Graduation weekend is always a time for celebration, remembrance and excitement about what lies ahead. Kauai’s high school graduates should feel a great sense of accomplishment and can now eagerly anticipate whatever the word “next” means for them. The same
Graduation weekend is always a time for celebration, remembrance and excitement about what lies ahead. Kauai’s high school graduates should feel a great sense of accomplishment and can now eagerly anticipate whatever the word “next” means for them.
The same is also true for college graduation, which can be an even scarier proposition. Receiving a college degree has a greater sense of finality. At least it did for me. My graduation from Penn State was not the most relaxing weekend, because I wasn’t 100 percent certain until the day before the ceremony that I was actually graduating.
Not sure my family knew that. Oh well.
Graduation took place at Manoa last weekend for the University of Hawaii. One individual who received his diploma was former Rainbow Warrior point guard Keith Shamburger. I say former because Shamburger informed UH he was looking to transfer earlier this spring. The lightning-quick point guard and floor leader had some strong programs vying for his services. With one year of eligibility remaining, Shamburger opted to commit to the University of Missouri, joining the Tigers in the Southeastern Conference. He also reportedly had an offer from the University of Maryland.
While Shamburger certainly deserves the right to choose where he plays and where he wants to finish up his career, leaving UH has become more of a tradition than I’m sure head coach Gib Arnold and his staff would like. Two years ago I wrote a column titled “UH Hoops Exodus Is Troubling.” After the 2012 season, forward Joston Thomas, the team’s most versatile offensive player and third-leading scorer, elected to forego his senior year and explore his pro opportunities. He wasn’t on the NBA radar and Thomas has gone on to play professionally in Europe.
That team also saw freshman point guard Shaquille Stokes, who came from New York City as a prized recruit, as well as rotation players Trevor Wiseman and Bobby Miles all transfer from the program.
Losing Shamburger, who averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 assists for the ‘Bows, will certainly set the team back a bit after a 20-win season. One of the main reasons UH got off to such a great start in 2013-14 was the familiarity between its star players. Christian Standhardinger, Isaac Fotu, Brandon Spearman and Shamburger were all returning as key cogs and transfer Garrett Nevels slid in seamlessly to the starting unit. Those five guys were relied upon to play heavy minutes and provide almost all the team’s scoring.
Now Standhardinger and Spearman have both finished their UH careers and Shamburger has decided to transfer, so just about all of that familiarity will be gone this fall. Fotu, entering his junior season, will be looked to as the veteran leader.
The Hawaii program is up against it when it comes to both recruiting and keeping top talent. We’re very far away from where many of these kids grew up. It’s an amazing place to live, but being so far out in the Pacific may not be for everyone. Competing in a mid-major conference also doesn’t create that incentive and exposure some may crave.
At this stage of its development and for the foreseeable future, the Hawaii basketball program won’t be competing with the elite NCAA establishments for the best players in the country, which makes it that much more imperative to keep its teams intact and develop cohesion. Schools like Kentucky and Kansas don’t really need to be overly concerned with transferring players since they know there’s a loaded recruiting class just around the corner.
The ‘Bows don’t have that luxury. It was an exciting year but it appears to be back to the drawing board this fall.
