Warrior Insider

There is only one player on the 2016-17 University of Hawai’i basketball roster that has yet to see game action this season. That could possibly change soon.

Freshman guard Drew Buggs was cleared this week to participate in full practices, and his progress will be monitored closely. If it appears he could be ready to fill a key role for the remainder of this season, he may see game minutes as soon as the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, December 22, 23 and 25. If not, he could remain on the sidelines for games and use this as a redshirt season.

“That’s just going to have to be between me, the coaching staff and my family,” Buggs said. “These weeks right here are really important. That’s why I was cleared on Sunday. They got me out here going live to see how I look and see if I was able to even play. Then, like I said, we’ll make the decision based on how these weeks go.”

Buggs was a senior at Long Beach Poly High School in California when he signed with the Warriors in November of 2015. Late in that senior season, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn meniscus in his right knee. Subsequent surgery in April kept him sidelined throughout most of the summer.

When official practices started in September, Buggs could not participate in any contact drills. He has slowly worked his way back, and was finally cleared this past Sunday.

“Game shape is always different from being able to just run,” he said. “It’s a lot different when you have to change directions and be in the right spots at the right time, so that’s something I’m really working on. It’s going to take a little while to get back into full shape, but each day I feel better and better out there.”

Buggs has not even been in a game jersey for the first nine games of this season, but he has remained active as a vocal supporter from the end of the bench.

“It’s frustrating, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun seeing my teammates, my brothers, out there competing, having fun playing the game,” he said. “I just want to be there for them, give them everything I got and contribute any way I can. Everybody wants to play, but sometimes you can’t, and that’s no excuse to have a bad attitude and not be there for your teammates.”