Rainbow Warriors go Down Under for 6-foot-7 wing
Strengthening a pipeline from Down Under, the University of Hawaii basketball team signed an athletic, multi-range shooter out of Australia.
Strengthening a pipeline from Down Under, the University of Hawaii basketball team signed an athletic, multi-range shooter out of Australia.
Lueth Awan, a 6-foot-7, 181-pound guard/wing, said he signed a scholarship contract with the Rainbow Warriors. Awan, 21, will have three years of NCAA eligibility. He is expected to join the ’Bows ahead of the Aug. 24 start of the fall semester.
“I really like how they play and perform,” Awan said of choosing the ’Bows. “I thought their player development was outstanding to me.”
Awan will be the 30th Australian to play under Hawaii’s Eran Ganot in his 23-year coaching career.
This past year, Awan was a developmental player with the Sydney Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League. An NBL developmental player participates in practices and occasionally appears in games. The Kings won the 2025-26 NBL championship in April. The Statballers platform ranks the NBL as the sixth-best basketball league globally behind the NBA.
With the Kings, Awan appeared briefly in 13 games, including during the NBL Finals. Awan honed his accurate 3-point shooting. He also has earned praise for his drives, pull-up jumpers and stifling defense. Awan’s vertical jump is about 40 inches. He has a 6-foot-11 wingspan.
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Awan considers Kings teammate Matthew Dellavedova as a mentor. Dellavedova is a four-time Olympian who won an NBA title as part of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. Ganot was an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s during Dellavedova’s four seasons with the Gaels. Dellavedova was among several to recommend Awan to the UH coaches.
Awan, who grew up in Sydney, played soccer until switching to basketball in 2020. He practiced and played games at a Police-Citizens Youth Club gym.
“I used to work out there after school and weekends,” he said. “I still use it to this day.”
Awan was a 6-2 guard when he first focused on the sport. After growing 5 inches in a year, he expanded his game, shooting over zones from the wings and posting up guards.
“The growth spurt really helped my game,” Awan said.
He played two years with the Savannah Pride, a local club in Western Sydney. After that, he played two seasons with the North Bears of the NBL1. In 2023, Awan and former UH player Junior Madut were teammates with the Bears. Madut also endorsed the ’Bows.
Awan said he enjoys “the competitiveness and the insides of the game (of basketball). I love it, especially when it’s a close game. That’s a fun time.”
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