SoCalHoops Recruiting News

University of Hawaii Signs LA's
Ricky Terrell To LOI--(May 2, 2000)

A reader alerted us to this signing, and we then got the official press release as well, so we know that it's official. Ricky Terrell (6'-3" So. G) from Los Angeles via Santa Monica City College, has signed an LOI with the Rainbows for next season.  Terrell will have two more years of eligibility to play in Hawaii for head coach Riley Wallace. He signed along with two other players last week  (David Hilton (5'-11" Sr. PG) from Connecticut, and  Haim Shimonovic (6'-10" Sr. F/C) from Rishon LeZiyon, Israel, and this week UH picked up another signee, Mindaugas Burneika, a Lithuanian national player who attended school in Texas.

According to the official press release issued by UH last week announcing Terrell's signing: 

"Terrell led Santa Monica College in scoring (16.8 ppg) and assists (5.71 apg) and was second on the team in steals (1.88 spg). Last season, he scored in double-figures in 29 of his team's 34 games. He scored 20 or more points in nine games and 30 or more points four times.

Wallace says: "Ricky's a left-hander. He can really create shots for himself and for his teammates. He's got a very good three-point shot. He's known to be a scoring point guard which we like in our offense."

Here's the remainder of the official press releases issued by the Rainbows announcing the other three signees:

Hawai'i Basketball Signs Mindaugas Burneika

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team received a letter of intent today from Mindaugas Burneika, Head Coach Riley Wallace announced. Burneika, a 6-foot-7 forward from Weatherford College in Texas, is the fourth player to sign with the Rainbows. The Kaunas, Lithuania native was the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds a game in conference play. He is the third straight Weatherford player to win the award. Current Rainbow and former teammate Nerijus Puida was player of the year in 1998-99. Burneika was named to the all-conference honorable mention team last season.

"I've watched him play for two years now," Head coach Riley Wallace said. "He's a good scorer, good passer , good in an up-tempo game and plays physical defense. He's the second player we've gotten from Weatherford College, where he's played for a highly successful program under Mark Osina. Mindaugas was the regional player of the year."

Last season, Weatherford finished with a 25-7 overall record and 14-2 conference record. The Coyotes' bid to return to the national tournament was ended by 13th-ranked Midland College in the Region V Tournament semifinals. In his final game at Weatherford, Burneika scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Rainbows secured commitments from 6-foot-10 power forward/center Haim Shimonovic of Rishon LeZiyon, Israel, and gurads 5-foot-11 David Hilton of Woodstock, Conn., and 6-foot-3 Ricky Terrell of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hawai'i Basketball Signs Three

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team received three letters of intent today, Head Coach Riley Wallace announced. The Rainbows signed two point guards, 5-foot-11 David Hilton of Woodstock, Conn., and 6-foot-3 Ricky Terrell of Los Angeles, Calif. They also signed a power forward/center, 6-foot-10 Haim Shimonovic of Rishon LeZiyon, Israel.

David Hilton

5-11, 145, Freshman
Woodstock, Conn.
The Hyde School

Hilton averaged almost 30 points a game as a senior and 28 points as a junior. As a sophomore, he averaged 31 points a game and earned an invite to a five-star basketball camp.

Wallace says: "David will add quickness to our team. He is more mature than a normal freshman because of his age of 20. He's played a lot of ball in New York and five-star camp against tough competition in the nation. He should come in here with a lot of savvy. He'll give us a good run at the point guard position."

Ricky Terrell

6-3, 190, Junior
Los Angeles
Santa Monica College

Terrell led Santa Monica College in scoring (16.8 ppg) and assists (5.71 apg) and was second on the team in steals (1.88 spg). Last season, he scored in double-figures in 29 of his team's 34 games. He scored 20 or more points in nine games and 30 or more points four times.

Wallace says: "Ricky's a left-hander. He can really create shots for himself and for his teammates. He's got a very good three-point shot. He's known to be a scoring point guard which we like in our offense."

Haim Shimonovic

6-10, 245, Freshman
Rishon LeZiyon, Israel

Wallace says: "He's a strong, older freshman. He's played in the top league in Israel. He has good game experience. Shimonovic has good strength, good low post moves and runs the floor well."

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