For University of Hawaii basketball wing Samuta Avea, the clock has been reset.

“It’s been a long while,” said Avea, who participated in Wednesday morning’s team-organized workout, the Rainbow Warriors’ first of their offseason training.

Avea, who is 6 feet 6 and 200 pounds, is stronger, quicker and determined.

“I’m a year older and a year wiser,” Avea said. “I feel really prepared to do what I need to do, for sure.”

Avea, a senior, essentially took a gap year when he opted out of the 2020-21 season. Ahead of his December announcement, the Rainbow Warriors scrambled to train under the state’s pandemic protocols. Last summer’s team workouts were canceled, and when the ’Bows did practice, it was in small groups with the team in masks and the coaches wearing gloves.

“You couldn’t go in the gym extra,” Avea said. “Practice time was limited.”

Avea felt those restrictions could not help him maximize his skills for his senior season. “The (protocols) became more complex as you go,” Avea recalled. “I just felt being in control of my own situation and my own training was the best thing to do at that moment.”

Avea and head coach Eran Ganot had several conversations about the opt-out plan. Avea gave assurances he would remain with the team.

“We made sure we were on the same page, and I let him know what my intentions were,” Avea said. “He trusted me to work and improve my game away from the team. I kept in touch with the staff, (and coming back) was always the plan.”

Avea, a 2017 Kahuku High graduate, trained in Utah, where his mother grew up, and in Las Vegas. In Utah, he practiced ball skills and shooting at Bingham High and the Lace ‘Em Up Academy. AJ Townsend of Fearless Behavior created a strength-building program for Avea.

Avea then trained at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas. “It was tricky traveling and staying safe,” Avea said. “I had to make sure I was doing that. As far as basketball, it was easy to connect. … I got a lot of good work in. I know a lot of people in Utah who were nice enough to look out for me.”

With a springy vertical jump and quick-step drive, Avea is an offensive force around the rim. During the 2019-20 season, Avea developed into a 35% shooter on 3s. The past year, Avea has worked on his mid-range jumper to boost his 47.8% accuracy inside the arc.

“The biggest thing is maturity in my game,” Avea said. “Everything being in my control (and) slowing down around me. Being able to make reads and the right play. Improving my mid-range was a big key for me. That’s something I’ll be able to utilize a lot more. Three-level scoring and playmaking, that’s what my focus was. … I definitely learned a lot being away. Hopefully, that can translate onto the court and help my game grow even more.”

Avea, who took online classes during the basketball sabbatical, kept tabs on the ’Bows.

“I followed every game,” Avea said. “I tried to keep as much in touch with the guys as I could. I didn’t want to bug them too much. I still felt very attached to the team.”

Avea returned to Hawaii in April. He marveled at the ’Bows’ incoming recruits, a group that includes Division I transfers Kamaka Hepa of Texas, Jerome Desrosiers of Princeton, and Juan Munoz of Longwood.

“I like who we brought in and who we’re bringing back,” Avea said. “I definitely feel we took a big step in maturity, bringing in these older guys. They’re experienced. It’s a good attitude in the air, definitely, with people coming in with a common goal. I think it’s a big part of why we’ll be good.”

Avea added: “I’m so excited to be around the team atmosphere again. I’m excited to put all my energy toward that.”