UH-Hilo athletic, multi-skilled hoopster Ethan Jetter showed flashes as a freshman, despite averaging just 14 minutes off the bench during the COVID-19 shortened Merry-Go-Round PacWest season, when the only opponents were Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific.
The 6-foot-7 wing, who was born in Australia, averaged 5.8 and 2.5 rebounds per game, and shot 76% from the free throw line. Jetter converted 42% from the floor and left fans who watched Vulcan games online wondering, “What can he do if he plays more?”
Well, folks, we’re about to find out. The Vulcans kick off their season with a pair of exhibitions at the Outrigger Resort Rainbow Classic on Oahu. They play UH-Manoa on Wednesday and the Pacific Tigers on Thursday. Both are Division I opponents.
UHH’s home opener is Friday against Simpson, an NAIA school, at Hilo Civic.
Then in the weirdest schedule in school history, for any sport, the Vulcans actually fly back to the Rainbow Classic on Saturday, Nov. 13 and play Northern Colorado, another Division I team in a game that counts.
Want more crazy?
The Vulcans then fly back home to host the Simpson Red Hawks again on Sunday, Nov. 14 at Hilo Civic. After one day off, UHH hosts Alaska Anchorage on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at Hilo Civic.
The Vuls get off the crazy travel train for a bit and come up for air. Then they play Lubbock Christian, a Texas Division II school, on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at HPU’s Shark Tank.
Pull out the frequent flyer miles cards because the Vuls hit the friendly skies again and play at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Nov. 27, and Alaska Anchorage the next day.
Are you dizzy yet?
The weirdest schedule in UHH history isn’t quite over. The Vulcans fly from Alaska back home to begin PacWest play when they host Concordia Irvine, picked sixth in the preseason poll, on Friday, Dec. 3 at Hilo Civic.
The heads stop spinning when the Vuls host preseason favorite Point Loma on Monday, Dec. 6 at Hilo Civic. The crazy travel train sill hasn’t stopped yet.
UHH hosts HPU on Sunday, Dec. 12 at Hilo Civic, then gets a nice Christmas break. The Vuls play at HPU’s Shark Tank on Thursday, Dec. 30.
What’s a good way to celebrate New Year’s Day? Spend time with family? Relax and watch an NFL game?
Not for the travel weary Vuls, who play Chaminade on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at McCabe Gym in another PacWest showdown.
Well, after reading about UHH’s weirdest travel schedule of all time, let’s return to the story, focused on the forward/wing positional group, highlighted by Ethan Jetter.
First thing about the guy is he’s got a great sense of humor. Jetter joked that he wished he didn’t have an extra “T” in his last name and was related to Derek Jeter, who didn’t find it funny when he wasn’t a unanimous MLB Hall of Fame inductee like teammate Mariano Rivera.
In any case, Jetter assumes nothing, like playing time. It’s more likely than not that freshman forward Aniwaniwa Tati-Jones will start at forward. The 6-7 Tait-Jones was named to the PacWest preseason team after averaging nearly a double-double and shooting over 50% from the floor. (Thanks to the pandemic, all players retained their class standing.)
For Jetter, it’s all about the grind.
“We’ve got a great group. It’s very, very, very competitive from point guard to center. It’s that way every day at practice,” said Jetter, whose parents now live in Oakland. “I grew an inch and worked on my jump shot and mid-range game. Everybody is ready to go.”
Emery Eberhard, a 6-6 forward and 2021 Honokaa graduate, is expected to redshirt. Jamie Strong, a 6-6 senior and transfer from Holy Names, is expected to join Jetter and Tait-Jones at the wing spots.
“Ethan has been aggressive and strong. He’s got a great motor and inside-outside ability,” coach Kaniela Aiona said. “Niwa was voted to the PacWest team for a reason. He’ll bring the ball up the floor, post up, play defense against the bigger centers. He’s put on some muscle, and he can go a lot of places and do a lot of things.
“Jamie is a redshirt. He can really shoot it. He’s got a quick release. He can get it up pretty quick. He’s one of those guys who can stretch the floor. Plus he brings a lot of energy.”
Tait-Jones returned from his home in New Zealand with a short hair cut and more upper body muscle. He averaged 30 minutes a game and was good at avoiding foul trouble, so Tait-Jones can replace Erik Borg or Tom Power, another guy from New Zealand, at center should they get in foul trouble.
“I’m stronger. I worked on my shooting, shot 3-pointers a 1,000 times a day,” Tait-Jones said. “Our team chemistry is very good. It’s a brand new team, and we’re finding out each other’s strengths.”
UHH was picked fifth in the PacWest preseason poll, behind No. 1 Point Loma, which returns junior forward and player of the year Kaden Anderson, and No. 4 Chaminade, which is new and much improved.
Silverswords sophomore guard Isaac Amarall-Artharee, who averaged 14.3 points per game, landed on the PacWest preseason squad.
Chaminade returns four starters and added a large class of transfers, including Zach McIntyre, who helped Mercyhurst reach the NCAA Division II playoffs last year, along with NCAA Division I transfers Paris Taylor (Wisconsin Green Bay) and Raazhel Watkins (Sacramento State).
McIntyre and Taylor, a pair of forwards, look like they could have played safety or rush-end linebacker on the football field. They’re built for contact, playing bumper car to get under the rim and score.
Tait-Jones did that all the time for 30 minutes during the pandemic Merry-Go-Round PacWest season, which ended in March.
Now stepping to the plate is Ethan Jetter, who was born not with a bat in his hands but with a bumper-car mentality and a mindset that he’s always ready to go.