Needing an architect to build the Hawaii basketball roster, head coach Eran Ganot went straight to the top of his list.
It made sense. Who else checks off more items on to-do lists than Gibson Johnson, the Rainbow Warriors' associate head coach and director of recruiting?
Born with a heart devoted to basketball, Johnson was 4 when he signed up for a youth league. The minimum age was 5.
He grew up as a fan of the Utah Jazz — his family bought season tickets — and Michael Jordan. When he was 6, he cried the night Jordan hit the winning shot against the Jazz to clinch the 1988 NBA Finals. But he remained a fan of Jordan's, often practicing Air-like moves in the driveway.
"Michael was a winner," Johnson said. "I've always been ultra competitive. "Michael showed you how to win championships."
His role model was his father, Matthew, who was once heralded as Utah's top golfer. The elder Johnson, who was the MVP of the University of Utah's championship golf team, earned a Tour card. Johnson used his father's old Callaway-sponsored clubs to become a scratch golfer.
Matthew Johnson often shared stories of his experience as a missionary in California. Inspired to also help others, Gibson Johnson set a goal of raising money for his own mission. He had a lemonade stand, worked at a car wash, and bussed tables at a neighborhood steak house.
After a semester as a part-time student at what was then Dixie State, Johnson received his mission assignment to Belem, regarded as the Brazilian gateway to the Amazon.
"You're definitely tapered off from the rest of the world," he recalled of his mission. "It gives you an awesome perspective on life."
Most of all, he appreciated the pure-hearted lifestyle of the residents.
"They have some of the least amount of material things, but they are some of the happiest people I've ever met," Johnson said. "They were big on community and very loving. I learned a lot from the Brazilian people."
After completing the mission, Johnson attended the University of Utah as a regular student. A graduate assistant asked Johnson if he would like to help the Utes, with the possibility of joining as a walk-on. After assistant coach Chris Burgess went to Salt Lake City Community College, he extended an invitation to Johnson.
Johnson accepted, earning a starting spot as a 6-foot-8 post and a scholarship. After the first season, Johnson received his first Division I offer. After SLCC won the 2015 national junior college title the following season, Johnson had 25 offers. He chose Hawaii because of Ganot, the culture and an opportunity to build on the 'Bows' 2016 Big West championship and accompanying appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
"To represent an entire state and a culture was important to me," Johnson said.
Johnson was the 'Bows' co-captain for two seasons. After completing his NCAA eligibility in 2018, he was fielding contracts from pro teams overseas when he suffered ACL and MCL injuries.
"Went straight into coaching after that," Johnson said.
He was at SLCC for a year, three at UH as graduate assistant and then director of player development, two years at Utah Tech, and then was asked to return to UH as assistant coach in June 2024. In addition to focusing on practice planning, scouting, defense, rebounding and player development, Johnson was asked to oversee recruiting.
Johnson has built a grasp of the new NCAA landscape, which involves easy transfers and player payments. But he also has stuck to his principles. He does not mislead prospects.
"Tell them not what they want to hear but what they need to hear," Johnson said. "Being honest and transparent but also understanding Hawaii and how great a place it can be. We don't promise anything in recruitment. Everything is earned. That's part of the reason we get the right type of guys — because we're honest and transparent. And the people who are drawn to that type of pitch are usually the type of people we want to coach."
For the 2024-25 class, Johnson recruited center Tanner Christensen. Last season, the 'Bows brought in 7-foot Isaac "Big Fish" Johnson, Quandre "Dre" Bullock, and guards Hunter Erickson and Tanner Cuff. The 'Bows won the 2026 Big West Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson, who initially joined the 'Bows with the hope of winning a title, took 10 years to check off that goal.
2026-27 HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS BASKETBALL ROSTER
NO.
NAME
POS.
HT.
WT.
CL.
HOMETOWN
NOTES
0
Jaden Matingou
G
6-3
175
Sr.
Rancho Bernardo, Calif.
Point Loma transfer led PacWest with 4.3 apg
1
Tanner Cuff
G
6-7
210
Gr.
American Fork, Utah
Missed 2025-26 with injury after averaging 8.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg at Evansville
2
Chance Trujillo
G
6-4
200
Jr.
Kaysville, Utah
Set Utah Tech single-season record with 73 made 3-pointers
3
Kellen Hampton
F
6-7
205
Fr.
Hayward, Calif.
3-star prospect redshirted at Pacific last season
5
Scotty Belnap
G
6-6
185
Fr.
San Celemente, Calif.
Hit 40% of 3s as Mater Dei HS senior before going on church mission
6
Houran Dan
C
6-10
230
Jr.
Neimenggu, China
Seattle transfer "Dunkin' Dan" played for China in FIBA U19 World Cup
7
Isaiah Kerr
G
6-3
180
Sr.
Palo Alto, Calif.
Lone rotation returner ran 2.99 seconds in 75-foot sprint
8
Marcus Adams
F/W
6-8
230
Jr.
Torrance, Calif.
Former CSUN player averaged 19.7 points in 2 wins against UH in 2025
9
Maidy Douglas
G
6-4
170
Fr.
Paris
U21 Espoirs League's MVP after averaging 23.6 ppg on 48% shooting
10
Manie Joses
F
6-7
180
Jr.
London
London native shot 54.5% for Davidson last season
12
Zack Davidson
F
6-9
225
Jr.
Mission Viejo, Calif.
Averaged 14.6 points for Montana last season
21
Lueth Awan
G
6-7
175
So.
Sydney
Development player with Australia's NBL champion Sydney Kings
22
Tiger Cuff
G
6-6
185
Fr.
American Fork, Utah
Combo guard completed church mission in June
24
Bol Dengdit
F/C
6-11
210
Sr.
Melbourne, Australia
Averaged 12.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg in Big West games with UC San Diego
27
Alois Leyrolles
F
6-8
210
So.
Fribourg, Switzerland
Dual citizen of France and Switzerland can play PG through forward
