FIRST OF THREE PARTS

Mature quickly, or else.

Rapid growth is a must for the guards of the Hawaii men's basketball team, who will be counted on to organize the young Rainbow Warriors as Bob Nash takes the next step in implementing his up-tempo attack.

No matter their listed position, point or shooting guard, Kareem Nitoto, Hiram Thompson, Lasha Parghalava and invited walk-on Leroy Lutu Jr. realize they're responsible for production—if not directly, then by getting the team's bigs involved by entering the team's flex-motion offense or orchestrating the fast break.

A fifth guard, walk-on Gary Satterwhite Jr., will miss time as he recovers from torn cartilage in his shoulder.

Much will be asked of the young guards (a junior, two sophomores and a freshman) because of the statistical production—and leadership—the Rainbows lost.

Gone is fiery point man Matt Gibson and his team-best 17 points per game. Gibson was also a willing 3-point shooter, with 38 made last year. Departed perimeter players Bobby Nash, Riley Luettgerodt and Jared Dillinger (combined 36.2 ppg) could all play shooting guard if asked.

A Hawaii team with no seniors will look first to Nitoto, Gibson's former backup, for leadership. Of the guards, he is the only one with any career starts (one) for the 'Bows. And he got the nod in both of the Rainbows' exhibition wins.

The athletic sophomore's personal expectations now meet those of his coaches; his work ethic, particularly in regard to his shooting, is lauded by assistant Eran Ganot. He also notched a team-record 45-inch vertical jump in strength and conditioning testing.

“;I was just learning how to play my position and learning how to play on the college level and I had a lot of nervous energy when I played,”; Nitoto said of his freshman season. “;This year I learned how to calm down, let everything happen. Learn how to shoot in the game, how to just set my feet and knock down shots. I'm learning how to run a team this year, so I'll play a whole lot better than I did in my last showing.”;

While Nitoto develops his outside shot (he went 3-for-18 from long range as a freshman), Parghalava, a junior college transfer, must fill the 3-point void. He knocked down 110 over two years at Pensacola (Fla.) JC and appeared to regain his shooting touch (3-for-5 on treys) against Chaminade after some early jitters.

Nitoto and Parghalava also bring pesky on-ball defense to the table, an aspect not overlooked by Nash and Ganot, who works with the guards.

“;Point guards have to be able to run our offense, and disrupt the other team's guards from running theirs,”; Ganot said.

Lutu averaged 18.5 points and 4.3 assists his senior season at Mercer Island High (Wash.). He impressed the coaches in the team's first exhibition against Hilo and figures to earn decent minutes, especially while Thompson recovers from a pulled hamstring. The coaches have asked Lutu not to think of himself as a freshman.

“;It's good to get back into the point guard groove,”; said Lutu. “;It's been a couple of years since I just played the 1, been kind of bouncing back and forth since high school. I always loved playing point guard. Just gotta get my handle back and the point guard mentality back.”;

While Lutu has the makings of a special player, the coaches are anxious to put Thompson and his cerebral court vision to work again after the sophomore missed the last two seasons on an LDS mission, and much of the preseason with injuries.

“;I've always been a pure point growing up. I love to pass, and create for others,”; said Thompson, who played behind Deonte Tatum in 2005-06. “;Right now I'm refreshing my memory. That's definitely a plus that I just don't jump into something, not knowing anything.”;