Thump, thump, thump ...

A bouncing basketball is like a heartbeat for Riley Luettgerodt.

"I don't know, I just love the game," he said. "If I'm not playing or practicing, I'm watching a game on TV. It's not my entire life, but it's a big part of it."

It is that kind of passion that has allowed Luettgerodt to make a name for himself with the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

"He has a work ethic and a desire for the game that can not be denied," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "I don't care what the numbers are, he's done an excellent job for this program. He's done everything we've asked."

As he enters the stretch run of his collegiate basketball career, all Luettgerodt wants to do now is help the Rainbow Warriors win the Western Athletic Conference.

The 'Bows, who are 10-12 overall and 6-4 in the WAC, will host first-place Utah State (18-7, 8-2) on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It's not too late for us to do something big this year," Luettgerodt said.

Thump, thump, thump ...

The basketball has been bouncing in Luettgerodt's hands ever since he was 4, growing up in Gladstone, Ore. After a while, it was like a cowbell.

"We always knew where he was by the sound of that ball," said his mother, Kirsten. "He even used to dribble all over the house."

His maternal grandmother found out the hard way.

"On one of my mother's visits, she got so scared because Riley was upstairs dribbling," Kirsten said. "She thought a pack of elephants took over the house."

Luettgerodt's father, Kevin, eventually constructed a hoop, backboard, and special lights in the driveway. Even the weather of the Pacific Northwest could not stop him.

"It could be 40 (degrees) and raining and he'd be out there for hours and hours," Kevin said.

By high school, Luettgerodt had become prolific with a basketball in his hands. As a senior at Rex Putnam High, he led all of Oregon in scoring with 23.3 points per game.

Overlooked by major NCAA programs, Luettgerodt attended Chemeketa Community College in Oregon for two seasons, and set several scoring records there.

"I was the main scorer for my teams in high school and junior college, so I could just keep firing it up," he said. "That's not how it is here, and that's how it should be."

Thump, thump, thump ...

Sometimes, hearts can ache.

Despite all his previous records and accolades, Luettgerodt spent his junior season with the 'Bows as a reserve. He ended the year averaging 6.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

"Some people will say I didn't live up to the hype, which is probably true," he said. "I know I've had ups and downs here. But I never did give up. It took me a while to realize what my role was here, and I'm fine with it now."

Prior to this season, Luettgerodt spent most of his summer in Honolulu. He spent as much time in the weight room as he did in the gym, which is a quite a statement.

He increased his bench press from four repetitions of 225 pounds to 10 repetitions.

"In junior college, he could do almost what ever he wanted, and his strength was putting the ball on the floor and attacking," Bob Nash said. "It's more of a system here, and he's going against bigger, stronger, faster guys. He had to change his game.

"To his credit, he put in the time and effort to make himself a better player in our system."

Thump, thump, thump ...

Luettgerodt has started every game this season. He is 6 feet 5, 210 pounds, and is primarily a wing player.

But due to injuries to other 'Bows, he has filled in at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, even power forward.

"He's a perfect teammate," fellow senior Bobby Nash said. "You know he's got your back no matter what the situation."

Luettgerodt is currently third on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game, and a surprising first in rebounding with 4.6 per game. He is also second on the team in free-throw percentage at .817, and third in assists with 2.4 per game.

"If I'm having a rough shooting night, I try to get the ball to other guys and try to help in other ways," he said. "I know I'm not getting rebounds because of my height or my athleticism. I try to make up for it with hustle and effort and timing."

Bobby Nash added: "For lack of a better term, he's a silent assassin. He doesn't say much on the court, but he gets it done."

Thump, thump, thump ...

Even before he packed on muscle last summer, Luettgerodt has always played an aggressive style of basketball.

One-one-one games against his older brother, Justin, taught him that.

Justin Luettgerodt was a 6-4, 240-pound starting linebacker at Brigham Young in 2005. He is three years older than Riley, and always had a size advantage.

"My brother was my idol growing up," Riley said. "I always wanted to beat him, even though he was so much bigger and stronger. I'd do what ever I could. The first time I beat him was my senior year of high school."

Prior to that, Justin had his version of tough love.

"He'd shove me around; I'd end up on the ground and he'd say 'No foul, keep going,' " Riley said. "It showed me that I had to play tougher against bigger guys. I still keep that in mind."

Their mother said: "Justin was stronger, but Riley was really fast. It became a healthy competition. They still like to play against each other."

Riley insists that he is the better basketball player now, but Justin is apparently still the stronger brother.

"When we played in the driveway last summer, I was taking him," Riley said. "But I ended up in the bushes a couple of times because of that."

Thump, thump, thump ...

Luettgerodt's dreams have not been shattered in Hawai'i. Just adjusted.

"The basketball part didn't go as planned, but this has been a great experience," he said.

He recalled being recognized by two young fans at the beach one day and realized he didn't have to be a scoring champion here.

"They were going, 'Riley, it's Riley!' I thought for sure it was somebody else, but they were talking about me," he said. "The people here are just so friendly and supportive. I have no regrets about coming here."

He still has a full year of classes remaining if he wants to graduate from UH. He may even pass up the game he loves most to attain his degree in interdisciplinary studies.

"I'd love to play pro ball somewhere," he said. "But I can also get my degree and I don't want to waste all these years of college that I put in already."

Thump, thump, thump ...

The sound of the bouncing basketball will forever echo in the Luettgerodt home.

"It was well worth it," Kirsten said. "He got a scholarship to play basketball in Hawai'i, of all places. How can you beat that?"

The name, by the way, is pronounced LOOT-guh-roat. But he doesn't want to be known for that.

"I've been asked a million times about my name," he said. "But I'd rather be known as a part of this team. And if we do something special in these last few games, that's what people are going to remember the most."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.