UH hoops signs Kahuku’s Avea
Kahuku High senior Samuta Avea signed with the Hawaii basketball team for the 2017-18 season today.
Avea, a 6-foot-6 wing, announced his signing on Twitter, saying “It’s official! so excited to represent my home.”
He is the first player to sign a scholarship offer with UH in men’s basketball out of a Hawaii high school since ‘Iolani’s Bobby Nash for the 2003-04 season.
Avea, who is known for his high motor and versatility on the court, attended UH’s 64-63 last-second victory over Florida Atlantic in the ESPN College Hoops Tip-off Marathon this week.
He averaged 12 points per game his sophomore year at Kahuku. At that point, he had offers from UH, Montana, Wyoming and Weber State, according to PrepsUtah.
He decided to move to South Jordan, Utah, after that season to live with relatives and have a chance at a more prominent role in basketball his junior season at Bingham High School.
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He helped Bingham to the Utah 5A state championship, getting named to the all-tournament team in the state playoffs. For the season, he averaged 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, according to MaxPreps.com.
After that year, he moved back home and rejoined Kahuku for the upcoming preps season.
Hawaii had just one scholarship to offer for 2017-18. There is a possibility, however, that the Rainbow Warriors will get back one or both of the scholarships the NCAA took away for that season.