HONOLULU — It’s been nothing but smiles for Juan Munoz and Hawai’i men’s basketball since Thursday afternoon. 

The graduate student was granted a waiver for an 8th season of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the 2022-23 season with a torn Achilles injury suffered in a preseason matchup against the University of Hawai’i-Hilo.

Initially after the injury, the Longwood transfer thought his playing career would be over and he would move to the normal “9-5 job” lifestyle following the completion of the year. 

While being around the team and watching the season unfold though, there was an itch in the back of his mind to try to come back one more time. He could be seen around the gym shooting, moving on his own without the assistance of a scooter and the idea only grew.

Dreams and reality can be two different things though, so the 6-foot guard was honored during senior night alongside Samuta Avea and Kamaka Hepa just in case it was Munoz’s final appearance in the Stan.

As it turns out, the dynamic scoring guard will get a chance to suit up for the ‘Bows next season and he’ll do it next to a childhood friend, UNC transfer and one of the newest Rainbow Warriors, Justin McKoy.

Munoz has been lauded by the UH staff for his positivity and leadership, even in the face of adversity. He also showed in a pair of 2022-23 pre-season games against St. Mary’s and UH-Hilo the level of shooting and spacing he could help bring the ‘Bows this season. All these qualities should help Hawai’i as they try to replace the holes left by the graduations of Avea and Hepa. 

The North Carolina-native joined HSRN’s Ku’ulei Agbayani and Paul Brecht on Friday morning for an exclusive first conversation with the graduate student following the news he had been looking to receive.

The chat with Munoz included a look behind the scenes at his decision to apply for one more season, the process of rehabbing a major injury and the mental battle behind it, his excitement for this edition of the ‘Bows and much more.