Six weeks out from its season opener at Oregon, the University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team opened its first official practice Tuesday with a retooled roster and renewed expectations.
Head coach Eran Ganot enters his 11th season at the helm, looking to rebound from the toughest year of his tenure. The Rainbow Warriors went 7-13 in Big West play last season and failed to qualify for the conference tournament for the first time under Ganot.
The offseason brought a reset. Nine of 13 players are newcomers, including six Division I transfers. While experienced, the group will need time to build chemistry.
“I don’t take it for granted. I’m really fired up,” Ganot said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces … four returners, which isn’t a lot, but they’ve gotten better. There’s an excitement to the new and the unknown as we get to know this team.”
The 2025-26 campaign will mark Hawai‘i’s final season in the Big West before transitioning to the Mountain West in 2026-27.
Among the returnees are senior forward Gytis Nemeiksa and sophomore guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor. Nemeikša led the team in scoring last season at 12.3 points per game and ranked second in rebounding (5.6), while also contributing in field-goal percentage (.488), three-pointers (32) and blocks (16). Hunkin-Claytor started the final 11 games of his freshman season, pacing the team in assists (72) and steals (21).
Newcomer Dre Bullock, a senior guard transferring from South Dakota, said the team is making progress both on and off the court.
“This is my last year, so I don’t want to end off on a bad note,” Bullock said. “Building our chemistry now means once game time comes, everybody knows how to play with each other. Coaches are pretty good with team bonding, so it’s been positive.”
Nemeiksa added that he hopes to deliver for the fans after last season’s struggles.
“Hawai‘i is a really good place,” he said. “I love this place. And I think the Hawai‘i people deserve way better seasons than last year. I want to bring it back and be a good team.”
The Rainbow Warriors tip off the season Nov. 10 in Eugene against Oregon of the Big Ten.
2025-26 Signees:
Dre Bullock | G | 6-6 | 190 | Franklinton, N.C. | South Dakota
Hunter Carter | G | 6-5 | 190 | Tacoma, Wash. | Rosemary Anderson Prep
Tanner Cuff | G | 6-7 | 210 | American Fork, Utah | Evansville
Hunter Erickson | G | 6-3 | 200 | Provo, Utah | Utah
Isaac Finlinson | F | 6-8 | 185 | St. George, Utah | Snow College
Isaac Johnson | C | 7-0 | 225 | American Fork, Utah | Utah State
Isaiah Kerr | G | 6-3 | 185 | Palo Alto, Calif. | Chico State
Jalen Myers | F | 6-8 | 200 | Huntsville, Ala. | Norfolk State
Yacine Toumi | F | 6-10 | 215 | Meudon, France | Seton Hall
For a look at the complete Rainbow Warriors roster, click here.