Eran Ganot is recruiting the West Coast, too.

Although Australia has been a major target so far for the new Hawaii basketball regime, the oral commitment of Los Angeles guard Drew Buggs for the 2016-17 season served as a reminder that Ganot plans to keep a diverse portfolio of players.

Buggs, a 6-foot-3, 185- pound senior at Long Beach Poly (Calif.) High, announced his intentions Wednesday on social media. He is the second player to commit to Ganot for that season.

"I really liked the coaching staff," Buggs said via phone. "They laid out what their goals were for the season, what they plan on accomplishing. I really got along well with them and I believe they would be the best fit for me as far as taking my game to the next level. And I feel like they’re headed in the right direction."

He took an official visit to the Manoa campus two weeks ago.

Buggs is known first for his defense and athleticism but should get a chance to take a larger offensive role in the upcoming high school season.

As a junior for the typically talented school, Buggs averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 54 percent from the field in 24 games.

"I’m definitely going to be more of an offensive threat," Buggs said of the upcoming season. … but I’m also not going to change my game. I’ll play the same way and do whatever my team needs for us to get the win."

He won a CIF title as a sophomore and is optimistic Poly can achieve another on his way out.

Besides UH, Buggs said he had offers from Cal State Bakersfield and Dartmouth, and was also being recruited by Portland State, Wichita State, Boise State, Utah, Drake, and UC Davis and UC Irvine.

He can sign a binding Letter of Intent on Nov. 11.

UH assistant coach Chris Acker took point in Buggs’ recruitment, said Ryan Silver, program director of the Earl Watson Elite AAU squad which Buggs played for since the eighth grade.

Silver called Long Beach Poly a "top-five, top-10 program in the state."

It’s not just defense that is getting Buggs to the next level, according to Silver.

"I would say his leadership. A phenomenal leader. High-character kid," Silver said. "Eran is obviously doing a great job building the culture there, similar to the culture they had at Saint Mary’s. High-level culture with high-character kids."

Australian point guard Matthew Owies announced his commitment to UH last week for 2016-17.