Blakes signs letter of intent with Hawaii
The Hawaii basketball team secured another player for the future as Gerry Blakes signed a national letter of intent today to join the Warriors during the 2011-12 season.
Blakes is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound point guard who is about to begin his senior season at Morningside High School in Inglewood, Calif.
“My papers are in, I’m real happy about it,” Blakes said. “I’m looking forward to playing on the team and contributing any way I can.”
Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold said: “As excited as we can be about Gerry. He’s a really athletic combo guard. Can play multiple positions which we really like … he can guard it, he can shoot it, he can run the point for you.”
Blakes was injured for much of his junior year at Leuzinger High last season, but he had a strong summer campaign on the AAU circuit, and transferred to Morningside this year.
“He’s kind of a sleeper — not a lot of people knew about him,” Arnold said.
According to an ESPN.com scouting report: “Blakes is a relative unknown out west, but he is one of the better sleepers. His athleticism and blossoming skills are evident and he plays to win every time out. If he continues to build upon his skills and savvy for the game, Gib Arnold may have found a hidden gem at Hawaii.”
Blakes was also being recruited by Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. He signed with Hawaii before even making an official recruiting visit. He said he is trying to schedule a visit to Hawaii in January.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I just hope the volcano doesn’t get me.”
Blakes is the second player to sign with Hawaii during the early signing period. Ronnie Stevens – another California prep product – signed his letter of intent last week. Stevens is a 6-9 forward at Serra High in Gardena, Calif.
The early signing period ends today, so Blakes and Stevens are the only recruits to sign with Hawaii for now. The next signing period is in April.
“We think we got a really good one in Ronnie Stevens and Gerry just adds on to that,” Arnold said. “We got us a strong, athletic big, and a good-sized guard that’s athletic as well.”
[Photo: NY2LA Sports]
so, i am sitting here scratching my head.
“they said it couldn’t be done…” well previous coaches did anyway.”
way to go coach!
No matter how we fare this year, I know if this young team stays intact and grows together, they will do good things for the program for the next several years. WAC or no WAC, men’s bball future is bright. Gib Arnold is doing what no other bball coaches have done- lure exciting players to Hawaii!! I wonder what his selling points are to these recruits. Maybe we can use them for other sports. Wade and Arnold are bringing me back to the Stanley!!!
That’s how they kept their jobs, the AD believed them.
Good job, Dayton. Nothing yet from the competition. You just got some props on 1420, for what that’s worth.
Keep up the great work on the web site.
Gib does it again.
I guess if you keep winning, sky’s the limit. Let’s pull for Coach to……………..keep winning. I like Coach”s winning attitude. UH basketball is exciting again.