Point Guard Finds Pot of Gold With Rainbows : Preps: After returning from a three-day recruiting trip, Mira Costa’s Willis says he will sign letter of intent on Wednesday to attend Hawaii.

Shane Willis, a high-scoring point guard for Mira Costa High, announced Thursday that he will sign a letter of intent to attend the University of Hawaii.

The 6-foot Willis made his decision a day after returning from a three-day recruiting trip to Hawaii. He chose the Rainbows over the University of San Francisco, where he visited two weeks ago. He plans to sign Wednesday, the first day of the early one-week signing period for prep seniors.

“I enjoyed the visit and I enjoyed the players when they took me around,” Willis said. “(Hawaii Coach) Riley Wallace is a good coach and I feel I can fit into their system.”

Mira Costa Coach Glenn Marx, who was a Rainbow assistant under Wallace in the 1987-88 season, said Willis is the physical type of point guard favored by the coach.

“(Wallace) likes strong, aggressive players,” Marx said. “He saw a tape of our Morningside game (last season) and saw what Shane was able to do against the type of athletes Morningside has. That’s what turned him on.”

Several factors other than basketball influenced Willis’ decision. He was attracted by Hawaii’s business school and he has family in the Honolulu area. He helped Mira Costa win the St. Louis Tournament in Honolulu last season.

“It seems like the perfect place for me,” he said.

The left-handed Willis was the only junior chosen to the senior-dominated Times’ South Bay All-Star team last season. He led Mira Costa in scoring with an 18-point average and ranked second in assists playing shooting guard. His play was a big factor in the Mustangs reaching the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs, and he was named to the All-Division II second team.

Willis will give Mira Costa two former players in the Western Athletic Conference. Forward Chris Davis is entering his sophomore season at San Diego State.

Willis, who also visited St. Mary’s and canceled a trip to Weber State, is the third area basketball player to make an oral commitment. Serra shooting guard Rick Price announced he will sign with Duke, and Bishop Montgomery point guard Kareem Mutrie committed to the University of San Diego.