Owsley gives 'Bows another forward

Salt Lake Community College grooms another talented player for Hawaii's basketball program

WHEN Salt Lake Community College coach Norm Parrish sends players on recruiting trips to Hawaii, he's come to expect them to disregard his advice.

"I lecture them, 'Don't commit on your visit,' " Parrish said. "And they all call me while they're on their visit saying, 'Hey, I want to commit.' "

The latest call came from PJ Owsley, who is set to become the next in a line of SLCC forwards to continue their basketball careers at Hawaii.

He'll join fellow SLCC product Ahmet Gueye on the UH roster next season. Troy Ostler (1999-2000) and Jeff Blackett (2003-04) also enjoyed successful careers with the Rainbow Warriors after playing for the Bruins.

"I'm starting to get teased a little that if we have a player they'll go to Hawaii," Parrish said with a laugh. "But we do have players who go other places.

"I know Coach (Riley) Wallace pretty well and Coach (Jackson) Wheeler really well. I've given players that I've sent there ample opportunity to say, 'This is bad,' and not one of them can say a bad thing about it. They've all really enjoyed it."

Owsley averaged 11.2 points and five rebounds per game as a sophomore at SLCC, and was an All-Region 18 honorable-mention pick. UH will be his third college stop. He began his college career at Montana State in his hometown of Bozeman, Mont., before transferring to Salt Lake.

Parrish said the 6-foot-8, 215-pounder's ability to knock down jumpers puts him more in the mold of Blackett than Gueye, who gave the 'Bows a strong presence in the post in his first season with UH.

"His strong point is if he's open from 15 feet facing the basket, he has a really high release and it's going in," he said.

"PJ's just really the epitome of steadiness. Just really under control, understands the game. I think it's a good fit."

Owsley also visited Idaho and UC Santa Barbara prior to taking his trip to UH over the weekend and is expected to submit his letter of intent this week.

Owsley is the fifth member of next season's group of incoming UH recruits who will join nine returnees. He joins guards Todd Lowenthal and Riley Luettgerodt, and forwards Todd Follmer and Alex Veit. The Rainbows have one more scholarship available for next season.