The name already stands out.

Riley Luettgerodt now wants to show that his game can stand out as well.

Luettgerodt, a 6-foot-5 guard-forward, will be introduced with the rest of his teammates on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team at tonight's Twilight 'Ohana.

In anticipation of tonight's official introductions, Luettgerodt said of his name: "I've heard it pronounced every different way. It's been butchered every different way in my lifetime. But if you break it down, it's just Loot-guhr-oat. Not too hard."

Tonight is the official start of practice for the 2006-07 season for NCAA basketball teams.

Luettgerodt is one of five new recruits on this season's roster, and he is bringing some prolific credentials.

"I know a lot of people look at my numbers from junior college and are going to expect a lot from me," he said. "But I know my role will be different here. I feel like I can do a bunch of different things, not just score. If the coaches want me to rebound or play defense, pass, what ever, I'll do it."

Luettgerodt averaged 26.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season at Chemeketa Community College (Ore.). He scored 30 or more points in 11 different games, including a 53-point outburst.

"We weren't a big team, so we kind of had to try and out-score teams," he said. "It made it fun."

Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said he does not expect Luettgerodt to produce similar statistics for the Rainbow Warriors. At least not yet.

"He still has a lot to learn with this offense," Wallace said. "And we're trying him at two positions (shooting guard and small forward) so it might take him a while to get everything down. But he has the talent, no question. He can score, we know that."

Luettgerodt is the latest addition to Hawai'i from the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Previous 'Bows from the NWAACC were Mark Campbell, Michael Kuebler, Kris Groce and Chris Botez.

Luettgerodt has already received high praise from Campbell, who is now an assistant coach at Clackamas Community College (Ore.). Campbell coached against Luettgerodt last season.

"I saw him shooting in warm-ups and knew right away he was good," said Campbell, the starting point guard on Hawai'i's NCAA Tournament team of 2002. "What I like about him is he can shoot it from anywhere, but he's not just a shooter. He's a scorer. He's just a hard-nosed kid who knows how to play the game."

Campbell even helped steer Luettgerodt to Hawai'i during the recruiting process, and they spent the summer working out together at Clackamas. Luettgerodt's hometown is Gladstone, which is a 10-minute drive from Clackamas.

"He'll be an immediate impact player at Hawai'i," Campbell said. "In my opinion, he's at the level of any of the great scorers who were there when I was playing — Savo (Predrag Savovic), Kuebler, (Carl) English, (Mike) McIntyre."

Luettgerodt said the workouts with Campbell should help him adjust to Hawai'i's flex-motion offense.

"We weren't just shooting and going one-on-one," Luettgerodt said. "He would actually help me out by telling me where my shots would come from in the offense and where I should be during certain plays, stuff like that."

Campbell said he was also impressed with Luettgerodt's basketball knowledge.

"He was constantly asking for game films," Campbell said. "I ended up giving him about a dozen of my tapes from my Hawai'i games."

Current Hawai'i guard Matt Gibson and former 'Bow Kuebler also spent time working out with Campbell and Luettgerodt during the summer.

"We had some pretty intense games," Luettgerodt said. "It went back and forth."

In any case, Wallace said Luettgerodt will have to work his way up the depth chart with the 'Bows.

Matt Lojeski is the returning starter at shooting guard; Bobby Nash is an experienced returnee at both the shooting guard and small forward positions; Matt Gibson is working at point guard now, but can also play shooting guard; John Wilder and Jared Dillinger played on the scout team last season.

"That's fine with me, that's how it should be," Luettgerodt said. "But the way I look at it, no one's got a (starting) spot right now, so we're all going to battle."

Campbell said Luettgerodt should be a popular name once the season starts. If so, is there a need for a nickname?

"Coach (Jackson) Wheeler likes to call me Little Riley, and some guys call me Loot, but there's nothing official yet," Luettgerodt said.

SEVERAL OTHER NEW FACES ON DISPLAY

The other new recruits who will be introduced tonight are center Todd Follmer, point guard Todd Lowenthal, forward P.J. Owsley and forward Alex Veit.

Center Stephen Verwers and guard/forward Jared Dillinger could also be considered new additions. Both players had to sit out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Verwers came to Hawai'i from Colorado State; Dillinger transferred from Air Force.

Both players were allowed to practice with the 'Bows last season, but could not suit up for games.

Also, point guard Marquez Jackson will be introduced tonight. He was recruited to Hawai'i as a receiver for the football team, but recently switched to basketball.

What's more, Gibson and Nash were key contributors on the 2004-05 Hawai'i team, but both redshirted last season due to injuries.

The returnees from last season's 17-11 team are Lojeski, Wilder, Ahmet Gueye and Dominic Waters.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.