HONOLULU – University of Hawai`i men's basketball coach Gib Arnold announced the signing of junior college transfer Brandon Spearman. Spearman will join UH as a junior for the 2012-13 season and will have two years of eligibility.
 
Spearman, a 6-foot-3,190-pound guard, is a native of Chicago, Ill., and a proven winner at both the prep and collegiate levels. Rated one of the top 40 prep guards by Rivals.com while at Simeon High School in Chicago, Spearman most recently captained an Indian Hills Community College squad that contended for a junior college national title.  
 
“We are thrilled to have Brandon join our team,” Arnold said. “He is a great fit for UH. Brandon is a multi-talented guard who was a top 100 player out of high school. What I like most about him is he's a high-character guy, which has been a point of emphasis for us in recruiting. Brandon's also a winner—he captured a state title in high school at Simeon and he served as a leader on an Indian Hills squad that was the No. 1 ranked junior college for much of the season. His toughness, character and basketball skill will be a great asset to our program.”
 
As a senior at Simeon High School in Chicago, Spearman averaged 14.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while leading his team to the 4A state championship.  Regarded as one of the top players out Illinois, Spearman played his freshman season for the University of Dayton in Ohio before transferring to junior college powerhouse Indian Hills in Ottumwa, Iowa as a sophomore.  
 
In his one season at Indian Hills, he averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals, while finishing second on the team in 3-pointers with 53. His 29 points against Ellsworth CC were the most scored by a Warrior in a game all season. Spearman was named to the all-region second team after helping lead the team to a 33-4 record and No. 7 national ranking.
 
Spearman joins a trio of freshman who signed during the early period: post player Caleb Dressler (Vancouver, Wash.), power forward Isaac Fotu (Auckland New Zealand) and shooting guard Orel Lev (Tel Aviv, Isreal).
 
2012-13 Recruiting Class
Caleb Dressler, 6-10, 240, C, Fr., Vancouver, Wa., Evergreen HS
Isaac Fotu, 6-9, 235, F, Fr., Torbay, Auckland, New Zealand, Rangitoto College
Orel Lev, 6-4, 190, G, Fr., Tel Aviv, Israel, Ironi Tet High School
Brandon Spearman, 6-3, 190, G, Jr., Chicago, Ill., Indian Hills Community College