The University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team (8-4, 0-1) capped its nonconference schedule in style, securing a third-place finish in the Diamond Head Classic with a thrilling overtime victory over Oakland on Christmas Day.
Freshman guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor had a breakout performance, logging a career-high 26 minutes, including the final 21. The Wahiawā native contributed four assists and four rebounds, playing a pivotal role in the Rainbow Warriors’ 73-70 win.
“It was really nice to play in front of the home crowd, especially on Christmas and in front of my family,” said Hunkin-Claytor. “I’ve been playing hard in practice, waiting for my moment. My teammates have always supported me, whether I get a lot of minutes or none. We all love each other, and they were ready for me to step in and do whatever was needed.”
Hunkin-Claytor’s poise and defense helped UH rally from an eight-point second-half deficit to force overtime, where the Rainbow Warriors secured the win. Head coach Eran Ganot showed confidence in the freshman’s ability to handle the moment.
“Coach trusts me and everyone on the team,” Hunkin-Claytor said. “He just told me, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’ That trust means everything.”
The Wahiawa native, who began his prep career at ‘Iolani School before finishing high school in California, expressed pride in representing Hawai‘i at the Division I level.
“Being able to play at this level makes me really happy and proud to represent our island and state,” he said. “It’s nice to show the kids back home that they can take the same path I did.”
On the season, Hunkin-Claytor is 4-of-12 from the field, 3-of-4 from the free throw line with eight rebounds, 13 assists and seven steals in 10 appearances, averaging just over 10 minutes per game.
The Rainbow Warriors close their nonconference slate with an 8-4 record. They now return to Big West play, starting with UC Santa Barbara on Thursday.