Red Raider Rachel Tailele Makes It To Team Aloha Play
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usLaie’s Rachel Tailele proved during the prep basketball season last winter that she was one of the top underclassmen in the state when she led Kahuku to an OIA title.
She had to prove herself all over again recently when she was among 22 players invited to try out for Team Aloha, an all-star squad that will travel to Arizona April 15 for the Nike Elite Tournament.
“I didn’t think I’d make it,” admitted Tailele, who did indeed earn one of 13 roster spots.“There were a lot of good girls there, and I was shocked when I did make it.”
With two years of eligibility, Tailele would seem on track for the kind of success that members of her talented family have experienced on the hardwood. Older sister Carla recently wrapped up a fine career at Washburn University in Kansas, while cousin Latoya Wily was named the Player of the Year in Division II after putting the wraps on a stellar career at BYUH. While playing for Kahuku and then-coach Wendy Anae, Latoya Wily, sister Artevia Wily and Carla Tailele were key components of Red Raider teams that won a pair of OIA titles in 2004 and 2005. Another cousin, Danisha Wilson, was a starting point guard for Chico Furtado at Kalaheo.
Rachel Tailele’s main influence, however, was Carla, who has been known to give her little sister advice as needed.“She always tells me to keep working on my shots, listen to my coaches, and don’t give up,” Tailele said. “Basketball is a family sport, and I’ve been interested in it my whole life. I liked it right away. Seeing my sister play made me want to be just like her - a point guard.”
Teammate Nile Te’o, who is headed to UNLV on a volleyball scholarship in the fall, sees the similarities between the Tailele sisters. “She plays just like her sister,” said Te’o. “She’s really quick with the ball. She reads the court well, and she always knows where everyone is. She can create a lot.”
Added Carla Tailele: “I always thought she was going to be athletic. A lot of the younger ones (in the family) stayed around us when we used to play.
“I had a vision of her doing this, but it still tripped me out when I saw her play in the OIA (playoffs),” she added. “It was like looking at myself. The only thing she’s missing right now is the shot. Her driving and passing are already there.”
For her part, Tailele likes the uptempo style that Kahuku employed under coach David Te’o this year. “Dribbling and passing and getting my teammates open is what I like,” she said. “I don’t care as much about shooting.”
Tailele also has played soccer and rugby in the past, but basketball has emerged as her best sport and has “kind of taken over,” she said.
“Sports come easy to me, but I do have a love for basketball,” she added.
Team Aloha, coached by former Moanalua coach Dana Takahara-Dias, was selected by Mayor Mufi Hannemann and a hand-picked panel of coaches. After they had made their cuts, the team was introduced a few weeks back at Blaisdell Arena.
The team will practice again April 15, the day it leaves for the Mainland, and then will have a few workouts prior to the beginning of the tournament on April 17.
In recent days, players have been working out on their own in preparation. For Tailele, that has meant going to the beach every day to run and remain in shape.“I’ve also been shooting on my own,” she said.
With teams from all over the nation, the Nike Elite Tournament has become a boon to recruiting for college coaches in recent years in addition to helping those prospects who are under the radar to get noticed.
“There will be 200 scouts there, so I’m pretty excited,” Tailele said.
“That should help me to play even harder and even smarter.”
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