As the wait continues for a head coach for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball program, it also continues for potential recruits.

Today is the first day recruits can sign letters of intent with NCAA Division I basketball teams, but Hawai'i is not expected to receive any commitments until a head coach is selected.

"We're still going after (recruits)," said associate coach Jackson Wheeler, who is in charge of recruiting for the Rainbow Warriors. "But that's all I can say about it."

Clackamas (Ore.) Community College head coach Cliff Wegner said the Hawai'i coaching situation is playing a role in the recruiting process. His top player — 6-foot-10 forward/center Brian Freeman — wants to make a recruiting visit to Hawai'i, but not until he can meet a head coach.

"A visit to Hawai'i has been put off a number of times," Wegner said. "Hawai'i was his top choice at one time, but others have come into the picture now."

Freeman averaged 18.8 points and a league-high 13.3 rebounds per game last season in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC).

Wegner said Long Beach State, San Diego and "other WAC schools" are recruiting Freeman, and all of them will try to convince him to sign a letter of intent this week.

"We have a good relationship with Hawai'i, and that's the hard part," Wegner said. "Because it's not fair for me to tell (Freeman) to keep waiting."

Clackamas is the same junior college that produced former UH starters Mark Campbell and Michael Kuebler.

Another potential recruit — Nick Livi from North Idaho College — is waiting for Hawai'i to find a head coach. Livi, a 6-1 guard, averaged 16.5 points and 3.2 assists per game last season.

"He was set on Hawai'i a few months ago," North Idaho head coach Jared Phay said. "But other schools have come into the picture since then, and he has no choice but to listen because he doesn't know what's happening over there (at Hawai'i)."

The search to find Riley Wallace's successor at Hawai'i may have already cost the 'Bows one recruit.

Gary Wilkinson, a 6-8 power forward at Salt Lake Community College, is expected to sign a letter of intent with WAC rival Utah State this week. Salt Lake head coach Norm Parish said Wilkinson was being recruited by more than 20 schools.

"Purdue wanted him, as well as some ACC schools," Parish said.

Wilkinson averaged 18.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season, and "is along the same skill level" as previous Salt Lake recruits to Hawai'i. Among the Salt Lake post players to sign with the 'Bows in recent years are Troy Ostler, Jeff Blackett, Ahmet Gueye and P.J. Owsley.

"Numberswise, Gary did better than all those guys, so I have confidence that he would have fit right in over there," Parish said. "In all honesty, I don't know if he would have picked Hawai'i. But not having a head coach was just one more reason for him not to."

The 'Bows will have at least three scholarships to fill.

COACHING CANDIDATES COULD BE DOWN TO FOUR

Hawai'i associate coach Bob Nash has been interviewed by the advisory committee that is assisting in the selection of the next basketball coach, according to several sources.

Nash is believed to be one of the four leading candidates for the position. The other three — Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Henry Bibby, Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Dean Demopoulos, and Rice head coach Willis Wilson — interviewed with Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier and members of the advisory committee this week in Los Angeles, according to a source.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.