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The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team will have new on-court leadership when it opens the season against Hawaii Pacific on Friday in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Justin Webster, the Rainbow Warriors leading returning scorer, and Casdon Jardine, a transfer from Utah Valley, have been selected as team captains. Webster is the program’s first sophomore captain since Chris Gaines in 1987-88.
“It’s a job I don’t take lightly,” said Webster, who averaged 8.8 points as a true freshman this past season. “Coming into my sophomore year, I really wanted to lead as example and lead with my voice.”
In 2019-20, Webster deferred to co-captains Drew Buggs and Zigmars Raimo, and senior Eddie Stansberry. Raimo and Stansberry completed their UH eligibility, and Buggs went to Missouri as a graduate transfer.
“Eddie came in every day ready to work hard, ready to practice,” Webster said. “He was going to do his job. Drew and Zigmars led by their talk and also by their play.”
Those three, Webster noted, showed “what I need to do to help this basketball team get ready for games.”
Webster, who started nine games last season, will continue his multiple roles as point guard, off guard and wing. There were double-point lineups when Webster and Buggs were paired. Webster, who is 6 feet 3 and 180 pounds, has the most game experience of the returning players. With center Dawson Carper’s transfer to Missouri State and wing Samuta Avea’s decision to opt out of this season, none of the five main starters from a year ago are on the active roster.
Jardine, who is 6-7 and 215, brings sharp aim (39% on 3s at UVU last season), flexibility at the four, and a vocal communicator on defense.
Jardine took the circuitous path to Manoa. He grew up in Idaho, where he was a standout wing on a state-championship team. He served a two-year church mission in Brazil, then went on to be a member of basketball teams at College of Southern Utah, Boise State and Utah Valley.
Webster already has set goals for Friday’s game.
“We’re going to play as a team,” Webster said. “We’re going to play hard. We’re going to defend. We’re going to rebound. We’re going to do all the little things that it takes for us to win. I feel like we’re ready. I feel we’re eager to get out there and play against some new teams. I want us to go out and play hard and showcase what we’ve been doing on the practice court.”
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