A point guard’s dream

Ever since Jazel Talauta could remember, she has always had a basketball in her hand.

Talauta is an asset to the Skyline’s women’s basketball team because she provides leadership on the court.

“As a point guard, she controls the tempo of the game,” Head Coach Christopher Watters said. “She has done a great job of helping the team play our own game and play to our strengths. Jazel definitely leaves her imprint on every game we play.”

At the age of five, it was her uncles who had encouraged her to play ball by signing her up at a local recreation center. Soon after, she received encouragement from her family and peers, and her love for the sport, to continue on to play at Terra Nova High school in Pacifica. As a freshman, she started on her high school’s varsity team and was there until she graduated. As Skyline’s point guard for the women’s basketball team, Taluata has come far as a basketball player and a student.

This is her second year at Skyline, and on the Skyline women’s basketball team. One way she’s practiced is by going to tournaments, which mean a lot to Skyline’s young point guard. During the summers of her high school years, she had participated in traveling tournaments, one of which was called Club Basketball.

“It got us out there, exposure wise,” Talauta recalled. “A lot of colleges looked at us. It was a just a higher level of basketball, I feel. Everyone just competed because they loved the game and winning. It was never a first place second place, everyone was out there playing.”

Her uncles have had a large impact when it comes to basketball; however, it is her father who is her role model.

“He does a lot for me,” Talauta said. “He knows the games, he always gives me pointers and is always helping me out on what I should work on, or what I shouldn’t do, and he schooled me to the game.”

While talking about her family, her eyes light up and she smiles when asked to recall how she got started.

Talauta feels that she has improved as a player, as has her team. Everyone holds their point guard in high regard, including her head coach.

“Obviously, her talent and her ability on the court usually is what stands out first,” Watters said. “When you go out and watch the game, you can see the players who are a bit ahead of everybody else, their athleticism or their basketball skills.”

Watters also felt that Talauta has improved her game and her assists, and Talauta agrees.

“Team work is what makes the plays better. The coaches prepare us thoroughly to have successful plays in order to win,” Talauta said.

The team prepares with rigorous training, and before beginning a game, Talauta doesn’t feel nervous. There is a sense of anticipation, but she plays her iPod and listens to her music. A ritual they do after Watters gives them a pre-game talk is a group prayer led by teammate Autumn Ragler.

Besides playing basketball for the love of it, Talauta is planning to continue basketball at a four-year university of her choosing. She hopes to get a scholarship when she transfers in order to help her family out.

“I come from a big family, you know, it would help a lot,” Talauta said.

Overall, she dreams of accomplishing her major (business) through her favorite sport.