Shooting guard commits to UH basketball team

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Scholarship or not, Michael Kuebler is committing to play for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Kuebler, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard from Salem, Ore., said last night he will enroll at UH in the fall, even if he is not offered a basketball scholarship.

"The situation is kind of up in the air as far as (a scholarship)," Kuebler said. "But I've made up my mind — I want to play for Hawai'i."

Make no mistake, Kuebler is worthy of a scholarship.

He averaged 22.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists as a sophomore at Clackamas Community College (Ore.) last season. Kuebler and current UH point guard Mark Campbell were the starting guards at Clackamas during the 2000-01 season.

"Seeing (Campbell's) success with Hawai'i definitely helped make up my mind," Kuebler said.

Kuebler was named the most valuable player of the Southern Division of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges last season, one year after Campbell won that honor.

Cliff Wegner, head coach at Clackamas, said Kuebler will be "a perfect fit" at UH.

"He'll be good in that offense because he's very adept at motion stuff," Wegner said. "He can score in so many ways, but he's not just a scorer. He goes after rebounds and he makes good passes. He was also our best defensive player."

Kuebler also made the conference all-academic team. He visited UH last month, and then canceled trips to Furman and Boise State.

"I just had a feeling that Hawai'i was the place for me," he said.

The only problem is that UH has just one scholarship remaining. Emigijus Lukosius, a 6-6 forward at Weatherford College (Texas), will apparently be given first shot, although he has yet to decide on a school.

According to a Weatherford teammate, Lukosius and his girlfriend, Emily Nash, are leaning toward signing with Southwest Missouri State. Nash was a starting wing player on the Weatherford women's team last season.

If Lukosius does not sign with UH, Kuebler will be awarded the final scholarship. If Lukosius signs with UH, Kuebler will have to pay his own tuition and be considered a walk-on.

Three recruits have already signed letters of intent with UH: 6-10 forward Dane Dmitrovic from Slovenia; 5-10 shooting guard Jason Carter from Barton County (Kan.) College; and 6-6 guard/forward Vaidotas Peciukas from Lithuania via Weatherford College.