Julian Sensley is hoping to make the transition from Rainbow Warrior to Golden State Warrior.

Sensley, the former star of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, will begin playing with Golden State's summer league team tomorrow.

The Warriors are one of 16 NBA teams participating in the Toshiba Vegas Summer League.

"I feel like I'm going in there with nothing to lose," said Sensley, a 6-foot-9 forward. "I'm confident. I'm ready to play."

Sensley was not selected in the two rounds of the NBA Draft last month, so he is on Golden State's roster as a free agent.

"I haven't been guaranteed anything, so this is my shot," he said. "I have to show I can play at this level and I have to show I want to be here. I'm going to do what ever they want me to do — I'll play any position, dive after loose balls, what ever."

Sensley said he has added around 10 pounds of muscle since April, when he started working out with a personal trainer in Los Angeles. He said he ended his senior season at UH weighing around 233 pounds, and is now up to 242.

"I was lifting heavy (weights), trying to get stronger because I know I'll be going up against bigger and stronger guys," he said.

Sensley said he and his agent, California-based Jerome Stanley, selected Golden State because "it seemed like the best fit."

"There were a couple other teams I could have gone to, but I think I might have the best shot with Golden State," Sensley said.

The Vegas Summer League is primarily for rookies and NBA players with less than three years of experience.

Among the other players on the Golden State summer league roster are 2006 first-round draft pick Patrick O'Bryant, and 2005 first-round draft pick Ike Diogu.

Other free agents on the roster include former Nevada forward Mo Charlo, and former Iowa State guard Curtis Stinson.

The Warriors will play their first summer league game tomorrow at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The league lasts only two weeks, and Golden State will play just five games.

"It's basically like a tryout," Sensley said. "So I have to be ready to play every game."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.