Former Evansville G Tanner Cuff announces transfer to Hawai’i 

HONOLULU – Back to the “Tanner” transfer portal for the second straight year. 

Former Evansville guard Tanner Cuff announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Monday, becoming the first player to transfer into the program this offseason and the second player in the 2025 recruiting class for UH. The 6-foot-7 guard spent the last two seasons with the Purple Aces, going from bench standout in 2023-24 to consistent starter this year as he averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game across 32 starts. 

“I can’t wait to get to work,” Cuff said in a phone interview with HSRN on Monday. “My wife and I are incredibly excited to get out there.” 

Cuff spent two seasons at Salt Lake Community College after going on a two-year LDS church mission before transferring to Evansville in 2023. The well-rounded playmaker from American Fork, Utah has steadily progressed over his time at the college level and comes to the islands with two years of eligibility remaining. 

“[Hawai’i] was the first team to call me as the portal opened,” Cuff said. “I felt like I connected really well with the coaching staff, and I liked their vision for me … it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” 

The 6-foot-7 guard enjoys using his size advantage and often will take smaller defenders into the post to create scoring opportunities for himself and others. A self-admitted “pass-first” player, Cuff likes to work off the bounce but can also step behind the arc and cash in from long range. 

In his first season with Evansville, Cuff worked primarily as a key reserve as he appeared in all 35 contests and poured in 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds on 49.2% shooting and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference’s All-Bench Team as he also handed out the second-most assists on the team (79). 

His second season saw his averages increase in a bigger role, taking a step forward defensively as well as he tallied more than a steal per game. Cuff turned in a 14-point, 4-rebound, 3-assist performance in a 65-61 loss to NCAA Tournament darling Drake on February 26, going 5-for-8 from the floor and knocking down a 3-pointer on Senior Night for the Purple Aces. 

With two years of eligibility remaining, Cuff will see the final season of Big West membership for Hawai’i and be a part of the group that captains the ship into the Mountain West during 2026-27. 

“With the history of the program, Hawai’i deserves to go out with a bang from the Big West,” Cuff said when asked about the transition between conferences. “I think we can also build up momentum before going into the Mountain West. I’m super excited [for the competition in both], honestly.” 

Cuff is rated as a four-star transfer recruit by EvanMiya.com and joins Hunter Carter as the lone members so far of the 2025 recruiting class for Hawai’i. The Rainbow Warriors graduated five players and saw sophomore forward Akira Jacobs hit the transfer portal, leaving multiple spots to fill for Eran Ganot and staff during the offseason. 

You can stay up to date on the latest in Hawai’i men’s basketball recruiting news by following Paul Brecht on X/Twitter, @12brecht.