Villa and Stallworth sign with Hawai’i
On the last day of the official signing period for basketball recruits, the University of Hawai’i secured two National Letters of Intent.
Jessiya Villa, a senior at Kahuku High School and the 2017 Hawai’i Player of the Year, signed to play with the Warriors, although he will first serve a two-year mission for his church.
Jaaron Stallworth, a freshman at Yuba College (Calif.), also signed with the Warriors and will have three seasons of eligibility.
Here is the official announcement from www.hawaiiathletics.com …
HONOLULU –University of Hawai’i men’s basketball coach Eran Ganot announced the signing of two guards to national letters of intent. Jaaron Stallworth, a junior college transfer with three years of eligibility, and Jessiya Villa, the 2017 Hawai’i boy’s basketball state player of the year, have committed to join the Rainbow Warriors.
The 6-1 Stallworth played this past season for Yuba College in California where he averaged 13.8 ppg and 3.2 apg. He shot 40 percent from the floor, 41 percent on three-pointers and 77 from the line. He enjoyed his highest scoring game versus North Idaho when he poured in 28 points. Stallworth was the second-leading scorer and top assist man in 13 games for Yuba before having his season abbreviated due to injury. Yuba ultimately finished 28-3 on the season.
“We really look forward to what Jaaron will bring to our program,” Ganot said. “He’s fast, athletic, and can really shoot. He comes from a solid family and his personality and leadership qualities make him a great fit here. Jaaron’s excited to be a Rainbow Warrior and we’re equally thrilled to welcome him to our ‘ohana.”
Prior to attending Yuba, Stallworth was a standout player at Consumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, Calif. As a senior he averaged 20.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 2.2 apg and earned all-metro honors from The Sacramento Bee. During his four-years as starting point guard he helped lead Consumnes to a 97-24 record and four conference titles. Following Consumnes, Stallworth spent the 2015-16 season at the US Naval Academy Prep School, where he served as team captain.
Stallworth was also an all-star and team captain for the Consumnes football team and his cousin, Drake Stallworth, is an incoming freshman wide receiver for the Rainbow Warriors. His brother Keoni plays football at San Diego State.
Villa also joins UH after completing a decorated 2016-17 season for Kahuku High School. The 6-0 point guard led the Red Raiders to a state championship while averaging 17.1 ppg, 6.2 apg and 4.8 rpg. He earned state player of the year honors from USA Today and The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He was also named the Gatorade State Player of the Year and the Oahu Interscholastic Association East Player of the Year.
Villa is the second Red Raider to join UH along with Samuta Avea, who signed with the Rainbow Warriors in November. Villa graduates from Kahuku on Thursday and will embark on a two-year mission before suiting up for the Rainbow Warriors.
“We’re excited to welcome Jessiya to the Rainbow Warrior ‘ohana,” Ganot said. “He had a phenomenal high school career and was the driving force on a state championship team. He’s a winner, a leader, and comes from a great sports family. We can’t wait to have him back in Hawai’i once he returns from his mission.”
Beside leading Kahuku to a state title, Villa also helped the Red Raiders to a third-place finish at the ‘Iolani Prep Classic— the highest finish by a Hawai’i team in a decade— after upsets over Mount Vernon (N.Y.), De La Salle (Calif.) and Southwind (Tenn.). He scored 27 against Mt. Vernon and 26 vs. De La Salle.
Born and raised on O’ahu, Villa played his previous three years at Martinsburg High School in West Virginia. As a junior he was named player of the year in the Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference and gained first-team all-state honors in Class AAA as Martinsburg made a second straight appearance in the state quarterfinals.
Villa’s father Kahi, played basketball for BYU-Hawai’i and professionally in the Philippines.
