Hawaii Men’s Basketball Begins Fall Training Ahead of Season Opener

Fall Training Schedule Expansion and Coaching Staff Additions

Monday marks the transition from eight-hour weekly limitations to 20 hours of allotted time for coaches and players to spend in organized practices and team meetings, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associate head coach Gibson Johnson noted to the Star-Advertiser that the expanded window provides crucial developmental time for the roster. The program also returns with a restructured coaching staff that includes the return of Adam Jacobsen, John Montgomery, and Cody Kelley, alongside former player Noah Allen joining as an assistant coach, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Roster Overhaul and Mountain West Conference Debut

The start of fall practices arrives following a major roster makeover and a historic conference shift. After competing for 14 seasons in the Big West, the Rainbow Warriors move to the Mountain West Conference this season, following a Big West Tournament title and an opening-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament against Arkansas, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. To rebuild a squad that lost several key starters to eligibility and transfer, the program signed 13 new players, bringing in seven NCAA transfers whose previous programs combined for a 145-91 record last season, as reported by the Star-Advertiser.

Among the new additions are former Arizona State forward Marcus Adams, who averaged 16.5 points per game during the 2024-25 season with Cal State Northridge, and guard Chance Trujillo from Utah Tech, who connected on 73 three-pointers last year, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Guards Tanner Cuff and Isaiah Kerr stand as the roster’s lone returning players who logged time in the program previously. Cuff missed last season due to an ACL injury sustained right before the opener, while Kerr delivered key minutes as an on-ball defender after transferring from Chico State, according to the Star-Advertiser.