The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will get an unexpected boost from Brandon Adams this season.

Adams, a 6-foot-7 forward, said he will not redshirt the 2008-09 season as originally planned.

"The thought process changed once I got on the court," said Adams, who is in his first season at UH after transferring from Diablo Valley College (Calif.). "I thought it would be easy for me to redshirt, but once you get out there and you see the team clicking, you want to be a part of it."

Adams, who will be a junior this season, will challenge for playing time at both forward positions. He is considered one of the best jumpers on the team — he has a vertical leap of 41 inches, and can touch a team-best 12 feet.

"I really feel like I can help this team," he said. "I'll do what ever it takes."

Prior to the start of practices, Adams said he wanted to redshirt this season to adjust to the academics and athletics at UH.

"I am taking care of my academics, and it looks like that part's going to be OK," he said. "You say something when you're 2,000 miles away because you're not sure what to expect. It's different now. I feel like I'm ready."

Adams is expected to play a reserve role tomorrow when the Rainbow Warriors host Hawai'i-Hilo in an exhibition game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It'll be fun just to go against somebody else," Adams said. "We've been going hard against each other in practice every day, and I feel like it's time to see what we can do against somebody else."

Adams said his adjustment to Hawai'i has been aided by his wife, Jessica. They were married on July 1.

"We're enjoying it here," he said.

VULCANS LOOKING FOR "MINI-VICTORIES"

Hawai'i-Hilo head coach Jeff Law said he realizes the Vulcans will be facing a tall challenge tomorrow."We don't have size and we don't have depth — at least not on the level of UH," Law said. "We might be able to get away with it on our level, but we know we're going to be competing against bigger, stronger, taller guys (tomorrow)."

The 'Bows are a NCAA Division I program, while the Vulcans are in NCAA Division II. The 'Bows have eight players 6-6 or taller; the Vulcans have only three players 6-6 or taller, and the tallest is 6-7.

"We're not trying to make this a win or lose situation," Law said. "We're sort of looking for mini-victories throughout the game. A defensive stop here. A big rebound there. A tough basket when we need one."

UH-Hilo is predicted to finish fourth in the seven-team Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans finished 13-13 last season.

Two Vulcans were selected to the Preseason All-PacWest team: senior point guard John Smith and senior forward Jay DeMaestri.

Smith averaged 11.1 points and 3.4 assists per game last season. DeMaestri averaged 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season.

The Vulcans will be without senior forward Jacob Briggs, who is out with an ankle injury.

"He's probably our second-best player right now, behind (Smith)," Law said. "So already we're going in not as ready as we'd like to be."

FLEMINGS IN TEXAS FOR GRANDFATHER'S FUNERAL

Hawai'i will be without star forward Roderick Flemings for tomorrow's exhibition.

Flemings' grandfather died on Thursday. Flemings departed Honolulu for Dallas on Wednesday to be with his family.

His return to the 'Bows will depend on the funeral schedule.

"We'll have to step up and shift things around without Rod," junior forward Bill Amis said. "We know he has to take care of his family, so we'll adjust. We'll be OK."

Junior Adhar Mayen is expected to start at small forward in place of Flemings.