Gibson Johnson arrives

A Hawaii basketball newcomer has given it a go in the 2016 College Summer League in Manoa.

Gibson Johnson, a 6-foot-8 forward, tried his hand Thursday night after going through some workouts with his UH brethren earlier in the day. Johnson, by my imperfect count, had 14 points on 6-for-13 shooting, with six rebounds, three blocks and three turnovers in Electricians Hawaii’s 106-101 overtime loss to Grantco Pacific. (However, the summer league had him with 16 points.)

“It’s a lot of fun to compete always,” Johnson said. “A lot of good players out there. I didn’t bring my best game; it was the fifth workout of the day, so it was a little tough, but it was fun.”

Is Johnson the first, or the last new UH player to appear there? That remains to be seen; he’s the only one to have shown up at the Manoa Valley District Park Gym so far. (Some of the Rainbow Warriors are still trickling into the islands.) Most of them were divided among the league’s six rosters during the summer league draft, but it’s up to them if they feel able and willing enough to make the trek over from the dorms and get in some extra run.

While battling with 6-11 former Navy center Mark Veazey, Johnson took a sharp hit to the head in the second half, dropping the transfer from Salt Lake Community College to the deck for a possession before play was stopped. He went to the bench for a while, then came back late in the period and overtime as the previously unbeaten Electricians came back from an 18-point deficit, briefly took the lead, but couldn’t close it out.

He showed off a little of his midrange game — he was 0-for-2 on 3s — and found his greatest success going for reverse layups. You told tell his wind wasn’t fully there going up and down the floor.

Johnson felt somewhat woozy afterward from the hit to the head and said Friday he’d get looked at by the team doctor before he decided whether to head back for upcoming summer games.

Returning forward Mike Thomas played a game last week, posting 26 points in a loss with National Fire Protection.

The summer league runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through the end of July.