New University of Hawai`i Hilo men's basketball coach Kaniela Aiona will soon be moving into his office on campus, ready to greet his nine returning players, roll up his sleeves, and get to work.

He will also say hello to his recruiting class of four when classes begin in late August. Aiona, a Big Island native who is returning home after nearly 20 years on the mainland, revealed his 2020 class today.

Joining the Vulcan squad for the 2020-21 season will be two transfers and two freshman. Jabari Sweet (Chabot College), Darren Williams (Chaffey College), Ethan Jetter (California HS) and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (New Zealand) will report to practice this fall, joining previous announced fellow newcomer Kia`i Apele (Hilo/Waiakea HS). Telryn Villa (Martinsburg, Virg.) also signed with the Vulcans last winter, but will first take a two-year mission trip before coming to the UH Hilo campus.

"The goal for this recruiting class was to sign a group of great student-athletes that compliment our returning players," said Aiona, who coached the past five seasons at Menlo College. "This class is balanced, versatile, and competes the right way. They will help further our mission of representing the Vulcan 'Ohana and Hilo community at a high level, on and off the court."

Darren Williams was the MVP of the Inland Empire Athletic Conference, helping to lead his Chaffey College team to the conference title with a perfect 16-0 league mark. A 5-8 guard, Williams averaged 17.1 points a game for the Panthers and had almost six assists a contest. Chaffey (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) advanced to the postseason and finished the year with a 23-6 record. Williams rained home 82 three-pointers as a sophomore and averaged 35 minutes a game at the point guard slot. The Rancho Cucamonga High School alum scored in double figures in all but four contests, hitting for a season-high 30 points against Santiago Canyon. A two-time scholar-athlete, Williams was awarded the Chaffey College Classified Senate Scholarship. 

"Darren is a fearless guard with range, quickness and court vision," Aiona said. "He is a student of the game who can create his own shot and also shots for his teammates."

Jabari Sweet is a 6-8, 215-pound forward who was a First Team All-Coast North selection at Chabot last winter. He averaged 13 points and seven rebounds a game, shooting 52 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the free throw line. Sweet, who attracted interest from a handful of Division I teams, started every game for a Gladiators team that went 17-12 and reached the postseason. The Sacramento native hit for over 20 points in four games, including a season-best of 24 against Las Positas. He will be a junior for the Vulcans.

"Jabari is a presence in the front-court," Aiona assessed. "He has touch around the basket and a quick second jump. We expect Jabari to provide inside-out playmaking on both ends of the court."

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones is a freshman from New Zealand. A 6-6 forward, he was a member of the 2019 Wellington Saints team that won the NBL (National Basketball League) title. In New Zealand, Aniwaniwa was a Junior Tall Black selection, State team representative, U19 Team Captain and member of the National High School runner-up team in 2018.

"Aniwaniwa is a versatile player who plays with great feel and a high motor," Aiona said. "He has had success against high level competition in both New Zealand and in the US."

Ethan Jetter is also a freshman from California HS in the bay area (San Ramon). As a senior, he averaged 16 points and five rebounds a contest, pacing his team in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, free throws made and three-pointers made. California plays in the East Bay League in the North Coast Section, one of the top prep conferences in northern California. 

"Ethan is athletic and skilled," Aiona added. "He is an unselfish player that can score at all levels and create match-up problems."

The Vulcans will begin classes in late August, practice will start on October 15 and their 2020-21 opener is expected to take place the second  week of November.

"It will be terrific to work with this group," Aiona said. "Our returners and newcomers are all hungry to get back to competing after this long layoff. Go Vulcans!"