Former University of Hawaii graduate Hepa secures position in NBA summer league

Former University of Hawaii basketball player Kamaka Hepa joins New Orleans Pelicans for NBA Summer League.

Are you a print subscriber without online access? If so, it's time to activate your Digital Account! The University of Hawaii basketball coach, Eran Ganot, has spoken highly of former Rainbow Warrior player Kamaka Hepa, stating that he is on an upward path in his post-college journey. Ganot believes that Hepa's success will continue and that he is guaranteed to be successful in life. Hepa, a versatile forward, will be playing for the New Orleans Pelicans in the upcoming NBA 2K24 Summer League, starting this Friday. Ganot is excited to watch Hepa's journey unfold from afar.

Hepa had a pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors and was offered a spot on the Pelicans' summer team as an undrafted free agent. The round robin portion of the summer league will take place from Friday through July 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. Fans can catch the games on the ESPN networks and NBA TV.

Ganot has always believed in Hepa's future, praising his shooting range, defensive ability, and intelligence. Hepa, who recently earned an MBA and worked for Bank of Hawaii, is not only a skilled player but also a great human being. Ganot believes that the best is yet to come for Hepa, who has already accomplished a lot in his career.

Hepa, originally from Alaska but graduating from a high school in Portland, played 60 games in three years at the University of Texas before transferring to the University of Hawaii. He started all 60 games and was a co-captain in both of his UH seasons. Last season, he led the Rainbows in 3-point makes, 3-point accuracy, and rebound average. He averaged 11.5 points per game and earned All-Big West honorable mention. Throughout his two seasons at UH, Hepa maintained an impressive 3-point accuracy of 39.1%.

The Pelicans' summer league journey will begin on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by games against the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, and Charlotte Hornets. The date and opponent for their fifth game will be determined based on the results of the first four games.

In other summer league news, Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 NBA Draft pick and highly regarded prospect, is set to debut with the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas after skipping the Sacramento California Classic. Wembanyama could potentially face off against the Charlotte Hornets and No. 2 pick Brandon Miller in his NBA debut.

The 18th NBA summer league will feature all 30 NBA teams playing five games each. After the first four games, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals on July 16, with the winners competing in the championship game on July 17. The remaining 26 teams will play a fifth game on either July 15 or July 16. It's an exciting time for basketball fans as they get to witness the future stars of the NBA showcase their skills and potential.