2023 Spotlight: Taki Uluilakepa, Puyallup High School

<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #f75617;"><strong>By the Numbers</strong></span></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taki-uluilakepa/">[player_tooltip player_id="923130" first="Taki" last="Uluilakepa"]</a> | 5’11" G | Puyallup, South Puget Sound League </p> <p>11 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.8 spg</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top Performances</span></p> <p>January 11th at Bellarmine Prep - 18 points, 5 three-pointers</p> <p>January 28th at Rogers High School - 16 points</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #f75617;"><strong>Beyond the Numbers</strong></span></p> <p>When I saw <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taki-uluilakepa/">[player_tooltip player_id="923130" first="Taki" last="Uluilakepa"]</a> play earlier this year at the T-Town Throwdown, he stood out because of his hustle. He looked like a kid that would earn his playing time by chasing down loose balls, fighting for rebounds, and leaving it all on the court. As the season has progressed, however, it has become clear that Taki has some serious skill and a bright future ahead if this season is any indicator of things to come. I’ve questioned whether or not the Puyallup Vikings have a legitimate third option behind juniors <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cobi-campbell/">[player_tooltip player_id="843726" first="Cobi" last="Campbell"]</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="940485" first="Luke" last="Holcomb"], and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taki-uluilakepa/">[player_tooltip player_id="923130" first="Taki" last="Uluilakepa"]</a> has repeatedly answered the call for a team that is looking to make a deep postseason run. He has proved himself to be one of the top freshmen in the state.</p> <p>Despite being only a freshman, Taki has shown the confidence to take and make big shots as well as the poise to handle himself when games get competitive. Taki says of his game, "Because I’ve been playing basketball since a young age, I feel I have a good sense of awareness about the game. I try and model my game after Kyrie Irving. I love the way he maintains himself on the court and how controlled he is in a close game." Taki’s stats support his own words. He had 5 threes in a blowout win over Bellarmine Prep, but his second-best game of the year was against rival Rogers High School where he scored 16 points in a much more competitive contest. He’s also been able to be efficient this season, making 30 of his 75 three-point attempts for a 40% average.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taki-uluilakepa/">[player_tooltip player_id="923130" first="Taki" last="Uluilakepa"]</a> is also goal-oriented. Personally he wants to improve his defense and his ability to score at will, and he hopes to earn a full-ride scholarship to play college ball. He also has big hopes for his team this season. "A few of my team goals are to be league champs since our team hasn’t won a league title since ’02. Another team goal of mine is to make it to the Tacoma Dome [state championship tournament] and take it all home!"</p> <p>Perhaps the most impressive thing about this young athlete is his willingness to be coached. It seems that coachability is becoming more and more scarce, but Taki says, "I love it when a coach corrects me for something that I need to improve on." Coach Scott Campbell agrees that <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taki-uluilakepa/">[player_tooltip player_id="923130" first="Taki" last="Uluilakepa"]</a> is bringing the right mentality to practice as well as games. "He is very aware and a quick learner. He wants to improve and get better each day. He is willing to do whatever will help the team. I really enjoy coaching him." Taki has an enviable combination of talent and work ethic that are sure to power him to his fullest potential, and with the senior leadership that Puyallup is expecting next season, you can expect to see continuing success for this young man.  </p>