New-look Rainbows embark on their journey as summer session tips off
· Yahoo Sports
For the Hawaii men’s basketball team, the free-throw line was the starter’s line.
On Tuesday, the Rainbow Warriors opened their summer session with separate hour-long sessions for the bigs and guards/wings in the school’s Gym II. The initial shooting drills began at the line.
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“This is the first day of the ’26-’27 team,” head coach Eran Ganot said. “It’s the first day of their journey. Every journey is special. Every first day is about getting off to a good start, and understanding what we’re doing. And you build it from there.”
Combo guards Isaiah Kerr and Tanner Cuff are the holdovers from a UH team that won the Big West Tournament and appeared in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Both helped the newcomers adjust to techniques.
Kerr’s shorter haircut blended with his new leadership role.
“Fresh start,” Kerr said.
Cuff also has shown progress in his recovery from a season-ending ACL injury that led to surgery in November. Cuff was the starting point guard at the time. He is in the seventh month of a rehabilitation program that targets a September clearance. For now, Cuff is limited to non-contact drills.
“Last year it was fun to be around those guys every day,” Cuff said. “They helped me a lot. They picked me up. I was able to help them as well. I tried to do what I could do. I know I couldn’t play. I tried to change my mindset and be like. ‘I’m still part of this team and I want to help them out any way I can.’”
Cuff did not hesitate in running it back with the ’Bows.
“I knew I wanted to be back,” Cuff said. “I always wanted to play in front of these fans. All the games I went to this past year were special to be in the Stan and watch those games. I want to put on a show for the fans and get more and more fans out and help support us.”
Last year, Cuff and his wife, Jessica, welcomed daughter Halo. Cuff is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. Younger brother Tiger Cuff, a 6-6 guard, recently completed a two-year church mission in Brazil and joined the ’Bows this past weekend. This is the first time the Cuff brothers are teammates.
Marcus Adams, who arrived in town at the end of May, said there was a familiar vibe playing on the Manoa campus. As a Cal State Northridge forward two years ago, Adams played a home-and-home series against the ’Bows. With Arizona State last season, he also played in the Stan Sheriff Center.
“Playing in the Stan was really great,” said the 6-8 Adams, who was contacted by UH coaches shortly after entering the transfer portal in April. “They reached out to me pretty quickly. I liked the enthusiasm they had.”
Adams is expected to compete at the three or four position.
“I can go down low if I’m guarded by a small guy or I can take a big at the perimeter,” Adams said. “I’m looking to do a lot this season.”
This past season’s bigs — Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson, Harry Rouhliadeff, Gytis Nemeiksa and Yacine Toumi — completed their NCAA eligibility. Transfers Bol Dengdit, Zack Davidson and Houran Dan are hopeful of filling the low post. The ’Bows also have two available scholarships they plan on using this summer.
“It was fun,” Dengdit, a UC San Diego transfer, said of his first UH workout. “Guys came out with a lot of energy. It was good to learn about my teammates, and for the coaches to walk us through drills.”
Dengdit, who is 6-11, said he chose UH because of the ’Bows’ move to the Mountain West on July 1, as well as the coaching he hopes will lead to a pro career.
“Me in the Hawaii system will definitely help me achieve that,” Dengdit said.
The sessions also marked the on-court-coaching debut of Noah Allen, a former ’Bow who was hired as assistant coach in May.
“It was amazing, a lot of good energy,” Allen said. “It’s a different meaning (to be a coach). We just had a team meeting that I was on the other side as a player 10 years ago. It’s all coming full circle.”
Ganot said: “When the buzzer sounds on your season on the first day of summer workouts, you’re really looking forward to that. … No question, it’s a blessing. We love coaching and teaching. We have to wear a lot of hats right now, and they’re all great in different ways. The first day is always special, but every day is special. Just getting back on the floor and teaching and mentoring and those kinds of things are why you do what you do.”