Huff joins Rainbow Wahine basketball team

The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team’s depth in the post received a sizable boost with the addition of freshman Megan Huff, a member of the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team in the fall.

Huff, a 6-foot-3 center, practiced with the Wahine this week as they prepared for a New Year’s Eve game against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tip off for the game between the Wahine (6-5) and Sharks (8-2) is set for 1 p.m.

Huff will wear No. 31 and UH coach Laura Beeman plans to work her into the rotation against HPU and in Friday’s game against UNC Greensboro to help her get up to speed before the Big West schedule opens next week.

“I was really excited. It’s a good opportunity for me, it’s really a blessing,” Huff said after Tuesday’s practice.

Huff was a two-sport standout at Todd Beamer High School in Washington and signed with the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team last year. She appeared in 16 matches as a middle hitter and finished her freshman season with 17 kills and 15 blocks.

As a member of the Beamer basketball team, Huff averaged 14.3 points as a junior and 12.6 as a senior while earning all-league honors.

Huff began playing basketball in the second grade and picked up volleyball as a sophomore in high school. After signing with UH, Huff said she wasn’t sure she would pursue both sports in college and kept her focus on volleyball during the season. She gave basketball more thought after the Wahine completed a 22-7 season with a loss to Washington in the NCAA tournament and finalized her decision after final exams.

“I always wanted to (play both sports), it’s been a dream for me growing up,” she said. “I didn’t know if I was going to have that opportunity. But it went back and forth and finally I made my decision.”

Huff joins a UH post rotation that includes 6-foot-1 senior Shawlina Segovia (7.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game), 6-4 junior Connie Morris (6.4, 3.4) and 6-1 freshman Dalayna Sampton (5.1, 2.3). Brianna Kennedy, a 6-3 junior, is redshirting this season due to transfer rules.

Beeman said Huff’s potential upside as a basketball player is “huge.”

“She has a great basketball IQ so she picks things up incredibly fast,” Beeman said. “She worked out over the holidays so she’s in pretty decent shape. But she’s just an athletic young lady so by being an athlete you work yourself into shape pretty quickly.”

Huff said she’s excited and a bit nervous about making her UH basketball debut, but having played in front the volleyball crowds at the Stan Sheriff Center will probably help.

“I don’t think it’ll be as nerve wracking going into the game,” Huff said. “In volleyball I remember walking up and shaking. I think it’s helped me a lot.”

Huff will be on a basketball scholarship and is the seventh player to compete for both the Wahine volleyball and basketball programs. Kalei Adolpho, who played basketball the last three years, completed her volleyball eligibility this season and is expected to re-join the basketball program next season.