SEATTLE – The annual Tulalip youth basketball tournament returned to the Seattle University campus last month with tribal youth enjoying a basketball tournament, meet-and-greet with Redhawk student athletes, a campus tour and more.
The event, hosted by Seattle U Athletics and the Indigenous Peoples Institute (IPI) on two consecutive Saturdays in February, provides for a unique experience for tribal youth in the Pacific Northwest. This year, boys from Tulalip and girls from Tulalip and Lummi were present.
"This group of 7th and 8th graders are right at the age where they've begun thinking about their futures and whether or not they can see themselves as a student athlete," said Shane Pahukoa, Athletic Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Snohomish County. "I think our day at Seattle University really solidified it for some of them if not all of them."
Each day began with the teams warming up in the official practice court of the Redhawks' men's and women's basketball teams. The youth then enjoyed great tournament play and skills challenges. Both the boys and girls enjoyed a brief visit and Q&A with our men's and women's basketball teams and coaches.
A catered lunch was provided on campus at Championship Field, home of the Redhawk men's and women's soccer teams. Both the boys and girls from enjoyed a campus tour with their families featuring a special look at the Indigenous People's Institute's (IPI) facilities for Seattle U students.
"The entire day on campus I couldn't help but notice the amount of attention the girls paid to all student athletes that spoke to them and the attentiveness they showed throughout our guided tour of the campus," said Pahukoa. "I felt the children were visualizing themselves walking through the campus, meeting friends for lunch before heading down to basketball practice."
The events concluded with a Seattle U basketball game, and an opportunity to play a scrimmage at halftime of the Redhawks' women's game. The Tulalip girls' team that won the Feb. 25 tournament also went on to win the 7th and 8th grade girls Snohomish County Boys & Girls Club Tournament.
"Our visit to Seattle University was perhaps a glimpse into their future and the possibilities that awaits them," Pahukoa said. "With people like Coach Fryberg and Coach Joseph in their lives, giving them direction and discipline, I might be taking a new crop down there in a few years to watch them play. Getting the opportunity to play in Redhawk Center at halftime was just icing on the cake for them!"
Stay connected with Seattle U athletics and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.