As Hawaii basketball previews go, it’s hard to beat this free package. A few months away from the 2013-14 season, hoops fans can get an early look at UH’s players in the annual College Summer League at the Manoa Valley District Park gym.
Thirteen of the 16 players on the UH roster will play, scattered across the league’s six teams. That includes all six Rainbow Warriors newcomers.
The 37th running of the league — with 6 and 7:30 p.m. doubleheaders on Tuesdays, Saturdays and some Thursdays through Aug. 10 — has been going for a few weeks, but most of the UH players just arrived for the start of summer school. Admission is free.
2013 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SUMMER LEAGUE
UH player breakdown
» Central Medical Clinic: Quincy Smith, Michael Harper
» Clark Hatch Fitness: Keith Shamburger, Michael Thomas
» Grantco Pacific: Aaron Valdes, Caleb Dressler
» National Fire Protection Co.: Garrett Nevels, Isaac Fotu, Stefan Jovanovic
» Solar Universe: Dyrbe Enos, Niko Filipovich, Brandon Spearman, Negus Webster-Chan
» Wealth Strategy Partners: None.
Tuesday
Solar Universe vs. Wealth Strategy Partners, 6 p.m.
Grantco Pacific vs. Clark Hatch Fitness, 7:30 p.m.
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Among the players expected to be in action starting this Tuesday are Negus Webster-Chan, Brandon Spearman, Aaron Valdes, Keith Shamburger and Michael Thomas.
"I’m excited, I’m ready to go," said Thomas, a 6-foot-6 small forward coming off a 28-4 senior season at El Camino Real (Calif.) High. "I’m playing with … Keith. He’s on my team (Clark Hatch Fitness). So we’ll get good chemistry going early."
Gib Arnold has encouraged his players to take part in the summer league since his arrival as UH coach in 2010. It dovetails nicely with summer school, adding some purpose and a watchful eye to their regimen in advance of fall conditioning.
Last year, the NCAA tweaked its rules so that coaches can work out their players a couple of hours a week in the summer, lending extra importance to participation this time of year.
"The main focuses of the summer are the academics, the individual workouts and the conditioning," Arnold said.
Defense tends to come at a premium in summer leagues across the country, and this one is no exception. Players can put up some hefty numbers in a freewheeling, up-and-down game.
Former college standouts with pro experience like Julian Sensley and Bill Amis keep the level of play respectable.
"You know, it’s good for them in that it gets them going up and down and playing in a competitive, full-court game," Arnold said. "It’s probably not very good for them with the defensive side of it. Those games tend to be offensive-minded. But I think the guys have fun, and that’s important to us, too. They enjoy the competitive side of going against each other. It is what it is. It’s a summer league where they have fun, but it’s good for the conditioning as well."
One of the UH newcomers, guard Garrett Nevels, scored 28 points in his summer league debut on Saturday, with six assists and six rebounds.
"Just meet different people on the island, make some new friends," Nevels said of what he hoped to get out of the league. "I’m new here, so that’s it pretty much. Have a good time."
Last year, UH forwards Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu proved themselves capable in the summer league on the way to strong performances in the 2012-13 college season. Then-newcomer Spearman led Solar Universe to the 2012 summer title.
The only UH players not in the league this summer are seniors Standhardinger and Davis Rozitis, and redshirt sophomore Brandon Jawato. Standhardinger and Rozitis are training with their national teams in Germany and Latvia, and Jawato is still in California.
