Warrior Insider

Zach Buscher’s importance to the University of Hawai’i basketball team goes beyond any statistics.

As the only Hawai’i-raised player on the roster, Buscher often serves as a tour guide and a general source of island knowledge for his teammates – which happen to include 10 newcomers this season.

“I like it,” he said of his host role. “It’s hard to get guys to try different foods. They’re always scared of the fresh fish or the Hawaiian food. It’s something as a local, not that I have to do it, but I like to do it. Try to give them that experience. They’re living in Hawai’i and playing for Hawai’i. It’s good to know.”

Buscher, a 2014 graduate of ‘Iolani School, is a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard who is now in his third season with the program (he redshirted his first season). That makes him one of the most experienced players on this season’s roster.

“Just knowing it’s a different role,” he said. “Knowing I’m one of the veteran guys and need to step up and be more of a leader and play with confidence.”

It also means he has taken a “lead by example” position at practices so far this preseason.

“Helping guys out, helping them learn the system,” he said. “Guys are still learning where to be on defense and the offensive schemes, so just helping everybody out in that regard.”

Buscher is also now the only Hawai’i high school product on the roster (Kamehameha’s Dyrbe Enos was on the roster the previous four seasons).

“That’s really special to me,” Buscher said. “I grew up around the program, came to the games as a kid, was a ballboy growing up. I really watched the program ever since I can remember, so being able to play for the University and play in front of my family and friends is something special.”