UH-Hilo signs two California JC players

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Both are junior transfers from colleges in Los Angeles and proven scoring threats.

And both signed national letters of intent to play for the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

But the similarities end there with Ryan Abrahams and Osadonor Esene.

Abrahams helped led the Los Angeles Valley College to its third consecutive Western State Conference championship. The Monarchs went undefeated in conference play this past season at 12-0 (27-6 overall), thanks, in part, to the 6-foot-3 shooting guard.

"When Brady (Hyde) went down last year, we were vulnerable at the guard spot," said Hilo head coach Jeff Law. "So I thought we needed at least one more good guard in there."

Hyde, a sophomore reserve guard, broke his right hand during a tournament and missed several games.

But what Law has to do is fill the void left by senior guard Scott Prather, who led the team with 16.6 points and two steals per game.

"(Abrahams) adds athleticism, gives us a back court," Law said. "He's another kid that can score. He's a mixture of a shooter and a slasher. He can score. I've seen him play. He's solid."

Esene is more board-crasher than power slasher.

The slender 6-foot-6 forward from Los Angeles City College was versatile enough to play at wing in his first year with the Cubs.

"He can do a couple of different things," Law said. "He creates match-up problems (for our opponents). And he can score for us more at the forward spot. He's very athletic."