UH basketball’s Valdes going pro
STAR-ADVERTISER
UH Rainbow Warrior Aaron Valdes beat Cal State Fullerton Titans Jamar Akoh to the ball and slammed down a missed shot during a quarterfinal game at the Big West Tournament March 10 at the Honda Center. Valdes announced this morning plans to forego his senior season and turn professional, becoming the second Rainbow Warrior to do so coming off the team’s banner season.
Hawaii basketball’s Aaron Valdes announced this morning plans to forego his senior season and turn professional, becoming the second Rainbow Warrior to do so coming off the team’s banner season.
The fourth-year junior wing from Whittier, Calif., was UH’s second-leading scorer (14.1 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg), behind only Stefan Jankovic, the forward who announced his intentions for the NBA Draft last week.
Valdes was named MVP of the Big West tournament and was a Big West second-team selection in his best season in Manoa, helping UH to a 28-6 record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory.
“These past 4 years in Hawaii have been some of the best and most memorable and I will never forget the (moments) we’ve shared together,” Valdes said in a decision letter sent out this morning. “It has been an honor and a privilege to represent such a great state and great people. Please know that wherever my future leads, I will always carry Hawaii with me.”
The 6-foot-5 Valdes, a former walk-on, was first known for his explosive leaping ability and highlight-reel dunks. After redshirting his first season, he gradually added to his game, taking a major leap in his sophomore season of 2014-15, when he went from 3.2 points per game to 13.7.
“We want to thank AV for all his efforts and contributions to our program, to this University and this state,” coach Eran Ganot said in a UH release. “AV is an inspiring story as someone who put in a lot of work to take both his individual game and our program to new heights. Additionally, he has been tremendous in the community. He made great strides on the court each season and I know that will continue in his professional career. We will follow from afar and we know Hawaii will always be home for him.”
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UH’s 2017 postseason ban by the NCAA was a large factor in his decision to leave, Valdes told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a phone interview.
Valdes thanked the fans, media, and some other specific people at UH who helped him along the way.
“What can I say about my brothers on the floor?” he wrote. “Thank you for hanging tough in the good times and bad as we fought through hell and back these last few years. When I look back, it was all worth the fight for our names to go down in history together.”
The team’s other two juniors, Stefan Jovanovic and Mike Thomas, have yet to announce their intentions.
50 responses to “UH basketball’s Valdes going pro”
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2 down, 2 to go. Good luck, Aaron.
no that’s it Thomas and zavonovic are not pro materal.
neither is valdes
There was no mention of Gib Arnold. Yikes!
Great letter … but I sure wish he was staying …
Best of luck in your future endeavors Aaron … you
were a great Rainbow Warrior
Wow…he didn’t thank Coach Ganot.
“…and my current coaching staff…”
Was coach Ganot mentioned? Did I miss it?
He did thank his current coaches for pushing him on and off the court. To be the best.
He thanked his local aunties and added “my current coaching staff”.
Ok thanks I see it. Reading comprehension isn’t my strong point. I only went public school.
Hey I went to a public school and comprehended so you must be from a different decade.
Best of luck to Aaron.
A very respectful and sincere aloha letter from Valdes. Well done Aaron, thank you for all the highlights, memories and commitment. Best wishes, good luck in your future endeavors.
oh well we will see what happens.
maybe he should have stayed one more year, it’s not like Jankovic
who was not eligible to play anymore.
Janovic was a junior and eligible to play one more year.
he played 2 years at Missouri and 2 years at UH.
by the way, that is what Jackson Wheeler said.
Jankovic was a true freshman at Mizzou in 2012-13, redshirted at Hawaii 2013-2014, played 2014-15 (soph.), played this year 2015-16 (junior).
He actually played three games for Missouri in 2013-2014 before leaving the school. It’s been reported that he would have had to appeal to the NCAA for another year of college eligibility. Of course, that’s moot and he made the right decision.
I think both Janks and Aaron will be getting their degrees this term. No real reason to stay, unless they were looking at grad classes.
Agree, don’t think they can improve their pro status by staying even though I don’t think Valdes is NBA material. Might have a chance overseas.
Yep important to remember “going pro” does not necessarily mean the NBA. Lots of opportunities overseas to earn a decent living while getting the life experience of living abroad.
Neither earned a degree in “basketball” which they’re trying to major in. Janks may be close but Valdes is far from majoring in basketball so he needed to stay to be close to earning his “basketball” degree. Do you even know what the two graduate in? What does it got to do with anything with their desire to play pro ball? Only thing that matters is their ability in basketball and Valdes is nowhere close to being ready. Get it rhrough your head – they want money playing basketball, not in their chosen field of study and the only way to make money in basketball is to be good enough. The analysis on whether they need to stay or not should be purely on their readiness to turn pro, not whether they got their education or not. Prime players turn pro after freshman year, most never get a degree and it doesn’t matter. Apply the same logic here if you’re capable of such analysis, which obviously you’re not. Jeez… is it really that hard?
