HONOLULU — Hawaii men’s basketball guard Juan Munoz ruptured an Achilles tendon in the second half of the Rainbow Warriors’ exhibition against Hawaii Hilo on Thursday night, bringing his second straight UH season to an end before he could suit up in an official game.

Unless the repeatedly sidelined Munoz is granted a nearly unprecedented eighth year of eligibility in the 2023-24 season, the devastating injury brings his college career to an end.

What You Need To Know

  • Hawaii basketball guard Juan Munoz's 2022-23 season, and possibly college career, has come to an end with an Achilles rupture he suffered in Thursday night's exhibition game against Hawaii Hilo

  • Munoz, who has a history of devastating preseason leg injuries going back to his first two years at Longwood in 2016 and 2017, also missed all of the 2021-22 season, his first at UH

  • The North Carolina native impressed in his 20 minutes in the exhibition with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting and five assists off the bench, and was in strong contention for a starting job

  • UH, which opens the season Nov. 11 against Mississippi Valley State in the Outrigger Rainbow Classic, will likely turn to JoVon McClanahan and Justus Jackson to run the offense

Spectrum News learned of the extent of the injury Saturday morning and UH confirmed the news in a tweet Saturday night.

UH, which was picked to finish second in the Big West Conference in 2022-23 in part because of its experience and depth, will turn to senior guard JoVon McClanahan and sophomore Justus Jackson to run the team in the absence of Munoz, a gifted shooter and ball-handler.

The Morrisville, N.C., native, who transferred to Manoa from Longwood (Va.) in 2021 was impactful in his first, albeit unofficial, game in a UH uniform, pouring in 13 points in an inspired first-half effort.

With about 12 minutes left in the Stan Sheriff Center, Munoz was heading back downcourt after assisting on a 3-pointer by teammate Noel Coleman. Coleman then stole the ball in the open court and stepped into another 3 to push the Rainbow Warriors’ lead to 24. But Munoz, near midcourt and without another player nearby, went down during the sudden change in possession, went off the court and made his way to the team tunnel with a frustrated look.

He was expected to play heavy minutes at point guard — and probably start, though he came off the bench in the exhibition — this season for the Rainbow Warriors. He showed why Thursday, scoring from both beyond the 3-point line and on drives to the basket while keeping his teammates involved in the offense. In just over 20 minutes, he registered 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting (4-7 3-pointers), with five assists and two turnovers.

An Achilles injury can take a year or more to fully recover. An emotional head coach Eran Ganot felt it was serious after the game and asked people to pray for health for a well-liked player who’s known a career of setbacks.

Munoz, who’s experienced multiple ACL injuries in college – including back-to-back season enders in his first two preseasons – kept coming back at Longwood to earn All-Big South Conference second-team honors in 2020-21, leading the team with 13 points and 2.9 assists per game.

He scored 852 points, dealt 201 assists and hit 162 3-pointers in his three active seasons at Longwood.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.