As the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s men’s basketball team reeled off four consecutive victories to finish his first season, coach GE Coleman declared the foundation had been set.
The next step, he said, was acquiring more talent.
Coleman hopes he has acquired at least two more building blocks, and the latest piece comes with the signing of 6-foot-5 forward Isaac Barsh.
“Isaac is versatile, competes, plays extremely hard, can rebound and defend multiple positions for us with his length and athleticism,” said Coleman in a university release. “He comes from a great family and has what we look for in terms of he has won at every stage of his basketball career.
“We are extremely excited to add Isaac to our basketball program.”
Barsh is UH-Hilo’s second announced signing in the class of 2014, and both are transfers from junior colleges in Washington — Coleman’s old stomping ground.
A native of Tacoma, Wash., Barsh leaves Pierce Community College after receiving all-Northwest Athletic Association honors. In 30 games, he averaged 11.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, shooting 49 percent from the field as Pierce finished 23-7.
Earlier this month, Coleman brought in 5-10 guard Vandyon Lockett, who averaged 17.7 points and 4.6 assists in earning all-conference honors last season for Centralia College.
The Vulcans went 7-19 in their first season under Coleman, who previously was an assistant at Eastern Washington and graduated from Central Washington.
UH-Hilo lost three senior starters: Lucas Swanson, Derek Owens and Brandon Thomas.
Juniors Joey Rodriguez and Darnell Williams led the team in scoring, and the 2013-14 roster lists 10 players who are nonseniors.
Lee is named All-American
Sweet-swinging Rebecca Lee has earned another pair of accolades.
The senior outfielder added to her resume by being named a second-team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Daktronics/College Sports Information Director of America.
Lee, the two-time Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, hit .504, the third-highest batting average in Division II, and she was also among the national leaders in on-base percentage and doubles.
The Mililani High graduate clubbed nine home runs with 48 RBIs.