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HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's and women's basketball squads will be officially introduced during the 2012 “UH 'Ohana Hoopfest” Friday, Oct. 12, in the Stan Sheriff Center. Admission to the Hoopfest is free.
 
The event will be part of the UH Homecoming week festivities and will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m., following the UH-Cal State Northridge women's volleyball match. Fans attending the women's volleyball match are encouraged to stay and will be treated to entertainment and giveaways. All others fans will be allowed into the Stan Sheriff Center near the conclusion of the women's volleyball match.
 
The event will include the introduction of both the men's and women's teams, a slam dunk contest, celebrity games and an autograph session. Hoopsfest marks the official start of fall practice for the men's squad. The women's begin fall camp on Oct. 2.

Great giveaways are in store. There will be a UH student half-court shot contest as up to three students could earn a semester's worth of free textbooks from the University of Hawai'i Bookstores. A Vacations Hawaii Trip to Las Vegas, complements of the California Hotel & Casino is also on the prize list as well as a round-trip for two (2) on Hawaiian Airlines to a US West Coast destination, compliments of Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
 
The Rainbow Warriors, under the direction of three-year head coach Gib Arnold, return four players and three redshirt players from last year's squad that finished 16-16, including first-team all-conference center Vander Joaquim. A group of eight talented newcomers join this year's squad. Hawai'i plays an exhibition against Hawai'i Pacific on Nov. 2 and officially opens the regular-season against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Nov. 9 in the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Rainbow Classic.
 
Meanwhile, the Rainbow Wahine are led by first-year head coach Laura Beeman. UH return six players and two redshirts from last season, including all-WAC forward Kamilah Jackson. Six newcomers also join the team. UH opens the year with an exhibition game against UH-Hilo on Oct. 29 before tipping off the 2012-13 season on the road at San Francisco on Nov. 9. The 'Bows will return for their home opening tournament, the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic featuring Baylor, Stanford, and Tennessee-Martin, Nov. 16-18.