Warriors gain transfer from Utah
The Hawaii basketball team has gained another player for the future.
Jace Tavita, a former starting point guard at Utah, has transferred to Hawaii. In accordance with NCAA transfer rules, he will be allowed to practice with the team for the remainder of this season, but can not play in games.
“I asked for my release from the University of Utah on December 1st, and then I contacted Coach (Gib) Arnold because I knew him previously — he recruited me in high school. We just kind of hit it off and he said he’d love to have me over here.”
Tavita will be eligible to play in games for Hawaii in December 2011.
Tavita, who is 6 feet 4, started 19 games for the Utes as a sophomore during the 2009-10 season. He finished that season averaging 1.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game.
His playing time was limited this season – he had 17 rebounds, six points and five assists in five games as a reserve – so he requested a transfer.
Hawaii defeated Utah, 68-55, on Dec. 23, but Tavita had already received his release from the Utes by then (and had not yet transferred to UH).
“I actually got to watch that game, when Hawaii beat Utah, so it was kind of cool,” he said.
Tavita will be a senior when he becomes eligible next season, but said he may try to petition the NCAA to get an extra year of eligibility because of his limited action with Utah this season.
He is of Hawaiian and Samoan ancestry, and said he has several relatives in Hawaii.
“My grandparents grew up out here and my mom was born here,” he said. “I have a lot of ties here.”
oh oh, hopefully not another “playing time “problem , left because he wasn’t getting any playing time,must be a reason for that, Utah was a crappy team, stats are not impressive at all, could be more of a lower div, d2 or d3 level of player.
Why is Gib wasting a scholarship on this player? Barely got playing time on a bad team, Gib should have waited and got a better transfer after the season.
Jace Tavita is joining the team as a walk-on. With that in mind, I think he is a great addition. He participated in his first practice on Friday. Not the greatest shooter/scorer, but he plays physical and has good size for a guard.