GE Coleman would be comfortable inserting Chris Holmes and Nate Walker into the lineup at multiple positions, including power forward. But as is also the case with Parker Farris and Jordan Russell, Holmes and Walker are coming to Hilo because of their abilities on the perimeter.
GE Coleman would be comfortable inserting Chris Holmes and Nate Walker into the lineup at multiple positions, including power forward. But as is also the case with Parker Farris and Jordan Russell, Holmes and Walker are coming to Hilo because of their abilities on the perimeter.
With the University of Hawaii at Hilo set to return one big piece inside, Coleman went small when he hit the recruiting trail in the spring.
“The emphasis after last year was to get guards with size that are athletic and can play defense,” Coleman said. “We wanted guards that can play numerous positions and shoot the basketball.”
All four players signed to national letters of intent are well-traveled. They each have Division II and junior college experience and are eligible to play in 2015-16, and three of the four are seniors. Farris, a junior, is the only one of the recruits who didn’t formerly play at Central Washington.
Coleman said he didn’t set out to recruit solely to make a run in Year 3 behind forward Tre Johnson, who is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 17.3 points per game and 7.3 rebounds and made second-team all-Pacific West Conference.
“Tre is arguably one of the best returning players in our league, but this is just the way it worked out,” Coleman said. “One thing I’ve learned in this league is you have to have guys that are able to make plays at the end of the shot clock.”
That figures to be even more true next season after the NCAA trimmed the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds.
Coming off a 12-14 campaign in Coleman’s second season at the helm, the Vulcans will be looking for at least two new starters in 2016. In addition to the 6-foot-8 Johnson, senior point guard Vandyon Lockett (11.4) and junior forward Darius Johnson-Wilson (10.1) also will return as double-digit scorers. But no other holdover started more than three games or averaged more than 2.5 points last season.
Russell is a 6-2 combo guard who will see time at point guard. In 2014 with Central Washington, he averaged 10.6 points and shot 40 percent from the 3-points line.
Last season at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Community College, Farris, a 6-4 guard, averaged 13.3 points, shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc and 95.2 percent from the free-throw line. He started 21 games as a freshman at Humboldt State.
“Farris will help us spread the floor,” Coleman said. “Russell is a left-hander who can make plays.”
In addition to their versatility, he lauded his newcomers for their winning backgrounds.
Holmes and Walker were each a member of championship teams at Tacoma Community College before moving on to Central Washington, where they last saw the court in 2013.
Walker, 6-5 a guard/forward, was Central Washington’s leading rebounder his junior season and shot 46 percent from the floor, while the 6-2 Holmes shot 55 percent, including 48 percent on 3-pointers at guard in 2013.
“I’ve known both for a very long time, and (they) are great fits for what we are trying to create with our program,” Coleman said.
“I think with what we’ve brought in, our practices will be very competitive.”
Notes:
• Ryan Reyes, a transfer from Shoreline (Wash.) Community College, is walking on to the team. Reyes’ father, Tino, is the Vulcans’ volleyball coach.
• According interim athletic director Joey Estrella, UH-Hilo’s is trying to schedule the majority of its home games at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Last season, the Vulcans split time between Hilo Civic and their campus gym.
• A Thanksgiving home tournament is not scheduled this season.