The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team held its own election yesterday, and seniors Ahmet Gueye and Matt Lojeski won the roles as co-captains.

"I expect them to show some leadership, call team meetings when we need it, keep the guys together as a team, things like that," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "When we had captains who did it right, we had good teams."

Gueye and Lojeski will get a chance to lead right away, since the Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to depart Honolulu for Las Vegas today. The season opener is scheduled for Friday at UNLV.

Gueye, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Lojeski, a 6-6 shooting guard, also happen to be the team's top returning players. Gueye averaged 12.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Lojeski averaged 13.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

"It's a great honor," Gueye said. "I'm not a loud guy, so I think have to show my leadership with hard work. Lead by example."

Lojeski has already displayed leadership in the preseason, often taking charge in team huddles during practices.

"I don't mind being the guy to get the plays rolling, get the guys set up," he said. "I'm willing to step up and take a leadership role, not just with the basketball stuff, but doing the right things off the court, also."

Gueye and Lojeski were elected by their teammates.

"I had no say in it," Wallace said. "The (players) have a good feel for who they think should be the leaders."

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS ABUNDANT ON ROSTER

Want to start an endless debate among the Rainbow Warriors?

Try to find out which one of them played on the best high school basketball team.

Six players won state championships in high school, and in six different states: John Wilder (Central Park Christian School in Alabama), Matt Gibson (Putnam City High in Oklahoma), Bobby Nash ('Iolani School in Hawai'i), Marquez Jackson (East Hall High in Georgia), P.J. Owsley (Bozeman High in Montana), and Alex Veit (South Salem High in Oregon).

"I know for a fact that my team could play with anybody," said Jackson, who won Georgia state titles as a sophomore and senior. "My senior year, five guys went on to play (NCAA Division I)."

Wilder argued that his Central Park Christian team went on to win the national championship for preparatory schools in 2003. What's more, one of his teammates — James Lang — was a second-round pick in the NBA Draft straight out of high school.

"I would put my team up against anybody else's right now," Wilder said. "It wouldn't even be close."

Gibson said his Putnam City team played in the state championship game three consecutive years, winning it his junior season and finishing runner-up in his sophomore and senior seasons. He added that Putnam City played in the 6A Division, which is for the biggest and best schools in Oklahoma.

"We were considered one of the best teams in the country," he said. "There were a lot of legit players on all the top teams."

Veit's South Salem championship team received approval from two other Oregon products: Riley Luettgerodt played at Rex Putnam High (he led the state in scoring the same year Veit's team won the state title), and Dominic Waters played at Grant High.

"Basketball is basketball; we know how to play in Oregon," Waters said. "Why do you think so many of us are here?"

Nash's 'Iolani teams won consecutive state championships his junior and senior seasons. It was the start of the Raiders' current string of five consecutive Hawai'i titles.

"Hawai'i basketball has gotten a lot better, but not to the level of the top teams in California or some other states," he said. "But on any given day, we could play with anybody."

Junior center Todd Follmer did not win a state title at Santa Margarita Catholic High, but he said the competition had something to do with that.

"The level of competition is incredible in California, especially Southern California," he said. "I know we could compete with any team out there."

In any case, the Hawai'i coaches said recruiting players from successful high school and junior college programs is a Rainbow Warrior tradition.

"You want kids who know how to win because that's hard to teach," Wallace said. "It's one of the priorities for us."

NOTES

Friday's game — which starts at 5 p.m. Hawai'i time — will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio (1420 AM).

UNLV defeated Dixie State College (Utah), 70-37, in an exhibition game last night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Jo'Van "Wink" Adams led the Runnin' Rebels with 14 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.