Hawaii Pacific University freshman Mana Hopkins has a simple explanation why she decided to stay in her home state for college instead of playing hoops on the mainland.

“;(Coach Jeff Harada) was the only one that stayed consistent, and really wanted me,”; said Hopkins. “;Everybody else, they didn't keep in contact or said 'If you want to come, come.' And Coach Harada, he just kept (saying) ... 'Please, please.'”; She laughed.

Kidding aside, the Konawaena graduate felt that her best interests lied at home.

“;I think ... people should stay in the Islands, just to represent who we are, coming from the Islands. I want to help build a winning tradition,”; she said.

Harada, in his second year at the helm for the fledgling Sea Warriors women's program (in its third season overall), hopes Hopkins, a 5-foot-10 forward, can supply just that.

After watching Hopkins toss up a 26-point, nine-rebound game in the Wildcats' win against Punahou in the 2007 girls state championship, he knew her spark-plug, up-and-down style would be perfect for his system. She averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and 2.5 steals that year.

First, though, the coach had to convince the two-time Star-Bulletin Fab 15 selection that there was, in fact, a PacWest school called Hawaii Pacific University.

“;I offered her a full scholarship, told her about the school,”; Harada said. “;She didn't know about the school, being all the way over in Kona. I convinced her enough that she came out here.”;

Harada wasn't hesitant about letting Hopkins know that she'd be the cornerstone of the program's foundation. She'll be asked to make an impact immediately, as 13 of the 15 players on HPU's roster are newcomers. And there's the not-so-small matter of restoring much of the conference-best 18.1 points per game lost with Ashley Jenkins.

Hopkins joins senior Monica Chock (St. Francis), freshman Rhani Kaneaiakala (Kamehameha) and sophomore Jenny Sweeney (Campbell) as HPU's local players.

Hopkins is finding some elements of college ball are to her liking—the running is reminiscent of when Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa would keep her in for games at a time.

“;High school we ran a lot, but college, the way they play defense in college is a lot different,”; she said. “;We have to run the floor, like everybody does. In high school there was like one or two people who would run the floor. In college, everybody runs the floor. And defense is intense, all in your face.”;

The Sea Warriors were picked to finish fourth of seven teams by the PacWest coaches, behind defending champion Grand Canyon (Ariz.), Dixie State (Utah) and Brigham Young-Hawaii. The conference will get its first automatic bid into the NCAA Division II tournament this year.

Among the four Hawaii-based PacWest schools, only BYUH's Latoya Wily and Hawaii-Hilo's Sheila Azevedo were picked to the preseason all-conference team.

Hawaii Pacific opens the regular season against Arkansas-Monticello on Nov. 18.

BYU-Hawaii (5-21, 5-13 last year)

Six-foot center Latoya Wily returns for her senior season after missing last year with a shoulder injury. She's complemented by transfer guard Mahina Gago, who lit up the Rainbow Wahine for 19 points last week in an exhibition.

“;We're working hard and we're just trying to work things out,”; said coach Wendy Anae, who thinks the two make a solid inside-out combo. “;It means a great deal to us because Latoya not only provides an opportunity for scoring on the inside, but she is just a solid leader all around. She brings a lot of stability on the court and to the team as a whole.”;

Hawaii Pacific (8-19, 8-10)

Jeff Harada will build the Sea Warrior program around freshman Mana Hopkins out of Konawaena High School on the Big Island. The 5-10 forward is Harada's first local scholarship recruit, and will be counted on to replace most of the 18.1 points per game of the departed Ashley Jenkins.

“;With her ability to get up and down the floor, we're looking at her to be one of those wing players who puts a lot of pressure on defenses, offenses,”; Harada said. “;Defensively, we want her to guard other forwards and obviously she can rebound a little bit. She's looked at as somebody who will definitely give us offensive options.”;

Hawaii-Hilo (10-15, 10-8)

Sheila Azevedo, a 5-11 forward and preseason all-conference pick, will be counted on to carry the Vulcans. She averaged team highs of 13.9 points and seven rebounds last year in coach Daphne Honma's system, which led to a PacWest-best 41.9 field-goal percentage as a team.

The Vulcans were also second-best defensively last season, holding opponents to just 40.7 percent shooting. All of UHH's wins came in-conference.

Chaminade (0-25, 0-18)

It's been a rough time for coach Christina Apisa as the Silverswords took a step back from their inaugural 6-19 campaign of 2006-07. Chaminade ranked at or near the bottom of the PacWest in nearly every offensive and defensive category last year. Top scorer Simrin Herington is gone and junior Samantha Saito (9.8 points per game) must step up.

Apisa touted 6-footer Anne Waibel as a “;legitimate center”; who could help turn the Swords' fortunes around.