A transfer from the powerful UCLA basketball program came to the University of Hawaii for one year, adding excitement to a team that needed something to keep the fans’ attention, since the Rainbows were beset by problems with the NCAA.

That was 40 years ago. But, as they say, history repeats itself … sort of.

Gavin Smith then and Noah Allen now were originally Bruins. But they both didn’t play much for talent-laden rosters and transferred to go somewhere else in their final season of eligibility, hopefully getting a chance to live up to the potential they’d displayed in high school.

They both found their way to Hawaii, and each was spectacular in his one season. They gave UH fans of different eras something to cheer about, even in losses, when the program was under a dark cloud and trying to rebuild.

Both were naturally gifted, but very different as players.

Smith was the quintessential gunner. It’s silly to say, as some do, that he would’ve scored 50 points a game if there’d been a 3-point line back then (defenders close out on long-range bombers with a much greater sense of urgency than when there wasn’t a line). But there’s no doubt Smith’s range extended to 30 feet. He had Steph Curry range.

Smith scored 23.7 points per game with flair, which was what people in the ’70s used to say instead of swagger. Long hair, headband. And, mostly, that willingness to bomb away from anywhere.

At first, he was the guy who would make the coach yell “No! No! No!” as he launched a (for most players) ill-advised bomb from somewhere near the Blaisdell parking lot. Then, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” as it went through the net.

As much fun as Smith was, he was one-dimensional. Yes, it’s the most visible dimension — that of putting the ball through the hoop — but he was not what you would call a complete player. Hawaii finished 9-18 that year, which was Larry Little’s first season as coach. Things got much worse the following year as UH won just one game while losing 26. Smith took a record 571 shots the previous year, and there wasn’t anyone ready to take up the slack.

Gavin Smith was a gunner.

Noah Allen is a basketball player. As close to a complete player as I’ve seen in a long time. Maybe even the best at the wing or small forward spot UH has had.

At 6-feet-7, he shows no discernible weakness. He is strong at handling the ball, passing, shooting and playing defense and rebounding. He makes tricky moves to the basket others can only dream of.

I personally attended more than 10 home games this year, and Allen was the most talented all-around player on either team in all of them. If there was something to improve upon, it was an occasionally passive attitude in some of the early-season games as he grew into his role as the alpha player. Also, Noah’s arc on 3-point shots was a bit flat, but he corrected that.

Allen is the lone senior on the Rainbows’ current squad, and his 21 points and six rebounds led UH over Cal State Fullerton 63-54 in Hawaii’s final home game of the season.

After years of mostly inactivity at UCLA, he had to grow into the role of team star. Unlike in Smith’s case, it wasn’t a case of just launching shots.

In temperament, he grew into a leader. This team has exceeded nearly all expectations largely because of Allen growing into the role of go-to scorer and a leader without being overbearing.

It was part of how Eran Ganot and the rest of the coaching staff built a team from a bunch of guys who mostly didn’t know each other a year ago, and who were expected to do much less than be at 14-13 overall and 8-6 in the Big West at this point. No one in Hawaii felt disrespected when the ’Bows were picked to finish near the bottom of the league in the preseason polls.

Considering what they started with, this Rainbows’ team’s achievements are just as impressive as last year’s edition that won an NCAA Tournament game.

Yes, they’re defending conference champions, but they were gutted thanks to the NCAA.

You will get arguments from several other corners of the Big West. But because of what UH overcame this season, Ganot deserves consideration for coach of the year, as Allen does for player of the year.

These Rainbows didn’t give you as many thrills as last year, but you can be just as proud of what they have achieved.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.