HONOLULU –University of Hawai`i head men's basketball coach
Eran Ganot announced that three players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Rainbow Warriors. Joining the Rainbow Warriors are incoming freshman Bawali Bayles and junior college products Manel Ayol and JoVon McClanahan.
Ayol, a junior college All-American, and Bayles, a skilled point guard, are both Australian natives. UH currently projects to have five Aussies on next year's roster as the pair join current Rainbow Warriors
Mate Colina,
Owen Hulland, and
Junior Madut.
Meanwhile, Bay Area product McClanahan enjoyed a decorated career for nationally-ranked Salesian College Prep, before spending this past year lighting up the scoreboard for Sheridan College in Wyoming.
The trio of spring signees join November signee Beon Riley in this year's Rainbow Warrior recruiting class.
2020-21 University of Hawai'i Men's Signing Class
Manel Ayol (6-7 • Forward • Jr. • Melbourne, Australia • Western Wyoming College)
Biwali Bayles (6-1 • Guard • Fr. • Sydney, Australia • Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence)
JoVon McClanahan (5-11 • Guard • So. • Vallejo, Calif. • Sheridan [Wyo.] College)
Beon Riley (6-6 • Guard • Fr. • San Diego, Calif. • Cathedral Catholic HS)
Manel Ayol •6-7 • Forward • Jr. • Melbourne, Australia • Western Wyoming College
Has two years of eligibility…played two seasons at Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs, Wyo…an NJCAA second-team All-American…also earned Region IX Player of the Year honors after averaging 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a sophomore…shot 51.6 percent from the field and almost 40 percent from 3-point range…helped lead Western Wyoming to its best season in school history, recording 30 wins and its first NJCAA Region IX title in nearly a decade…the Mustangs earned a bid to the 16-team NJCAA national tournament that was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19…averaged 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game as a freshman for the Mustangs…originally from Australia, and moved to the United States in 2015… played at Far Northeast High School in Denver where he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game for the Warriors…also played for Top Flight Academy and Taylor Made Prep Academy in Canada prior to junior college…close friends with current UH guard
Junior Madut, who like Ayol was born in South Sudan and moved to Melbourne.
Ganot on Ayol: "Manel enjoyed phenomenal success during his two years at Western Wyoming. He has a combination of size, skill and athleticism that will provide a jolt for our program. He's gotten to this point through hard work and sacrifice. We couldn't be more happy for him and his family and are extremely excited for his arrival here in Hawai'i."
Biwali Bayles • 6-1 • Guard • Fr. • Sydney, Australia • Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence
Has four years of eligibility…an alum of the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, a training ground for the nation's top players which also produced current Rainbow Warriors
Mate Colina and
Owen Hulland…a member of Australia's U18 National Team…participated in the 2020 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago…named to Fox Sport's All-Star Five while shouldering the load for New South Wales in the 2020 U20 Australian Junior Championships (AJC)….averaged 20.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game…among his performances was 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists triple-double in the tournament quarterfinals vs. South Australia….part of Australia's U17 team that won the 2019 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship in New Caledonia…averaged 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists during the tournament, while shooting 51 percent from the floor….prior to that, led the 2019 AJC in steals (3.5) and assists (6.3), while averaging 17.8 ppg for the New South Wales Metro U18 squad…of Aboriginal descent with his first name meaning "Elegant."
Ganot on Bayles: "We really look forward to what Biwali will bring to our program. He's fast, athletic, can score in bunches, and is a great competitor. His personality and leadership qualities make him a great fit here. We're absolutely thrilled to add him to our basketball 'ohana."
JoVon McClanahan • 5-11 • Guard • So. • Vallejo, Calif. • Sheridan (Wyo.) College
Has three years of eligibility…played one season for Sheridan College in Wyoming…averaged 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists…shot 47.8 percent from the floor, 44.5 percent behind the arc and 87.8 percent on free throws…buried 61 three-pointers and was a frequent visitor to the free throw line, where he sank 245 of 279 attempts…had six games of 30 or more points, including a 50-point explosion at Casper College and 40-performance vs. Gillette College…prior to Sheridan was a three-year starter at point for Salesian College Prep in Richmond, Calif…led the Pride to an 88-8 record in his three seasons as a starter…as a senior, helped led Salesian to as high as a No. 5 national ranking…was named to the
San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team after averaging a team-high 3.7 assists to go with 10.8 points per game…the Pride captured the CIF North Coast Division 3 title and were the only undefeated Open Division team in the California (31-0) before being upset in the state quarterfinals…played club basketball for Nike Phamily.
Ganot on McClanahan: "JoVon's a great addition to our program and a player that our fans will enjoy cheering for. He's a talented scorer, a fierce competitor, and above all a winner. He played for elite programs on both the high school and junior college levels. With his work ethic, character and winning pedigree we expect him to represent Hawai'i basketball at the highest level."
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