Senior guard Sheriff Drammeh has rejoined the University of Hawaii basketball team after being suspended for more than a week for violating team rules.

“He’s back in there,” head coach Eran Ganot said of Drammeh, who participated in Thursday’s practice in the newly renovated Gym II. “It’s good to see him back here.”

Drammeh started six games before incurring the suspension. He did not play in the past Sunday’s game against Mississippi Valley State. Drammeh will be available to play in Saturday’s opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in the Stan Sheriff Center.

“We don’t have these often,” Ganot said of rules violations. “There’s a reason we don’t because we address them early. That’s what we’ve done here. We’re moving forward.

“He understands that it’s a privilege to be part of the team. He’s done a lot of big things for the program over the years. We try to address (situations) before they become bigger. I’m sure he’s appreciative to be out there, as well.”

Drammeh is considered one of the Rainbow Warriors’ best perimeter defenders. He often is assigned to cover an opposing team’s most prolific wing or guard. As one of three seniors, Drammeh has been counted on to provide leadership.

“The culture is established when the older guys show the younger guys the way,” Ganot said.

Drammeh’s return coincided with the ’Bows’ first practice since the completion of Gym II’s renovation. The second-floor practice facility features a new court, eight baskets, a working scoreboard, cameras that can be operated remotely, and air conditioning.

Post player Zigmars Raimo recalled how the doors previously were kept open to allow a cooling breeze.

Ganot marveled at the finished product. Ganot was told of the renovation plans when he was hired as head coach in 2015.

“Then it became a rendering,” Ganot said. “People would come into my office so they see the design of what it could be.”

Construction began this past June.

“The last five months, I’ve probably come by four or five times a day and probably bothered them,” Ganot said. “I can’t help myself because I know how much it means to our program.”

Ganot befriended the workers, noting, “They really take a lot of pride in the product, and it shows.”

There was a delay because of flooding to the Nagatani Academic Center, which is located a floor below.

“At first, they said it would be done in September, then done in November,” forward Jack Purchase said. “I thought maybe we wouldn’t get to practice in it.”

But when he walked into the gym on Thursday, Purchase said, “we couldn’t believe it. It was great.”

“Incredible and surreal,” Ganot said. “I’m thankful for the (Legislature) for doing something for our student-athletes. They’re game changers for our programs.”