Alika Smith was known for his shooting skills as a star guard for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team in the 1990s.

Yesterday, he displayed an ability to rebound.

Two months after being released as an assistant coach at UH, Smith was selected to be the first head coach of the Hawai'i Hurricanes professional basketball team.

The team will compete in the American Basketball Association starting in November.

"It's an amazing opportunity — something that came out of the blue," Smith said. "I'm just grateful that I still get to coach basketball in Hawai'i."

Smith spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at UH, but his contract was not renewed for the upcoming season.

"Even when I was playing, I had a lot of doubters that I had to prove wrong," he said. "A lot of people still think of me as that player at UH, and not as a coach. I still have to prove myself as a coach, and this is as good a chance as any."

Andrew Moss, president of the Hurricanes, said Smith's local ties, popularity and coaching style were all factors.

"We interviewed quite a few coaches, both from here and the Mainland," Moss said. "Alika was clearly the most qualified candidate."

Smith had been in search of a coaching job since late April. He said he also interviewed with the Long Beach State and UC Riverside men's teams, and the Nevada women's program.

"It was a very humbling experience to go through that for the past few months," said Smith, who resides in Kailua with his wife, Sunshine, and their two young sons. "That's why I'm so grateful. Staying at home is huge for me, and I'll be happy working where I feel wanted."

Moss said Smith's success as a player at UH was taken into consideration. Smith is the third-leading scorer in UH history, and teamed with Anthony Carter to form the popular "Dynamic Duo" backcourt.

Smith was also a star player at Kalaheo High.

"You have to establish a local following," Moss said. "I think Alika gives us that better than any other coach we looked at."

Smith said his one-year contract will be worth more than the contract he had at UH, although he did not want to reveal figures.

The Hurricanes do not have any players on their roster yet, and tryouts will begin in August. Smith said he will invite several former 'Bows and other Hawai'i-raised players to the tryouts.

"I want local kids on the team, definitely," he said.

Moss said: "We wanted our coach in place now so that he can help with the selection of the team. We plan to have players from here in Hawai'i, as well as the Mainland, and even some international players."

The Hawai'i Hurricanes are not affiliated with the Hawai'i Mega Force team that folded after just two ABA games in 2005.

The owner of the Mega Force, Orrys Williams, was banned for life from the league because he failed to fulfill several obligations, including making payments to his players.

"This first year is going to be the hardest because of what that last team in Hawai'i did," Smith said. "But this is a totally different situation, and we're going to try our best to make it work."

Moss is already off to a better start. For one, he has secured dates at the Blaisdell Center Arena for the Hurricanes' home games. He said he is already negotiating with other teams to work out travel arrangements.

The Mega Force never secured a home gym in 2005 (their only two games were played at BYU-Hawai'i), and did not schedule any road games.

Hawai'i will be one of more than 50 teams in the ABA in the 2007-08 season. The ABA is considered a minor league of pro basketball, but it is not affiliated with the NBA.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.