Thank you for attending and playing for UH!
Just wondering out loud, if these juniors don’t hire or have an agent, and the NCAA should, by some luck (which I’m not holding my breath on), withdraw the post season ban, would they still be able to come back? I sort of remember in the past, that once a college athlete obtains an agent, in the NCAA’s eyes, that athlete is now considered a professional. Is it possible that they can still start the process of becoming a pro, but try to hold off as long as possible the actual hiring of an agent. I’m probably grasping at straws. I’m thinking they must have thought out all possible outcomes. Just wishful thinking on my part. Either way, I agree with everyone else who posted, I wish them all the best in whatever they do in the future.
There is a ‘drop dead’ date that is in place for turning pro. The obvious is that they can’t be hired to endorse anything and if they do, they are in violation of NCAA rules which would probably end their collegiate career anyway! Speaking of the NCAA; don’t hold your breath on them reversing their decision. As Ive stated before, the NCAA are not interested in small programs, they are ruled by the big name teams and would never think of throwing the book at those teams. The alumni, backers politicians, etc basically run the NCAA and they know who to screw with and who not to mess with. Its obvious where UH falls in this category!
GOOD JOB STOPPING A NON-CASH DISTRIBUTING PROGRAM, SO YOU CAN KEEP IT ALL TO YOURSELVES.
play in cuba?
Philippines is a natural fit
Natural fit for what? Why declare pro if that’s all you hope to get – pesos are worth nothing and you prove nothing if that’s all you’re good for.
4 out of the 5 starters are now gone. Why are people griping? Ganot can now prove he can coach, he can recruit his own kids, install his own defense and offense, and take all the credit, or the blame. Or are his fans afraid he isn’t a good coach after all?
You obviously have an agenda (or love Gib or Benjy), but I don’t see anyone griping … just wishing Valdes the best going forward. It’s obvious Ganot can coach; it’s not proven whether he can recruit. Program is going to take a step back for a year or two while working through NCAA restrictions (postseason ban, docking of scholarships). Can Ganot build a solid program? I think he can, and will.
True! But, a new era begins. Coach Ganot is gonna have to pull of some magic to keep this going . Good luck to him. Go Rainbow Warriors!
I dont see anybody complaining.
And if we find out that he can’t coach or recruit, let get ugly and run him out of town. What do you say?
What’s your point? Ganot is here because Gib screwed UH over big time and BT was a shady character who inherited Gib’s players (just like Ganot) but couldn’t coach himself out of a paper bag. If you logically evaluate the situation, you would realize that Gib should not have been hired in the first place and Ganot hired instead (as Wallace recommended to begin with)and this nonsense about the players mute. Most of the basketball world already confirmed Ganot can coach, what lalaland are you in?
We’re going to really miss you Aaron. We’re so fortunate to have made the trip to Anaheim to watch you and your teammates together and win the championship. Memories of a lifetime. Much Aloha to you. P.S. Don’t forget to get your degree this May!
Best of luck on your future endeavors.
What a nice letter! This has been a fun team to watch. Best of luck to all of them as they figure out their own paths.
As shucks, ruined my day! Getting an education might be helpful in the looonnnnng run. Never know how long or how much $$$ one can make in pros. But oh, did he provide some great moments. From the minute I saw the slam dunk his freshman year I became an AV fan. The best to you Have a good life!
He will be receiving his diploma next month.
Are they going pro or did they flunk out ??
The bright side. Janks and AV graduating which they have helped to keep the APR up.
Leaving now is in their best interest to start their journey and try their chances in the pros and if not to get into their profession based on their degree earned.
Gives the program and the coaches an opportunity to map out what they can do to continue the success. Recruiting the type of athletes that can fit in and who understands the situation with the NCAA. These new recruits who would be looking at the future 2 to 4 years down the road to get back to the dance.
The biggest question mark now is, can this coaching staff recruit the athletes who will give UH the best chance to get to the dance annually. Becoming a program like Gonzaga or better. Time will tell and extending the best to all who has contributed to this successful season.
Well said.
A sincere aloha to Aaron, wishing you nothing but the best for your future! Mahalo for an exciting season!
Fourth year Junior, probably a couple credits shy of a Degree, hope I’m wrong!
You’re wrong both players will be graduating. Our other two juniors, I expect them to stay for their final year to get their degree.
Valdes said he needs to fulfill a couple of internships in his major to earn his degree. Didn’t sound like that would be much of a hurdle.
Don’t think he’ll make it in the professional level but he got to do what he got to do. Wish him well.