Practices should be quite interesting during the 2009-10 season for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Zane Johnson and Aleksandar Milovic fulfilled their commitments to play for the Rainbow Warriors by signing scholarship agreements with UH yesterday.

Both players are transfers from NCAA Division I programs: Johnson from national power Arizona, and Milovic from Duquesne.

In accordance with NCAA transfer rules, both players will have to redshirt the 2009-10 season. But both will be allowed to practice with the 'Bows, and they are expected to be the key members of an imposing scout team.

"Even though those guys won't be eligible to play in games this year, they're still going to help us," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "When you go against quality players every day in practice, that makes you better as a team. And we definitely feel like we got two quality players in Zane and Aleks."

Johnson is a 6-foot-5, 205-pound shooting guard who was a part-time starter as a sophomore at Arizona last season.

He was one of the top long-range shooters for an Arizona team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of last season's NCAA Tournament.

"He's got great (shooting) range," Nash said. "And obviously he's played with some high-level players in practice and games the last couple of years."

Johnson started 13 games last season, and averaged 4.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He was considered one of the nation's top recruits as a high school player at Thunderbird High in Phoenix.

Nash credited assistant coach Eran Ganot for "establishing a trust" that led to the signing of Johnson.

Johnson said he was on Arizona's scout team as a freshman, and he's actually looking forward to playing that role at Hawai'i in 2009-10.

"Playing scout team is the best, sometimes," he said. "You really get to work on your game, especially your shooting. And, of course, you learn so much."

Milovic was steered to Hawai'i via a past connection.

Scott Rigot, a former assistant coach at UH under Riley Wallace, is now an assistant at Duquesne. When Milovic expressed interest in transferring, Rigot told him to try Hawai'i.

Milovic saw minimal game action as a freshman last season. However, he was making the transition from Montenegro, where he averaged 21.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a high school senior.

The last Hawai'i player from Montenegro was Predrag Savovic, who transferred to UH from Alabama-Birmingham and became a star.

"Their paths are similar; I'm not going to say Aleks can be better than Savo, but he could be as good," Nash said. "He's longer and more athletic than Savo, and can play above the rim."

Milovic, who is 6-7 and 220 pounds, can play both shooting guard and small forward.

Hawai'i associate coach Jackson Wheeler said he asked Savovic about Milovic.

"Savo said he can play and Rigot said he can play," Wheeler said. "Those are two pretty good sources."

Both Johnson and Milovic will be eligible for games starting in the 2010-11 season. Johnson will have two seasons of eligibility; Milovic will have three.

Nash noted that the 'Bows will have six seniors on the 2009-10 season, so it was key to stockpile players for the future.

"They'll be sitting this year, but they'll be working out and learning," Nash said. "And when their time comes, they can be in prime position to take over."

The signings of Johnson and Milovic ends the recruiting season for the 'Bows.

Previous players to sign were guards Jeremy Lay and Dwain Williams, and center Douglas Kurtz. All three are expected to challenge for starting roles in the 2009-10 season.

"I think we got exactly what we wanted," Nash said. "Three guys who can play and contribute right away, and two more who will be a big part of our future."