Shimonovich a Warrior in true sense of word
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Haim Shimonovich has been trained to shoot basketballs and fight for rebounds.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
He has also been trained to shoot rifles and fight for his country.
Haim Shimonovich spent three years in the Israeli army before coming to UH, where he has developed into a solid player this season.
Given the two extremes, Shimonovich's progress with the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team becomes understandable.
"When I first came to Hawai'i, it was so calm and peaceful, I didn't know what to do," said Shimonovich, who is from Rishon LeZion, Israel. "It took me a long time to get used to, but now that I've been here a while, I'm able to concentrate on basketball."
The 6-foot-10 sophomore has played a key role in the Rainbow Warriors' 5-1 start this season. As the starting center, he is averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
While relatively modest, his statistics show significant improvement from last season, when he averaged 2.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
"This is my first year in a long time that I feel like I'm ready for basketball," Shimonovich said.
Indeed, he has had his fair share of distractions over the years.
Most notable, he spent three years in the Israeli army prior to attending UH. Although he never experienced actual combat, "there was always the threat of war," he said.
"You grow up in Israel used to it," Shimonovich said. "It's a part of life. We don't choose to go into (the military). Everybody has to go — boys and girls."
Shimonovich also happened to be a pretty good basketball player. So good, that he was assigned to play in one of the nation's top leagues.
"I heard about Haim through a friend of mine," said UH assistant coach Scott Rigot, who flew to Israel to recruit Shimonovich. "We had done some homework on him, but I didn't realize he'd be that big and strong. Once I saw that in person, I knew he had the potential."
However, Shimonovich's participation with professionals in the Israeli league caused him to sit out the first 22 games of his UH career last season.
The NCAA changed its guidelines this season regarding player participation with professionals in foreign leagues. Had the rules been in place last season, Shimonovich would have sat out four or five games.
"There were times (last season) when I felt like quitting," he said. "I was practicing hard and not getting any reward of playing in games."
When he finally became eligible, he said he was "overweight and out of shape" and thus played a limited role behind starter Troy Ostler.
Still, UH head coach Riley Wallace said Shimonovich's 245-pound presence was a vital component in the team's late-season run to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship and subsequent appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
"He was a big part of our turnaround last year," Wallace said. "Our post defense last year was so bad, it was embarrassing. He gave us some size inside that we didn't have otherwise."
Not satisfied with just that, Shimonovich went on a summer weightlifting program that increased his bench press by 50 pounds to 295. While his weight remained the same, "it was more muscle and less fat," he said.
He also participated in the Pete Newell Big Man's Camp, playing against established professional players.
The improvement showed immediately, as he recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in UH's season-opening victory over Norfolk State.
His most impressive game came last week, when he established career-highs of 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots against Northwestern State. He also scored the winning basket with 4.4 seconds remaining.
"He was left out of the loop so long last year, the rest of the team didn't really have a feel for him," Wallace said. "Now, they know he's their center, so they're not afraid to rely on him."
According to Wallace, Shimonovich's main contribution remains defense, even if it is not evident in the statistics.
"He plays with his head and feet," Wallace said. "He doesn't play above the rim where he can lose his balance. He stays on the floor and sees things happen. He's like the anchor of our defense."
Admittedly slow afoot, Shimonovich said he tries to compensate against quicker centers by "out-thinking them."
"I try to think what they will do next," he said. "I have to think one step ahead to keep up with them. I can't just overpower them."
Because he is the team's only true center, Shimonovich may be the team's most valuable starter so far this season. The 'Bows have played all six games without three players under NCAA investigation, including star guard Predrag Savovic.
"With Haim in the middle, we're in tune defensively," Wallace said. "When he comes out, we don't have that kind of size to replace him."
Of course, that kind of size doesn't all come naturally.
At last season's WAC Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., Shimonovich earned a reputation as the team's most frequent visitor to the dinner buffet lines.
"What ever you put in front of me, I'll eat," said Shimonovich, who has been nicknamed "Big Daddy" by teammates. "Anything from sushi and noodles to hamburgers and steaks. We work hard in practice, so (the weight) usually comes off."
