Sammis Reyes, a coveted incoming recruit for the University of Hawai’i basketball team, said he has been cleared by the NCAA to enroll in classes at UH and join the Warriors for the upcoming 2014-15 season.
Reyes, a 6-foot-6, 238-pound forward, signed a National Letter of Intent in May to play for Hawai’i. He planned to enroll in summer classes at UH, but there was a delay in his paperwork. He said the issues have been resolved and he plans to arrive on the Manoa campus before the start of Fall semester classes on Aug. 25.
“A huge relief,” he said. “It was crazy. I was worrying about it every day this summer. So glad to be on my way to Hawai’i now.”
Reyes said he has been informed that he will be eligible for the upcoming season, and thus can begin training with teammates at UH after he arrives in Honolulu.
“I missed working out with them during the summer, so I’m really looking forward to playing with the guys,” he said.
While awaiting clearance, Reyes said he trained on his own in Florida. At the start of the summer, he weighed 250 pounds. He is now at 238.
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“I lost a little bit of weight, which is good for me,” he said. “I was working hard, every day. I wanted to make sure I was ready for the season, even if I wasn’t there to work out.”
Reyes averaged around 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game last season at North Broward Prep School in Coconut Creek, Florida. He is originally from Chile, and is a former member of that country’s junior national team program.
Hawai’i head coach Gib Arnold confirmed that Reyes has been cleared, but he declined to comment further on the matter.