What’s in a number? | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
SHAQUILLE STOKES
Freshman point guard
Four is the only number Stokes has ever known. The timing worked out with UH’s previous 4, Bill Amis, graduated and off to the pro ranks in Europe.
“First number I ever got. Three years old, 3 to 4. My dad just gave me No. 4. … (Used it for) everything.”

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
TREVOR WISEMAN
Sophomore forward
“I chose it because my uncle (Greg Cassel); he passed away a couple years ago. His birthday was Dec. 31, so that’s why I chose that. I had 20 last year, but I chose to honor him.”

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STAR-ADVERTISER / 2011

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
PII MINNS
Sophomore guard
“There’s so many reasons. I watched AC Carter play when I was little. He was good, but I also read Jordan’s book this summer. … There’s a lot with that number. I just like it. My number’s always been 24 (in high school), and I just went down one.”

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
HAUNS BRERETON
Junior forward
“Actually, the number picked me. In middle school, I tried out for the team. Then I made it, but I was the worst player so it was the last number picked. And this jersey was just thrown at me. It was stained and nasty, nobody wanted it. I was the last player on the bench. Eventually after three games I earned my way to a starting position. So I’ve always worn it to remember where I was.”

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
JOSTON THOMAS
Junior forward
Thomas used to have an affinity for No. 11, but that changed just before he first got to UH in the summer of 2010.
“The summer of the time I was coming here, that July 4, my little godbrother (Deion Houston) got hit by a train and died on his birthday. He wore No. 5. So I wear it to honor him.”

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
DAVIS ROZITIS
Sophomore center
“I usually pick 15, but Vander (Joaquim) already had it. I just picked the next European number that was there. If I could, I’d probably pick 6 or 9. But 13, some people think it’s unlucky, but I just think it’s a number.”

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Ever wonder why your favorite Hawaii basketball player sports the jersey number he does?

Well, wonder no more.

The reasons are as varied as the personalities on the diverse and international Rainbow Warriors. Superstition, tradition. Tribute, rebuke. Default, design.

Some players treasure their number. Others are indifferent to it, getting it by assignment depending on their time of arrival and seniority.

Coaches like to spread the aloha wear

The Hawaii coaching staff makes coordinated flair a point with its selection of aloha shirts on game days.

UH coach Gib Arnold makes the final call on gameday attire, usually the night before, and gets the word to assistant coach Brandyn Akana.

“It’s kind of a certain way we do it,” Akana said. “After 10 o’clock at night the night before, I text Coach Gib, and I say, ‘What shirt?’ He’ll either text me that night or the next morning. And from there, I text everybody else (on the staff) early in the morning with what we’re wearing.”

There’s often a theme. The coaches went with red aloha shirts in Tuesday night’s 82-58 win over New Orleans for Valentines Day, and black shirts last week to go with the “Blackout” promotion against Nevada.

Akana said the shirt rotation goes about seven or eight deep, mostly donated from the Rainbowtique.

A few players plan to switch digits next season — with numbers such as 3 and 0 a hot commodity. In college basketball, there is a limited selection with the digits 6 through 9 unusable.

Among the ’Bows to particularly identify with their digits are starting forwards Joston Thomas and Hauns Brereton.

Thomas honors a fallen friend, while Brereton keeps his 21 as a reminder of how far he’s come.

UH (15-10 overall) heads out tonight on its longest road trip of the season, starting at Montana in a BracketBusters contest on Saturday.

Before they prepared to depart, UH players recently took a moment to reflect on their laundry.

Some of the best are found to the left.

1: BOBBY MILES
Sophomore point guard
“I picked this number because the number I wanted was chosen. I chose 1 because 3 wasn’t available because of Zane. And then I wanted 0, but (assistant coach Brandyn) Akana said he didn’t order 0. So I just got 1. I’m going to change it next year to 0.”

2: GARRETT JEFFERSON
Sophomore guard
“I got here late, so when I got here they just gave me No. 2. It’s not bad. I probably would have chose 15, but Van’s 15. Other than that, I like 2. 2’s fine … I kind of like it now. Next season, I’m No. 2.”

3: ZANE JOHNSON
Senior shooting guard
Johnson chose 3 in honor of his grandfather, Ben Charlet, who encouraged his growth as a basketball player, and not for his prolific 3-point shooting.

“He’s always been encouraging me. He’s coming down for senior night. He goes to every game he can go to. If it’s within five states, he goes.”

11: MIAH OSTROWSKI
Senior point guard
“The 11 fit me, the jersey, the shorts, so they gave me that. … If I had three more years, I might switch, but can’t complain. Keep my number, keep my identity.”

15: VANDER JOAQUIM
Junior center
“I didn’t pick, actually. My number’s No. 11. But I start liking (15), and I start using it as my number. My birthday is April 15. I guess I didn’t have that much power, you know what I mean, to get No. 11.”

20: JACE TAVITA
Senior point guard (redshirting)
“Coach Akana just gave it to me. But because I was planning on redshirting this year (I didn’t care). But next year I’m going to be No. 0. I just kind of like it. Sub-Zero, you get it? I’m a point guard so I’m going to freeze people.”

32: TYLER BROWN
Freshman forward
“I wore 32 last year at IMG (Academy in Florida). Just thought I’d get one of the numbers I had before. 54, 45 or 32. A little consistency there with the numbers.”

33: BRANDON JAWATO
Freshman shooting guard (redshirting) “There were no jerseys left. Next year, I want to be No. 3. I’m calling dibs right now, I want No. 3, ’cause that’s my number. Not because of Zane, but because I wanted No. 3. (In the meantime) I got double 3s.”

34: CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER
Junior forward (redshirting)
“I chose 34 because my number is 7. I always played with 7, or if somebody else had 7, I played with 17. In college basketball, for reasons I don’t understand, you’re not allowed to wear 7. I choose 34 because, 3 plus 4. If I’m not doing well next year, maybe I’ll try 43 then.”

45: OREL LEV
Freshman guard (redshirting)
As the most recent Rainbow Warrior, Lev was assigned whatever the team had available. “I don’t care, it’s just for practices. Maybe I pick 55 (next year), the highest number. Something special. Maybe that.”