Hawaii’s big man keeps it grounded

Basketball is often perceived — fairly or not — as a me-first sport rife with me-first players, especially in the results-driven ranks of college and pro ball.

The 2012-13 Hawaii men’s basketball team, like previous Rainbow Warriors editions, has stars, starters and role players, the differences in status that can prove divisive for any team. These ‘Bows, however, have the glue to hold things together.

That adhesive would be 7-foot junior center Davis Rozitis.

The transfer to UH from USC had a reserve role last season, and has played even less this year, averaging 4.2 minutes per game behind a big man triumvirate of experienced Vander Joaquim, energetic transfer Christian Standhardinger and talented freshman Isaac Fotu.

Sure, Rozitis would love to see the court as much as the next guy. But he doesn’t allow that to dampen his enthusiasm for the sport he grew up with in Cesis, Latvia.

"It’s a game. The game of basketball is fun," Rozitis said. "It was intended for people to have fun. So it doesn’t really matter whether you’re on the court or off the court. You’re still in the game. It’s fun, and sometimes people are forgetting that."

He constantly gets up from his seat on the bench to dole out high-fives and fist bumps, and wave his towel about 10 feet in the air. There’s no stat for dap per game, but he’ll undoubtedly be a team leader in that category again on Saturday as UH (4-2) hosts Pepperdine (5-3) at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"He really helps keep the bond of this team together," said Gib Arnold, who recruited Rozitis to USC and lured the big man across the Pacific soon after he got the UH head coaching job in March of 2010.

"His role has been somewhat limited, in his whole career," Arnold went on. "At USC he played behind some guys who are playing in the NBA now, and he’s playing behind a really good player in Vander. We haven’t seen a lot of him, but I have total confidence in Davis if he were to play 30 minutes, he’d be stuffing his stat sheet as well."

Rozitis often jokes with Joaquim — the only other holdover from Arnold’s first UH season of 2010-11— about the team’s turnover rate (of players, not possessions), but he credits his coach with finding the right mix of returnees and freshmen this year.

In his mind, the chemistry is so good among the team’s big men because of the multi-year NCAA experience of Joaquim, the Nebraska transfer Standhardinger and himself, combined with the youthful energy of Fotu and redshirt Caleb Dressler.

"I think when we put those two things together … it just makes things happen and we get better in practice every day," Rozitis said.

He’s not above pulling rank on the youngsters — like when he made Fotu carry his bag on the UNLV road trip — but is always there to offer pointers as well.

"He always gives us freshmen good advice and stuff if we need help," Fotu said. "He’s always cheering on the team, even if he doesn’t get much playing time. And then when he does come in, he makes a big impact as well."

When he’s in the game, Rozitis’ best abilities are his knowledge of schemes to go with his shot blocking and European shooting touch as a big man.

Being of an exceedingly rare stature in Hawaii, Rozitis is often stopped on the street and asked his height.

He keeps such discussions lighthearted, like his personality.

"I don’t know if this is for fact, but I like to think it, that I’m the tallest guy on the island," he said. "(I tell people that) and then it’s even more ‘wow.’ I don’t know that for fact, but I like to think that way, so it will make me super, super cool."

Arnold can’t help but smile throughout a 10-minute conversation on Rozitis.

"He’s fun to be around. He is goofy. He enjoys life, and he should," the coach said.

A WAC All-Academic player last season, Rozitis is set to graduate in May with a degree in political science, international relations specifically. He said it was "most likely" he will elect to return as a hoops senior next year while pursing a graduate degree, but there are no guarantees now that he’s on the cusp of a major life goal, a college degree.

"I’ve got to talk to my family about that. The ultimate goal for me is to play basketball and support my family," Rozitis said.

He’s confident in his per-minute numbers if and when he’s called upon for significant contributions, both now and as a future pro.

"I would like (Arnold) to know that I’m ready to produce more if he gives me the chance," he said. "But I’m just going to keep working hard, cheer on my teammates, I’m just going to practice hard and approach every game like it’s my last one."