LAS VEGAS — Living up to the saying that “You may leave the island (of O’ahu), but the island will never leave you,” former University of Hawai’i men’s basketball standout post Troy Ostler stepped up for the current Warriors in preparation for Friday night’s Big West Conference semifinal game against Cal State Fullerton.
Ostler, a key member of the 2001 Western Athletic Conference championship and NCAA Tournament Team, is now the Boys Varsity Basketball head coach at Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, and arranged to host the current UH team at his campus gym on Wednesday and Thursday to help the Warriors get ready for Friday’s game in nearby Henderson, Nev.
During Wednesday’s practice, Ostler also spoke to the team about his experience playing for Hawai’i and how the relationships he forged with the school, teammates, coaches, fans and the state in general lasted far beyond his final game in a Warriors jersey.
He also attended a UH Basketball Pep Rally on Wednesday evening in the Triple 7 Brewery restaurant at the Main Street Station Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas.
Over 122 fans signed up for the event, which also featured the coaches and players from both the Hawai’i men’s and women’s teams, and the school’s band, cheerleaders and Rainbow Dancers. All told, over 200 people were in attendance enjoying a hearty buffet dinner, speeches from nen’s head coach Eran Ganot and Rainbow Wahine head coach Laura Beeman, and much interaction between the players and fans.