On the heels of a disappointing 12-18 season and the graduation of three starters and a key reserve, University of Hawai'i women's basketball coach Jim Bolla and his staff have initiated the rebuilding process with their largest recruiting class to date.

Four high school and two junior college players have signed on for the 2008-09 season, bringing with them a much needed dose of size and athleticism.

The incoming freshmen are 6-foot-3 center Rebecca Dew, 6-0 forward Breanna Arbuckle, 6-2 forward-center Sarah Ilic, 5-6 guard Jennifer Hamilton and 5-10 guard Briauna Linton.

The junior college pick-ups are Julita Bungaite and Sarah Ilic, a pair of 6-2 players who can play both the big forward and center positions.

The Rainbows have one scholarship remaining, which may be given to one of four local players the program has been recruiting.

The signings come less than a month after Bolla applied for the head coaching position at UNLV, where he had coached for 14 seasons. Bolla said he applied for the position out of courtesy to former players and administrators who approached him about the position. He said the situation did not affect recruiting for UH.

"There was no real interest on my part or their part, it was just a courtesy," Bolla said. "I have a great job and I'm looking forward to working with the new (athletic department) administration. Our recruits knew what the situation was."

The newcomers will help fill the void left by All-Western Athletic Conference performer Tanya Smith, starting point guard Amy Kotani, do-everything swing Saundra Cariaga, reserve center Iwona Zagrobelna, and reserve guard Shannon Nishi.

The Rainbows were understaffed in the post all of last season. Smith and Zagrobelna started the season as the only true pivots on the team. Junior Ebony Jones saw time as a reserve and volleyball player Tara Hittle worked her way into the starting rotation after joining the team at midseason.

Bolla has repeatedly said that he values athleticism over pure size. The new recruits, he says, bring plenty of both.

Dew, the daughter of American missionaries in New Zealand, is a member of the New Zealand Junior National team and a big, physical presence in the post.

Ilic averaged 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds for Chipola College last season. Bolla described her as a "blue-collar player" who is quietly productive.

Bungaite, a native of Lithuania, averaged 13.6 points and 9 rebounds a game at Weatherford College, the same college that yielded Zagrobelna two seasons ago.

Bolla said Bungaite has a similar inside-outside game as Zagrobelna but is more mobile and athletic. Like Zagrobelna, Bungaite passes well and can shoot from outside, Bolla said.

Arbuckle was a 2008 McDonald's All-America honorable mention after averaging 14.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks for Chandler High School in Arizona.

"She's a really good athlete and she has the ability to do whatever she wants wherever she wants," Bolla said. "She brings something we haven't had, which is an athletic, taller forward."

Bolla said Hamilton also adds a new dimension to the team.

"She's really, really quick," Bolla said. "She has the capability to really beat people."

Bolla said he's reluctant to start a freshman point guard (an experiment that produced mixed results with Keisha Kanekoa last year), but said he may bring Hamilton in as part of a two-guard front to increase the pace of games.

Linton is expected to bring atheticism and length to the two and three spots.

"With this class, we have a core to build around over the next two to three years," Bolla said. "They give us a lot of flexibility to defend full-court, play uptempo and to be competitive in the conference."