Vebobe leaves Rainbows
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Luc-Arthur Vebobe said au revoir to the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team today.
Advertiser library photo • Dec. 21, 2001
Vebobe, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, informed the UH coaches today that he was quitting after playing just six games in his first season with the Rainbow Warriors. He returned to his parents' home in Antibes, France, and is hoping to play professional basketball there, according to UH head coach Riley Wallace.
Luc-Arthur Vebobe today told his coaches he is done playing basketball for the University of Hawai'i.
"It was a surprise because he didn't really tell anybody he was unhappy," Wallace said. "He never talked to me or any of the other coaches, or any of his teammates."
Vebobe was apparently not satisfied with his playing time.
He sat out the first six games of this season as a NCAA-issued penalty for his past participation with professionals in France. Since becoming eligible, Vebobe has played in six out of a possible seven games, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game.
In the last two games, Vebobe played a total of 17 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds. All his playing time came off the bench.
"He got off to a slow start because he had to sit out those first six games," Wallace said. "But he was a part of the rotation. We were planning to use him a lot on this road trip."
The 'Bows are in El Paso, Texas, preparing for a Western Athletic Conference game against Texas-El Paso tomorrow.
Vebobe missed Monday's practice in Honolulu, supposedly because of a strep throat, and was not on the team bus when it departed for the airport that afternoon.
Vebobe was recruited to UH out of Foothill College (Calif.). Prior to that, he played on France's junior national team.
Arguably the team's most athletically-gifted player, Vebobe won the slam-dunk contest at UH's season-opening practice, Midnight 'Ohana.
Wallace said Paul Jesinskis, a 6-8 junior, would move into Vebobe's spot in the playing rotation.
