Beginning in 2025 the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic will join Feast Week, ESPN’s week-long college basketball lineup of action in late November. The eight-team, three-day tournament will move to Thanksgiving week with the exact dates yet to be determined.
In addition, a women’s multi-team event featuring the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will debut under the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic banner during Feast Week. The tournament format and dates for the women’s event will be announced at a later time.
Since its inception in 2009, the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic has traditionally been played during the December holiday season, culminating with the final four contests on Christmas Day.
Over the years the tournament has featured some of the best players and programs in college basketball with teams that have gone on to the NCAA Final Four and more than 70 players who have played in the NBA. Previous Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic tournament champions include UH (2022), USC (2009, 2017), Butler (2010), Kansas State (2011), Arizona (2012), Iowa State (2013), George Washington (2014), Oklahoma (2015), San Diego State (2016), TCU (2018), Houston (2019), Vanderbilt (2021) and Nevada (2023).
UH finishes 3rd in 2024
In 2024, UH (8-4) finished in third place, capping off the week with a thrilling win on Christmas Day over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in overtime, 73-70. UH was led by Gytis Nemeiksa with a career-high 25 points and added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Harry Rouhliadeff contributed a career-high 15 points—11 of which came in the second half and overtime. Nemeiksa was one of five players named to the Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team.
The ‘Bows opened the tourney on December 22 with a convincing 78-61 win over Charlotte, before falling to the eventual tournament champion Nebraska, 69-55, in the semifinals on December 23.
The Rainbow Warriors will be back in action on January 2 when they host UC Santa Barbara in a Big West contest. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
For more, visit the UH Mānoa Athletics website.
