The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will try to fill a big need with a pair of little guards.

Dwain Williams and Jeremy Lay have committed to play for the Rainbow Warriors starting in the 2009-10 season. Both are 6-foot point guards with sharpshooting capabilities.

Williams could be the steal of the late recruiting season for the 'Bows.

He was the starting point guard for Providence as a sophomore during the 2007-08 season. The highlight of that season for him was a 23-point game — including six 3-pointers — in an upset of Connecticut.

Williams averaged 11.0 points and 2.2 assists during that season. He led the Friars with a .902 free- throw percentage and shot 48 of 118 (.407) from 3-point range.

"He's super-quick with the ball, and he has unbelievable range," said JJ Santa Cruz, a family friend and former AAU coach of Williams. "I'm telling you, this kid, for his size, he has no fear. He'll shoot it from 25 feet if you let him. And if you go all the way out there to guard him, he'll go right by you."

However, Williams sat out the final 10 games of that season with an ankle injury, then left the program after head coach Tim Welsh was fired.

He has not played basketball since.

Williams' name surfaced as a transfer possibility at Oregon State, Long Beach State and Kent State, but he never enrolled at any of those schools.

"There were some family issues that Dwain had to deal with that people don't know about," Santa Cruz said. "It might look like he bounces around from place to place, but none of it had to do with attitude or anything like that. He's really a great kid."

As a true freshman, Williams started four games and averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 37 of 84 (.440) from 3-point range.

Hawai'i was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the nation last season with a .283 percentage from long range.

Prior to attending Providence, Williams was one of the most coveted guards in the country out of Vista Murrieta High in Temecula, Calif. He averaged 28.6 points and 5.6 assists per game as a senior, and was reportedly recruited by North Carolina, Louisville, UCLA and other powerhouse programs.

"He was one of those guys everybody in the country knew about on the prep circuit," Santa Cruz said. "I'm glad he's getting another chance. Hawai'i will love this kid."

Lay will join the 'Bows after two record-setting seasons at Northern Oklahoma College at Enid.

He averaged 16.7 points, 6.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore this past season for the Jets. He also led the team with an .830 free-throw percentage and 58 3-pointers.

"He's a point guard who can score," NOC-Enid head coach Greg Shamburg said. "He can shoot the 3, but he's also not afraid to take it inside. Hawai'i is getting a very good player."

Lay made an official visit to Hawai'i last weekend. His only other visit was to Missouri State, although he was also being recruited by Fresno State, Colorado State and South Alabama.

Lay averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 assists as a freshman at NOC-Enid. He finished his career as the program's all-time leader in scoring and assists. He also led the team in 3-pointers during both his seasons.

"I consider myself a decision-maker," Lay said. "You can't label me just a scorer or a passer, but I'll make the right decision either way. If you leave me open, I'll try to score. If you leave my teammates open, I'll try to help my teammates score."

Lay said he already talked about meshing with Hawai'i leading scorer Roderick Flemings during his visit last weekend.

"I know Flemings can score," Lay said. "I just need to learn to get him the ball where he needs it."

Lay, who is 185 pounds, said he makes up for his lack of height "with heart and strength."

"I know I have limits being only 6-foot," he said. "But I'm a competitor. I'm going to play hard no matter what."

The official signing period starts on April 15. Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash and his staff can not comment on recruits until the official letters are signed.