EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Men's Basketball Head Coach Lew Hill announced on Wednesday the signing of 6-6, 195-pound forward Solomon Hainna, a graduate transfer from Evansville who previously served five years in the United States Air Force, to a scholarship agreement for the 2018-19 academic year.
 
Hainna played in 42 minutes across three games for Evansville in 2017-18, scoring 12 points with six rebounds before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Hainna went on to complete his bachelor's degree and will now be working toward a Master of Business Administration in Financial Planning.
 
Originally from Inglewood, Calif., Hainna joined the Air Force out of Palisades Charter High School, working as a C-130 load master for five years, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
After completing his tour of duty, Hainna went to Midland College in 2015-16, averaging 7.1 points on 48.6 percent (67-for-138) shooting, including 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from behind the arc, and 5.5 rebounds in 29 games (21 starts).
 
In his first season with Evansville in 2016-17, Hainna averaged 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 28 games (four starts).
 
Hainna only played a year and a half of high school basketball, but he dominated during pick-up games as a member of the Air Force and received early separation on May 31, 2015 in order to have the opportunity to play college basketball.
 
"He brings a lot of experience and a quality of leadership that we really need," Hill said. "His play fits what we're doing, including his style and energy. He's athletic and long. He can guard multiple positions. He's very tough and mature. We're excited to have him here. He's the type of young man that we need in our program. He's going to help us tremendously with the young guys and with the play on the court."

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