in a line of Weatherford products to find their way to Hawaii in recent years, following Nerijus Puida, Mindaugas Burneika and Vaidotas Peciukas to Manoa.

"(Weatherford coach) Mark Osina knows our stuff and he recommended him to us," Wallace said.

Wilder joins incoming freshman Hiram Thompson, who signed with UH on Thursday, guard Matt Lojeski and forward Ahmet Gueye in next season's group of newcomers to the UH roster. The Rainbows hope to add two more players before the end of the late signing period, which runs through May 18.

Wilder, who will make his official campus visit next week, enrolled at Weatherford after graduating from Central Park Christian School in Alabama, where he averaged 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists as a senior.

He was a two-time All-Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference honorable-mention pick at Weatherford and was also recruited by Oklahoma, Lamar, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Osina said Wilder played both point guard and shooting guard for the Coyotes and is a strong finisher taking the ball to the basket, and can also hit outside jumpers.

"If he has to score, he can do it," Osina said. "In a big playoff game we had this year he had 27 points and 13 rebounds. When he had to step it up, he stepped it up.

"He's one of those guys who's kind of laid-back but has big-time potential."

Wilder is expected to challenge for the starting point guard spot when practice opens in October.

Stability in the backcourt was an issue for UH this season. Junior Deonte Tatum started 13 games at the point, but struggled offensively this season. Sophomore Matt Gibson ended up in the starting role late in the year though he was more suited to shooting guard. Gibson ended the season as UH's leading scorer at 13 points per game.