Cuff links! Tiger to join older brother Tanner with UH hoops

The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team is indeed a brotherhood.

Tiger Cuff, the younger brother of UH guard Tanner Cuff, will join the Rainbow Warriors in June after completing a church mission in Brazil. He will have five years to play four UH seasons.

“I never actually played with him because I’m a lot older,” Tanner Cuff said of the five-year gap with his 20-year-old brother.

But Tanner Cuff was able to extend his UH career after suffering a season-ending ACL injury last November. The ’Bows won the 2026 Big West Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. The ’Bows join the Mountain West on July 1.

Ryan Cuff, who coached both, said he never imagined his sons would become teammates.

“It’s the first time ever,” the father said. “They competed against each other, even with the age difference. But Tiger always wanted to beat Tanner. He never won when they played one-on-one because of the difference in size growing up. But Tiger’s catching up. Tanner better watch out.”

Tiger Cuff, who is 6-foot-6, was a standout player at American Fork High in Utah. As a senior in 2024, he accepted a scholarship offer from Weber State, his father’s alma mater. Ryan Cuff has coached three high school teams to four Utah state championships.

When WSU head coach Eric Duft moved into a non-coaching position last month, that allowed Cuff to open his recruitment.

“I was like, ‘Gibson (Johnson), you need to get on him right away,’” Tanner Cuff recalled telling the UH assistant coach. “I’m trying to help out any way I can and build a good roster and go win the Mountain West now.”

Ryan Cuff said the new Weber State coaches “jumped on board and still wanted Tiger. But I think with the great feedback from Tanner and, of course, the great season Hawaii had, it felt like it would be a great fit for Tiger, as well.”

Cuff said his sons excel in ball-handling, weak-side rebounding, and basketball IQ. Tanner Cuff, who is 6-7, is skilled in creating points off the bounce. Tiger Cuff has better outside-shooting aim.

“We’re extremely excited,” Ryan Cuff said. “He’s been around the game his whole life, like Tanner. They’re really basketball minded. They had no other choice. They grew up with a basketball in their hands since they were in the crib.”

Tanner Cuff said his brother “plays the game the right way. I’m super excited to play with him.”

Ryan Cuff said his wife approved of the unique name.

“It had nothing to do with Tiger Woods,” he said. “We’re not golfers. … His middle name is Luke. It’s a family name. His name’s Tiger Luke. I said if it didn’t fit, we could always go with his middle name. I got lucky, and she agreed, and the rest is history. He always stayed Tiger. He definitely fits. He’s a tiger on the basketball court, for sure.”