Posted on: Friday, May 21, 2004

6-foot-6 guard/forward to walk on at Hawai'i

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ryan Schmidt, an all-league player from an Oregon junior college, will join the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team next season as a walk-on.

Schmidt, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward, averaged 18.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and made 43 3-pointers in 25 games as a sophomore last season at Linn-Benton Community College (Ore.).

He was a first-team All-Southern Division selection in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges — the same league that produced former UH starters Mark Campbell and Michael Kuebler. Chris Botez, a 7-footer who signed with UH last month, was also a first-team All-Southern Division selection.

"I talked with Oregon and Oregon State about walking on, and I was recruited by a lot of Division II schools," Schmidt said. "But I heard about the connection Hawai'i had with guys like Kuebler and Campbell, and I knew I would fit in."

Hawai'i has three scholarships available for next season, but Schmidt apparently was not offered one.

"I talked to Coach (Riley) Wallace and he said he would give me a fair shot at playing time," Schmidt said. "What I'd like to do is prove myself first, and then hopefully earn a scholarship."

Another junior college player, Kenny Kelly, also intends to join the 'Bows as a walk-on next season. Kelly, a 5-11 point guard, averaged 13.8 points and 4 assists per game as a freshman last season at Gogebic Community College (Mich.).

"He's actually more of a shooting guard, but we moved him to the point because he was one of our more athletic kids," said Gogebic head coach Deke Routheaux.

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