First Five?

Tuesday’s practice offered a little insight into what Hawaii could trot out as its starting five against Hawaii Pacific University in Thursday’s exhibition.

Acting head coach Benjy Taylor had the group of Roderick Bobbitt, Garrett Nevels, Negus Webster-Chan, Mike Thomas and Stefan Jovanovic take the court first in the green jerseys during scout preparation for the Sharks.

Taylor has said he’s decided on his starting five, but has declined to name the players.

It would appear, at least for now, that Taylor wants to open with a lineup with a traditional center (and the only one UH has on the roster).

“Stefan is pretty good when he’s out there and he’s fresh,” Taylor said Tuesday. “The key is going to be keeping him fresh. Of course when he’s not out there, we’re going to have to play small a little bit until (Stefan) Jankovic becomes eligible to play in December. So until then, yeah, we’re going to have to keep him fresh and keep him in and out. When he’s fresh, he’s pretty good.”

Isaac Fleming and Quincy Smith came in as the second wave backcourt, while Aaron Valdes watched practice with a swollen ankle. He said he’d be good to go for Thursday.

Brandon Jawato, however, doesn’t look close to a return with his concussion-like symptoms.

“Not sure how long it’s going to be,” Taylor said. “Concussion stuff, you just have to wait and see, because of the head stuff we have to wait and see when he’s going to be feeling better. But we need him back soon. He’s a big body and he can score the basketball. And he’s a tough kid. We can move him around and play him some different places and do some things with him. ‘Cause we know he can make shots. It’s been a long time since his freshman year, but he did make seven 3s in one half. As the old saying goes, ‘you see it once, you can see it again.’ And that’s what we’re hoping for with him.”