2017-18 Men’s Basketball Signees
Samuta Avea, G/F, 6-6 , Hau’ula, O’ahu (Kahuku HS)
Jaaron Stallworth, G, 6-1, Elk Grove, Calif. (Yuba College)
Jessiya Villa, G, 6-0, La’ie, O’ahu (Kahuku HS)
At this point we are a @Bryan__a_alberts away from competing for the Big West title…
Good ‘Gets’…
Start With Leaders…
TWO (OR Three?) from The Same H.S. Team?
Who woulda thought we would get two BASKETBALL kids out of Kahuku? I would still pick Shaver over any of these guys but such is life. It looks like the start of a good foundation.
Immediate needs for a forward that can score and athletic big. The coaching staff needs to put the pedal to the metal! Come on man we’re getting out recruited by Csun and UC Davis. Not good.
I like both signees but we need people who can play this upcoming season.
Was it not Rodderick Bobitt that had a broken arm prior to coming to Hawaii? The coaching staff took a chance at him and got big dividends. I’d rather go after talent with a broken leg than mediocre talent. It’s a gamble but you got a 50-50 chance of making it work. And from the videos Jaaron Stallworth’s got a pretty good offensive arsenal—able to create his own shot and ability to drive in the paint.
Along with Jessiya Villa and the returnees we should have a pretty nice backcourt. I’m already thinking 3 guard rotation with two forwards. Fast off the transition and able to hit from the 3. I guess we will need all to shoot the ball well if we have any chance at taking the Big West Tournament. Let’s hope there are a few last minute quality bigs that we can sign before school starts.
Sorry I forgot Villa will be on Morman mission.
Broken arm is not the same as someone with a broken leg and busted ankle, he got injured in nov/dec and as of last month still on crutches that is not good. Bobbitt also had other offers from division one schools.
Stallworth was averaging a team-high 16 points per game when he fractured his left foot on Dec. 22. He rehabbed and returned in early February, only to break his right leg (guessing Feb. 8). Initially, rehab was estimated to take 3-4 months so perhaps he’ll be off crutches in another few weeks.
That said, it’s still a long road back and who knows if his quickness and agility will ever be the same. Love his potential, though, and the fact that he really wanted to come here. Best of luck to the young man.
That’s the p word. I’d roll the dice and that’s what Ganot’s doing. Hope it works out.
Crickets
I guess the coaching staff is looking at Euro talent?
… and cricket echoes, off the walls.
grasshoppers ?
Alberts must be off the table holding out this long…either waiting on grades or better offers?….you’d think most of the better schools are already filled up and he’s not getting as much attention as he wants
He aint waiting on grades , alberts graduated from Gonzaga this past weekend.
Difference in graduating and passing sat to qualify
He may visit UC Davis or save a visit for a late opening at a Power five school, per Ferd.
Alberts has the leverage. I don’t blame him for exploring all his options as he’s going through the recruiting process all over again. He needs to find the right fit for basketball and graduate school. At least UH is in the running … hopefully.
If Alberts has any thoughts of being the go to guy he should seriously consider Hawaii because it’s wide open like how Noah Allen discovered. But if he wants to play for a big time conference with the possibility of being no more than a rotation player off the bench then so be it.
Islandman, UC Davis is no longer an option. Jim Les’ team used their last available scholarship to sign some guy named Neuefeld.
Tavs,thanks ,I forgot to post that.
We still hear crickets , but Acker said we want players who really want to be here.
Excuses excuses excuses.
Brian McInnis Retweeted Jon Rothstein
Brian McInnis added,
Alberts still playing commitment-edition musical chairs.
Jon RothsteinVerified account @JonRothstein
Gonzaga grad transfer Bryan Alberts tells me he plans to visit Long Beach State, VCU, and FIU. Recently visited UC Santa Barbara.
Time to move on
When does summer league start?…although i believe the UH curse still exists i wanna see a dominate thomas against these low level players and the hype of buggs
starts in mid-June. Mike may have got his injury from the summer league last year ? and Gibson got beat up some. Mike scored 26 pts in the one game he played, per summer league website.
6-4 G Brandon Thomas to join team. Mike’s brother.