HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball welcomes nine newcomers for the upcoming 2026-27 slate in Vulcans head coach Kaniela Aiona's seventh season.
"We are excited about this year's recruiting class," Aiona said. "We have a lot of new faces, but this group also brings a good mix of experience. We're looking forward to getting the season officially started and getting to work."
Of the team's seven returnees, five will be entering their senior season of competition.
The Vulcans replace seven departures from a year ago — four to graduation or exhausted eligibility — and will look to make a return trip to the Pacific West Conference Championships postseason tournament next March.
The incoming class arrives as the NCAA Division II Executive Committee recently adopted emergency legislation establishing an age-based eligibility model to allow student-athletes up to five seasons of competition.
Upcoming 2026-27 schedule will be announced shortly.
2026-27 MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER
- Roster Total: 16
- Seniors: 7
- Upperclassmen: 11
- Returners: 7
- Newcomers: 9
- True Freshmen: 2
- Incoming Transfers: 7
- 2026 Departures: 7 (4 Graduated / Exhausted Eligibility)
NEWCOMERS POSITIONS
NEWCOMERS HOME STATE/COUNTRY
- California: 3
- Hawai'i: 2
- Arizona: 1
- Illinois: 1
- Missouri: 1
- North Carolina: 1
G | 6'4 | SR-R | St. Louis, MO | St. John Vianney HS / Columbia College
» Four seasons at Columbia College (Missouri) (NAIA) playing for coach Tomas Brock
» Played 65 games making 33 starts through four seasons with the Cougars; redshirted 2022-23 season
» 340 points (.424 FG, .307 3PT, .773 FT), 183 rebounds, 94 assists, 18 blocks, 27 steals
» (2x) American Midwest Conference Champion
» 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District Team, American Midwest Conference All-Tournament Team, American Midwest Conference All-Conference HM
» (4x) Academic All-AMC Team, (2x) NAIA Scholar-Athlete
» 2024-25 NABC Honors Court, NABC Team Academic Excellence
» 2022 graduate of St. John Vianney High School (Missouri)
» Three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Kevin Walsh
» Honors: 2022 Missouri Class 5 District 2 Player of the Year, 2022 Missouri Class 5 All-State First Team, (2x) Missouri Class 5 All-District First Team, 2022 All-MCC First Team
» Other Sports: Ultimate Frisbee
» Club/Travel Teams: Gateway Knights Basketball Club
» Sports Moment: "Winning the 2026 AMC Championship and making the All-Tournament Team."
» Career Aspirations: High School Math Teacher and Basketball Coach
Major: Education Studies
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The coaching staff and returning players made me feel right at home, and the opportunity to experience the beautiful state of Hawai'i."
G | 6'4 | SR | Greensboro, NC | Forsyth Country Day School / Hofstra + Western Carolina + Caldwell Tech
» One season at Hofstra University (New York) (NCAA D-I) in 2025-26
» 2025-26 NABC Honors Court, Coastal Athletic Association Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll
» One season at Western Carolina University (North Carolina) (NCAA D-I)
» Played 28 games making 11 starts, averaging 22.8 minutes, through one season with the Catamounts
» 157 points (5.6 pts/g), 78 rebounds, 67 assists (team leader), 27 three-pointers, 17 steals, 3 blocks
» Scored a season-high 14 points vs. Furman (Jan. 1, 2025)
» Two seasons at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute (North Carolina) (NJCAA)
» Played 55 games across two seasons
» 651 points, shot .473 FG, with 220 assists
» 2023-24 NJCAA All-Region First Team
» (2x) All-Academic First Team
» 2022 graduate of Forsyth Country Day School (North Carolina)
» Honors: NCISAA 3A All-State, (2x) Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference All-Conference
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The island feels like home and I'm excited to build something special with this program while being close to my family."
G | 6'6 | JR | La Crescenta, CA | Crescenta Valley HS / East Los Angeles + Pasadena CC
» One season at East Los Angeles College (California) (3C2A) playing for coaches John Mosley, Ken Hunter
» Started and played 29 games through one season with the Huskies
» 283 points (9.8 pt/g), shot .462 FG, .420 3PT, .850 FT, with 105 rebounds, 27 steals
» 2025-26 South Coast Conference Champion
» 2025-26 All-South Coast Conference HM
» One season at Pasadena City College (California) (3C2A)
» Played 29 games through one season with the Lancers
» 249 points (8.6 pt/g), shot .413 FG, .352 3PT, .786 FT, with 82 rebounds, 23 steals
» 2022 graduate of Crescenta Valley High School (California)
» Two seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Dovall, Z
» (2x) League Champion
» Honors: All-League First Team
» Club/Travel Teams: BTI
» Sports Moment: "Going to eat after winning."
» Nickname: Q 50
» Siblings: 1 twin brother
» Career Aspirations: Actor and Writer
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I felt welcome in the 'ohana."
G | 6'1 | JR | Chicago, IL | Kenwood Academy HS / Mineral Area
» Two seasons at Mineral Area College (Missouri) (NJCAA) playing for coach Tony Irons
» Played 63 games making 56 starts through two seasons with the Cardinals
» 379 points, shot .386 FG, .340 3PT, .760 FT, with 215 assists, 224 rebounds, 93 steals, 19 blocks
» 2025-26 NJCAA Midwest District Champion, 2025-26 NJCAA Region 16 Champion
» 2025-26 NJCAA All-Region 16 Second Team
» Scored 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists in the NJCAA Midwest District Championship to help lead the Cardinals to an NJCAA National Tournament berth (March 14, 2026)
» 2024 graduate of Kenwood Academy (Illinois)
» Three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Mike Irvin
» Club/Travel Teams: Mac Irvin Fire
» Sports Moment: "Winning JUCO district game."
