Senior point guard 'the right choice,' says coach Wallace
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Mark Campbell will run the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team in more ways than one this season.
Campbell, the starting point guard for the Rainbow Warriors, was elected team captain by his teammates this week.
"I'm not a real vocal person, but I try to play hard," Campbell said. "Hopefully that will make my teammates want to play harder."
UH head coach Riley Wallace described Campbell as "the right choice" for team captain. In past years, Wallace picked two or three players to serve as captains.
"Some years, it's a popularity contest," Wallace said. "But he's the one that should be there this time. It shows that everybody on the team understands his value."
Campbell, a 6-foot-4 senior, was also a captain at Mt. Vernon High (Wash.) and at Clackamas Community College (Ore.).
"The point guard starts everything, kind of sets the tone for the team," Campbell said. "A lot of people look at the point guard as the leader anyway, so I'm kind of used to it."
Point guard signs: Logan Lee, a 6-2 freshman point guard at South Plains College (Texas), signed his official letter of intent to play for Hawai'i starting in the 2003-04 season.
Lee is averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 assists through the first four games of this season.
"He's still learning, but he's going to be an excellent player," South Plains head coach Steve Green said. "He can score himself, but he's so unselfish. He makes everybody on the team better."
Lee is the third recruit to sign with the 'Bows during basketball's early signing period, which started on Wednesday.
Bobby Nash, a 6-6 wing player at Iolani School, and Jeff Blackett, a 6-8 forward at Salt Lake Community College, signed with UH on Wednesday.
Nash will have four years of eligibility, Lee three, and Blackett two.
The 'Bows still have one scholarship remaining for the 2003-04 season, and will probably wait until the late signing period in April to fill it.
"We want to get a big man, but if we can't find one, we'll take the best athlete we can find," Wallace said.
Happy meals: The UH basketball players started eating at their own training table last week.
With approved assistance from the booster club — each player must pay half-price, while the boosters take care of the other half — the 'Bows now eat dinner together as a team after every weekday practice.
"It's three times better than eating in the cafeteria," junior Michael Kuebler said.
Standard hot meals include chicken, steak and pasta.
EA Sports update: The 'Bows will play an exhibition game against the EA Sports West All-Stars tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
EA Sports West is comprised of former college players from various schools.
The team record dropped to 2-6 after an 89-60 loss at WAC member Nevada on Thursday.
EA Sports' only victories were against Cal State Northridge (76-62) and Oregon State (85-76).
The other losses were against New Mexico (97-86), UC Riverside (78-69), Loyola Marymount (74-72), Pepperdine (133-126) and Utah (78-58).
However, the team will have one key addition to its lineup tomorrow — former 'Bow Mike McIntyre will suit up for EA Sports. He averaged 10 points for UH last season.
