Highly touted forward signs with UH

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

The letter is in the mail, and by most accounts, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is getting a special delivery.

GIPSON

"I know I made the right decision," said Gipson, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward. "Once I visited (Hawai'i), and met with the coaches and players, I made up my mind."

Gipson said he signed the letter of intent Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period for basketball recruits. Because he is not 21 (he's 20), his parents also had to sign the letter.

Gipson is currently a sophomore at North Idaho (junior) College and will have two seasons of eligibility at UH.

Rather than faxing the signed letter to UH, North Idaho officials sent it in the mail yesterday, so it could be a few days before it arrives on the Manoa campus. UH head coach Riley Wallace did not want to comment until he received the letter.

Ray Gipson, Matt's father, assured yesterday that both t's in Matt were crossed and the i in Gipson was dotted.

"Hawai'i was the only program that got on Matt real quick (this year)," Ray Gipson said. "But I don't blame Matt for picking Hawai'i. You couldn't ask for a better place to live."

Gipson averaged 23.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots per game and was an all-state selection in Texas his senior season at Burkburnett High.

Ray Gipson said Burkburnett is "a small town — about 10,000 people. Everybody knows Matt and a lot of people follow him because he was quite the player in high school. Word hasn't quite got out yet, but I'm sure a lot of people will be talking about Matt going to Hawai'i. It's a pleasant surprise."

Gipson was recruited by several major college basketball programs out of high school, and eventually signed with Oklahoma. He redshirted his first season at Oklahoma and then played sparingly on last season's team that finished 27-7 and advanced to the elite eight of the NCAA Tournament.

He left Oklahoma to attend North Idaho after last season.

North Idaho head coach Hugh Watson said that Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson still has high praise for Gipson.

"Matt was a little frustrated with the situation at Oklahoma," Watson said. "But Kelvin called me the other day to tell me that I got a steal in Matt. And now I can tell Hawai'i that they got a steal."

In North Idaho's first two games this season, Gipson scored 45 points, shot 18 of 26 from the field (4 of 8 from 3-point range), grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots in 36 minutes.

"Trust me," Watson said. "He's for real."

Even though Gipson made a verbal commitment to UH three weeks ago, he said several other coaches continued to recruit him. After committing to Hawai'i, he canceled visits to Utah, Virginia Tech and Florida State.

Gipson was diagnosed with a concussion and possible broken nose after a collision with a teammate in practice last week. He sat out North Idaho's last game, but returned to practice this week.

"I'm concentrating on this season right now," he said. "But I can't wait to get to Hawai'i."

Gipson is the only recruit expected to sign with UH during the early period, which ends Wednesday. The 'Bows have two more scholarships available for the late signing period that begins April 14.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.