Wahine basketball adds 3 more

The newcomer count for Hawaii women’s basketball now stands at 10, count ’em, 10 players for the 2016-17 season, with the announced additions of three transfers on Tuesday.

However, these three will not be able to play at the start of the season. (One will be available at midseason.)

Our Jason Kaneshiro compiled information on the three thusly, with some added quotes from coach Laura Beeman from UH’s release:

Tia Kanoa, a former All-State guard at Kamehameha, will return to Hawaii after spending her first two college seasons at Arizona State. Rachel Odumu also signed a scholarship agreement with the Wahine as a transfer from Monmouth. Both guards will sit out this season and will be eligible for the 2017-18 season.

They join center Adrienne Darden as transfers on the roster. Darden, a 6-foot-4 freshman, joined the program in the spring as a mid-year transfer from Delaware and will be eligible to play in December following final exams for the fall semester.

Kanoa, a 5-foot-8 junior guard, began her high school career in California and helped Kamehameha win a state title as a junior in 2013. She scored 15 points in the Division I state championship game and Kamehameha rallied from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to stun Konawaena.

She was eighth in voting for the Star-Advertiser Fab 15 as a junior but her senior year ended with a torn ACL in the preseason.

Arizona State honored its commitment to Kanoa, but she suffered another ACL tear two games into her freshman season. She returned to the active roster last December and played 18 minutes in seven appearances during the Sun Devils’ 26-7 season.

Beeman said: “Welcome home, Tia! Coming out of high school, we knew Tia was a gifted basketball player. We look forward to getting and keeping her healthy while she sits out this season. Tia will bring additional leadership to our team. The most exciting part of Tia’s game is her positive attitude and her understanding of what it takes to win.”

Odumu was born in London, England, lists Manassas, Va., as her hometown and will join the program as a junior. The 5-foot-8 shooting guard made one start for Monmouth as a freshman and averaged 5.5 minutes in 22 appearances last season. Odumu is among 17 players selected to play for Great Britain in the FIBA Under-20 European Championship, which opens July 9 in Podgorica, Montenego.

“I was very impressed with her self awareness and her ability to accept a role that’s going to be challenging at times,” Beeman said. “I think she will make us better on the basketball court next year because she is allowed to work out with us and the following year she will be able to step in and have an immediate impact on our program.
“She can get to the basket, she’s strong, her international experience is going to do nothing but help her.”

Darden joined the UH program midway through last season, but didn’t get on the court for practices or games. She’ll be part of UH’s rebuilding project in the paint after the Wahine lost all of their post players off of last season’s roster.

“Adrienne’s 6-4 frame fills a need for us in the post,” Beeman said. “She brings a positive attitude and will add to our winning culture in the locker room. Adrienne is a motivated and committed player who has a bright future in our program. Coming from the East Coast, she was drawn to Hawaii’s weather, culture and spirit and has fit in well here.”

Rainbow Wahine basketball newcomers

Amy Atwell F 6-0 Fr. South Perth, Australia
Adrienne Darden C 6-4 Fr. Charlottesville, Va. (Delaware)
Taylor Donohue C 6-3 Fr. Trabuco Canyon, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS)
Keleah-Aiko Koloi F 6-1 Fr. Lahaina (Lahainaluna)
Courtney Middap G 5-10 Fr. Wynyard, Australia
Julissa Tago G 5-9 Fr. South Medford, Ore. (South Medford HS)
Makenna Woodfolk F 6-2 Fr. Tacoma, Wash. (Todd Beamer HS)
Brittany Wunhym PG 5-6 Fr. Melbourne, Australia
Rachel Odumu* G 5-8 Jr. Manassas, Va. (Monmouth)
Tia Kanoa* G 5-8 Jr. Honolulu (Arizona State)
*will redshirt in 2016-17