Spearman signs with Hawai’i
It’s official. One day after announcing his commitment to play for the Hawai’i basketball team, guard Brandon Spearman signed a national letter of intent and sent it to the Hawai’i coaches.
Here is the announcement from the UH media relations office:
University of Hawai`i men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold announced the signing of junior college transfer Brandon Spearman. Spearman will join UH as a junior for the 2012-13 season and will have two years of eligibility.
Spearman, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, is a native of Chicago, Ill., and a proven winner at both the prep and collegiate levels. Rated one of the top 40 prep guards by Rivals.com while at Simeon High School in Chicago, Spearman most recently captained an Indian Hills Community College squad that contended for a junior college national title.
“We are thrilled to have Brandon join our team,” Arnold said. “He is a great fit for UH. Brandon is a multi-talented guard who was a top 100 player out of high school. What I like most about him is he’s a high-character guy, which has been a point of emphasis for us in recruiting. Brandon’s also a winner—he captured a state title in high school at Simeon and he served as a leader on an Indian Hills squad that was the No. 1 ranked junior college for much of the season. His toughness, character and basketball skill will be a great asset to our program.”
As a senior at Simeon High School in Chicago, Spearman averaged 14.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while leading his team to the 4A state championship. Regarded as one of the top players out Illinois, Spearman played his freshman season for the University of Dayton in Ohio before transferring to junior college powerhouse Indian Hills in Ottumwa, Iowa as a sophomore.
In his one season at Indian Hills, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals, while finishing second on the team in 3-pointers with 53. His 29 points against Ellsworth CC were the most scored by a Warrior in a game all season. Spearman was named to the all-region second team after helping lead the team to a 33-4 record and No. 7 national ranking.
Spearman joins a trio of freshman who signed during the early period: post player Caleb Dressler (Vancouver, Wash.), power forward Isaac Fotu (Auckland New Zealand) and shooting guard Orel Lev (Tel Aviv, Israel).
2012-13 Recruiting Class
Caleb Dressler, 6-10, 240, C, Fr., Vancouver, Wa., Evergreen HS
Isaac Fotu, 6-9, 235, F, Fr., Torbay, Auckland, New Zealand, Rangitoto College
Orel Lev, 6-4, 190, G, Fr., Tel Aviv, Israel, Ironi Tet High School
Brandon Spearman, 6-3, 190, G, Jr., Chicago, Ill., Indian Hills Community College
That’s great I hope UH signs Armstead next , and surprise player.
Keep ‘Em Comin’ Coaches!
Should be Better Fun – Great.Time to be a UHBB fan…
Me too Josh, I hope Armstead is next. Let’s start that Chi-town Connection.
Thank you Brandon for choosing Hawaii, I hope you enjoy the beauty, culture and people of this beautiful place.
Great get. Welcome aboard Brandon! Have a outstanding career with the Hawaii BBall team!
Gib: “High Character” guy…very important, great attitude, academics and team player…!
Once again, look forward to seeing you play for Hawaii Brandon! Seem like a great young person and good athlete! Bring back that excitement to the Stan Sheriff center!!
To all UH men bballers..practice, Free throws , mid range jumpers, 3 ball for higher percentage, and get back to that outstanding , one of Nation’s leaders two years ago, in overall team defense..With Brandon and a few more recruits , it will be exciting..!!
good sign but with gib letter of intent doesn’t mean nothing until the player actually wears the uniform come game day
Fantastic!!! UH just got an excellent athletic scorer. He’s slasher and appears to have a nice jumpshot also.
I do not see any Big West team matching up physically with UH’s top 8 players (Vander, Standhardinger, Stokes, Spearman, Fotu, Tavita, Lev and Jefferson).
Gib is assembling a very athletic roster (and talented). Something that hasn’t been said about UH since the Fab 5 days.
Now they just have to gel and get used to the new faces. The good news is that most of the new guys: Standhardinger, Lev, Tavita, and Jawato have been at UH for at least one semester, so it’s not like having unfamiliar faces coming in to play.
Vander – 6’10”
Dressler – 6’11”
Stanhardinger – 6’8″
Rozitis – 7’0″
Fotu – 6’9″
that’s a lot of size and depth for any D1 program. Yes Rozits is a work in progress, and Dressler may not see much playing time, but you can never have too few big men. It takes pressure off of Vander and depth allows the bigs to play more aggressively.
UH had major problems late in the season because the guards couldn’t prevent dribble penetration and Vander ended up picking up fouls on the help, thus couldn’t stay on the court. UH has a very athletic backcourt (Stokes, Jefferson, Spearman) so UH should have the quickness advantage against most teams.
