Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics

AWARDS & ACCOLADES
» PacWest Conference Defender(s) of the Week (Jan. 12-20, 2025)

STUDENT IN STUDENT-ATHLETE
» 2024-25 Academic All-PacWest Team
» 2023-24 Academic All-PacWest Team
» 2023-24 Hawai‘i Hilo Student-Athlete Academic Honors

2024-25 (Sophomore): Played in 24 games ... Put in 10 points (4-5 FG) with four rebounds and two steals in a win vs Fontbonne (Dec. 14) ... Helped Vulcans to fourth consecutive PacWest Championships postseason tournament appearance.

2023-24 (Freshman): Played in 11 games ... Splashed a 3-pointer to put the Vulcans up by four points midway through the half of a two-point loss vs Azusa Pacific (Jan. 4) ... Helped Vulcans to third consecutive PacWest Championships postseason tournament appearance.

BEFORE HAWAI‘I HILO
» 2023 graduate of Real Salt Lake Academy (Utah)
» Played four seasons of varsity basketball for coach David Evans, Justin Yamizon
» Club/Travel Teams: Kongo, CDE (Coach David Evans) Elite
» Other Sports: Football

PERSONAL
» Preferred Name: Jr
» Nickname: Jiggy
» Born July 2004 in Utah
» Parents: Mele and Charles
» Has an older and a younger brother
» Younger brother Vainikolo is also a member of Vulcans Men's Basketball (2025-2026)
» Major: Business Administration – Finance

WHY HAWAII HILO
» "I wanted to be close to the ocean and felt it was the right place for me."

FAVORITES
» Hobbies: Pickleball, Ping Pong
» Sports Teams: Utah Jazz
» Athletes: LeBron James
» Movies: Wreck-It Ralph
» Shows: Modern Family
» Musicians: Frank Ocean
» Gameday Song: Woah by Lil Baby
» Video Games: Fortnite