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.

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.”