UH and quickness advantage probably has never been said in the same sentence before.
Good job signing a top notch player from the no. 7 ranked JC team in the nation. Let’s hope for more good ones to sign up with UH.
Now we can concentrate on getting Aaric Armstead, senior out of Bullard HS ,Fresno Ca., great all around player , score from anywhere.
Agree — Armstead should be able to help both immediately and long-term.
Would reinforce the East Coast / Chicago Connections and
Would Also be great to out-recruit long-time (and respected) rival Fresno (POY) in their own backyard
[still feels like we owe Washington State one…]
Eagle, Funny thing about Armstead is that Fresno hasn’t contacted him.
Spearman had not travelled as far as West Coast…
maybe one year’s enough for Armstead
only one West Coast school: Earthquake North Ridge on his list
Coach GIB Post-Award Banquet and Spring Update/ Comments …(On Th4/26/2012 BCurran Show):
Spring/ Summer is when Players are made; Fall / Winter is when Teams are made;
You can see Players Quickly Climbing / Stepping Up & you can see players falling back.
It’s Amazing how fast the dynamics change, especially the guys that had to sit out; now that they know they’re competing for starting jobs, some of them are playing like veterans.
We could get into the transfers & reasons, but the fact is that 40% Transfers of freshman in their first two years is the Norm.
Not so much with JC and Foreign players.
It can be tough when you lose them but it’s also great when they come to you:
(Touched on Standhardinger, Tavita (2-1/2 year starter & Team Captain @Utah, a lot like Miah), Shamburger, Spearman).
Players we haven’t seen much that should make an impact:
Standhardinger was/is our best Power Forward;
Orel Lev is Our Best Athlete: best leaper (vertical), a real leader & tough defender. He and
Brandon Jawato can shoot the threes; they’re both real physical. We took redshirts on the road & Brandon looked good all season; he plays hard, sometimes looks like an All-American: the coaches were real impressed [players were also talking him up last year.]
Of course you’re never sure how well (it translates) when the lights are turned on…
Aaric arriving tomorrow?
Here’s to locking in our Chicago Sweep!
Welcome, Aaric!
Clearly you can be a part of Hawai’i’s greatest Revival / Ascension!
Have an Awesome Weekend!
[Maybe something accelerated the schedule — Any other visitors now or soon?
Aaric clearly got the lead — No.1 on remaining scholarship…]
gib said only 1 scholarship remaining…does that mean he’s gonna give 1 or 2 to the walk-ons or already has a recruit or 2 locked up?
Makes for interesting week or so. Will Gib adjust scholies, ? don’t know….Gib cannot comment until LOI’s are signed sealed and delivered…however do know, he and staff are after high character, good student athletes…so either way, that is the direction they are going…Get good people, academics, attitudes, and get along..good ingredients for successful team and program…we have to wait and see!!
Shaq leaving?? This is the one transfer I am not happy with at all if true.
Gotta save one scholarship for Keith Shamburger who is redshiritng due to transfer rule.
Shaq Stokes leaving: Family situation..is someone sick in his family?
Dayton: Might have to have another video interview with Gib after he signs(?)whomever…now..what is going on?
Enjoy your and staff and sponsors hard work..great site..as always..
Man , thought Shaq would stay..
Hey, Aaric:
Welcome to paradise; the Melting – pot of the Pacific!
Welcome to the Ohana, too!
Here, you have the best environment to enhance your life, athletic talent and, academics as well as physical development, all under the friendly, family – like atmosphere.
Coach Arnold and his hardworking staffs will always do their best to guide and support you.
Your talented TEAM – mates will always work their best with you in a brotherly way.
As your up and coming buddies Brandon Spearman & Caleb Dressler said it best: “This is a home away from home!”
Enjoy your visit, and come back for the NCAA Summer Basketball League ( we just can’t wait to witness your talents )!
Radio UPDATE Only: Artie Wilson says Gib scheduled for Next Friday 5/4 (9 am ESPN 1420 HNL); maybe close out all the dynamics with good, pretty complete news by thenabouts;
Today’s guest was All-American point guard Tom Henderson, who seems to think Hawai’i should always be able to have a couple of good to great point guards – I tend to agree — it would seem to be one of those positions we can fill from within (Hawai’i) ? half the time with an invited walk-on?…
[Where is the Next Miah Ostrowski or Derek Low ?]
Do we have another good to great recruiter in the house?
The following week new UHWBB Head Coach Laura Bennett guests –
– I’d like to get back to enjoyable double-header sweeps, myself…
front court may be ok vander must come back Other players let’s wait and see back court looks awful they will lucky to break 500 next year