University of Hawaii forward Jack Purchase, who set the program’s career record for most 3-point shots made, was named winner of the Art Woolaway Most Outstanding Player Award on Wednesday night.
Purchase was presented the evening’s most prestigious honor at the Rainbow Warriors’ postseason banquet in the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Coral Ballroom.
Purchase, who was born and reared in Australia, transferred to UH in August 2015 after a season at Auburn. He redshirted in 2015-16 in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, then hit 199 3-point shots in his three UH seasons. This season, Purchase tied Zigmars Raimo for the lead in scoring (11.5 points) and topped the ’Bows with 162 defensive rebounds. Also honored were:
>> Most improved: Raimo
>> Community service: Samuta Avea
>> Ah Chew Goo Most Inspirational: Brocke Stepteau
>> Bob Nash Hustle Award: Sheriff Drammeh
>> Scholar-Athlete: Raimo
>> Riley Wallace Leadership Award: Drew Buggs and Stepteau.
Earlier in the day, guard Deng Junior Madut of Eastern Florida State College finalized his commitment to UH by signing a letter of intent.
Madut is 6 feet 5, 185 pounds, and has a 39-inch vertical jump. He averaged 9.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists. In the Titans’ balanced attack, Madut started at shooting guard but was asked to fill in at the point and defend the 1 through 4 positions.
“Junior was our second-leading rebounder, which was really impressive from a guard spot,” EFSC coach Jeremy Shulman said. “He was one of our best defenders. He always drew the other team’s best assignment. He’s also an understated passer. With our share-the-wealth offense, I joke with a lot of people that I felt I held Junior back offensively at times. He’s a guy who easily could have averaged 16, 17 per game for us. At Hawaii, he has a chance to put up really good numbers.”
UH coach Eran Ganot said the ’Bows were seeking to add size and athleticism on the perimeter. “He gives us both those things,” Ganot said. “We wanted to bring in guys who are used to winning and are very competitive. He’s had an incredible record over his two years in junior college.”
As a freshman, Eastern Florida finished third in the junior college national tournament. Madut was the captain this past season when the Titans finished eighth nationally.
Madut was born in war-torn South Sudan. His family eventually emigrated to Australia. He became passionate about basketball when he was 15 and, after graduating from high school, he attended the DEM Academy, a prep school in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Ganot said Madut meets UH’s three-prong requirement of character, talent and teamwork.
“Junior is going to be a fantastic player for the University of Hawaii,” Shulman said. “And not just as a player. He’s going to be a great person that the community is going to be excited about, and somebody the community can really rally behind and root for.”
