The offseason recruiting process for the UH-Hilo women’s basketball team was a homespun exercise, about as organic as it gets in the team building business.
The offseason recruiting process for the UH-Hilo women’s basketball team was a homespun exercise, about as organic as it gets in the team building business.
Vulcans coach David Kaneshiro signed a player he’s had his eyes on for a years, Hilo High graduate Sharlei Graham-Bernisto, a fire cracker perimeter player well-known to her new teammates.
“There’s a lot to like with her from a physical standpoint,” Kaneshiro said of the aggressive 5-foot-2 point guard. “She’s very quick, she handles the basketball pretty well, and she has a very high motor.”
The Vulcans return a veteran lineup, one Kaneshiro anticipates will be healthy for the new season, after finishing 10-15 a year ago, slowed by a 1-6 start. A four-game win streak toward the end of the season left UHH with a chance to gain the playoffs in the last regular season game, but it came up short.
Kansehiro said he’s watched Graham-Bernisto since she was a sophomore and thinks she’ll fit right in.
“I’m looking forward to coaching her,” he said.
Graham-Bernisto was hopeful of a college experience on the mainland, but the offers she got didn’t match what Kaneshiro had waiting.
“It’s not like it’s a disappointment,” she said. “I was like a lot of people, you get the idea in high school that you need to get off the rock, but I’m so grateful to coach Dave, just to be playing, that’s what I’m feeling now, really looking forward to it.
“I know a lot of (the Vulcans) already. Alexa, Vanessa Mancera, Lauren Hong, we’ve met in clinics and things, I’m really happy to be able to play more with those guys.”
Graham-Bernisto would fit neatly into Kaneshiro’s post-perimeter style offense that relies on an unified approach and understanding.
“Other than set plays, like out of bounds plays, we don’t concern ourselves much with individual positions like point guard, off guard or whatever,” he said. “It’s more about perimeter players and post players and understanding what your role is.
“We could have four point guard types out there at one time, but we would think of them as just perimeter players doing what they need to do.”
Graham-Bernisto said she will be entering a nursing program.