UH's winning ways pay off with pair of big men

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

On a recruiting visit to Hawai'i last week, LucArthur Vebobe and Nkerunem "Tony" Akpan went canoe-surfing off Waikiki.

As much as anything, they were riding on the wave of success built by the Hawai'i men's basketball team last season.

Wanting to join the Rainbows' winning ways, Vebobe and Akpan signed letters of intent over the weekend to play for Hawai'i this coming season.

"I think they both liked what we did this season, and they wanted to be a part of it," Hawai'i coach Riley Wallace said. "And I think they'll both fit in with what we do."

Akpan is a 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward from Central Park Christian High in Birmingham, Ala. He is originally from Nigeria, and will have four years of eligibility. He averaged 17.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game last season, but is still "raw," noted Wallace.

"He's a power player, and we needed that," Wallace said. "But he needs experience."

Vebobe is a 6-9, 220-pound small forward out of Foothill College (Calif.). He is originally from France, and played on the French junior national team last summer. He was recruited by several NCAA Division I teams, but selected UH over Nevada.

"Once I met the players in Hawai'i and watched some tapes of their games, I knew that's what I was looking for," said Vebobe, who has two seasons of eligibility left.

The Rainbows went 17-14 last season while winning the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and appearing in the NCAA Tournament. Nevada went 10-18 last season.

Vebobe is probably more accomplished than Akpan right now, and is expected to be a leading candidate to replace departed senior Nerijus Puida as the small forward in the starting lineup.

"A lot of my game is penetrating and pushing the ball and kicking it out to open shooters," said Vebobe, who averaged 12 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists at Foothill last season.

The Rainbows are expected to sign at least two more recruits before the May 15 deadline.