» Nickname: BJ
» Siblings: 1 younger brother, 4 younger sisters
Major: Business Administration – Management
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The culture and the family aspect on and off the court."
G | 6'3 | JR | Gilbert, AZ | Highland HS / Utah Valley + Fort Lewis
» One season at Utah Valley University (Utah) (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Todd Phillips
» Played 11 games through one season with the Wolverines
» One season at Fort Lewis College (Colorado) (NCAA D-II) playing for coach Jordan Mast
» Played 27 games through one season with the Skyhawks
» 164 points, shot .495 FG, .452 3PT, .909 FT, 10 steals
» Scored a career-high 22 points (8-14 FG) vs Adams State (Feb. 4, 2025)
» 2022 graduate of Highland High School (Arizona)
» Three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Todd Fazio
» Honors: (3x) All-Central Region First Team
» First Name: Ammon
» Spouse: Natalie Michele
» Career Aspirations: Real Estate
» Served two-year Latter-day Saints mission in Leeds, England
Major: Business Administration – Management
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It felt like the best fit for my wife and I. I felt so good about it right away after talking to coach Aiona because of the culture and what the team is about. I also am very excited to come in and make an immediate impact on the team with my three-point shooting and experience."
G | 6'2 | JR-R | Long Beach, CA | Millikan HS / Cerritos + Santa Ana + Citrus
» One season at Cerritos College (California) (3C2A) playing for coach Russ May
» Played 31 games making 30 starts through one season with the Falcons
» 425 points (13.7 pts/g), shot .515 FG, .444 3PT, .762 FT, with 137 rebounds, 88 assists, 45 steals, 7 blocks
» 2025-26 South Coast Conference Champion
» 2025-26 3C2A All-State HM, All-South Coast Conference First Team
» One season at Santa Ana College (California) (3C2A)
» Played 30 games through one season with the Dons
» 380 points (12.7 pts/g), shot .485 FG, .310 3PT, .715 FT, with 178 rebounds, 53 assists, 31 steals, 13 blocks
» One season at Citrus College (California) (3C2A)
» Played 2 games through one season with the Owls; medical redshirt
» 2022 graduate of Millikan High School (California)
» Three seasons of varsity basketball for coach Curtis Boyer
» Honors: All-Conference First Team, All-California Interscholastic Federation, Spectrum News Athlete of the Year, Press-Telegram Athlete of the Year
» Club/Travel Teams: The Truth EYBL
» Sports Moment: "Making it to the Elite Eight with Cerritos College."
» First Name: Kamaury
» Career Aspirations: Professional Basketball Player or Entrepreneur
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I felt it was for me once I heard about the culture, the challenge to change the dynamic of the basketball program and to win as much as possible. I had a very good conversation with the coaching staff and felt like Hilo was the place for me to bring my passions and talent."
G | 6'0 | SO | Fountain Valley, CA | Fountain Valley HS / Santa Ana
» One season at Santa Ana College (California) (3C2A) playing for coach David Breig
» Played 29 games making 27 starts through one season with the Dons
» 494 points (17.0 pts/g), shot .440 FG, .373 3PT, .796 FT, with 126 rebounds, 69 assists, 38 steals
» 2025-26 All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team
» 2025 graduate of Fountain Valley High School (California)
» Three seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Josh Beaty, Roger Holmes
» Honors: 2024-25 Orange County All-Star Team, (2x) All-County Third Team, (2x) All-Sunset League First Team, 2023-24 California Interscholastic Federation Division 2AA First Team
» Other Sports: Baseball
» Club/Travel Teams: Cali Rebels
» Sports Moment: "Breaking a fourth school record."
» Career Aspirations: Insurance and Eventually Own a Company
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It felt like the best place for me to grow as both a basketball player and a person. I really liked the coaching staff and I thought the team's style of play fit me pretty well. I also believe it's a place where I can develop my game and prepare myself for my future both in academics and athletics. The chance to represent a university in Hawai'i and be part of a close-knit community made it an easy decision. Also, who wouldn't want to be at a beautiful place like Hawai'i."
G | 6'2 | FR | Puna, HI | Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i
» 2026 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Mea Wong, Mike Scanlan
» (3x) Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion
» Honors: (2x) BIIF Player of the Year
» Club/Travel Teams: Hoop Dreams Hawai'i
» Career Aspirations: Electrician
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It's my home. I want to give something back to my community and represent where I'm from wherever I go."
G | 6'1 | FR | Kohala, HI | Kohala HS
» 2026 graduate of Kohala High School (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity basketball for coaches Kihei Kapeliela, Reeve Cazimero, Paul Antonio, Elijah Antonio, Lawrence Kauka
» Spent time at Utah Prep Academy for coaches Justin Yamzon, Jason Mandaquit, Aukai Wong, Kupa'a Harrison, Kyle Spencer
» (3x) Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Champion
» (4x) Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion
» Honors: 2026 Hawai'i State Gatorade Player of the Year, (3x) Hawai'i Division II Player of the Year, (3x) BIIF Player of the Year
» Other Sports: Volleyball
» Club/Travel Teams: Team CPSA, NSP, SHUT D
» Sports Moment: "Hitting a game-winning shot in the state championship game."
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "To stay close to family and play before those who raised me, plus represent Hawai'i on a bigger stage."
