Luisa Tava Continues Her Journey at SLCC

3 minute read

By Andrea Aruino

Luisa Tava is a freshman guard at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), where she is continuing her basketball career while also pursuing a degree in psychology. Originally from California, Tava began playing basketball in sixth grade before attending Pinewood High School and transferring to Menlo-Atherton High School for her sophomore year. She played varsity all three years at Menlo-Atherton, establishing herself as a consistent three-point shooter who was known for attacking the basket. These experiences were fundamental in her decision to take the junior college (JUCO) route. 

The path to college basketball did not unfold exactly as Tava had hoped. Despite her success at Menlo-Atherton, she felt she had not received the recruiting exposure she wanted. Rather than wait for opportunities to come to her, Tava began reaching out to junior college coaches herself, sending emails and highlight clips to introduce herself as a player. With the support of her AAU coach, Buck Matthews, who helped connect her with coaches, she eventually found an opportunity at SLCC.

After visiting the school in the spring, Tava got to scrimmage with the team and experience the campus before making her decision. By the time she arrived in Utah on August 18, she was stepping into a program undergoing significant change. With a new coaching staff and many new players, the team had to begin building its identity together.

That fresh start has also meant learning how to communicate with a new coaching staff and adapt to a different team environment. She appreciates that her head coach encourages honest conversations and is willing to listen to players’ perspectives. As the program continues to develop, that openness has helped Tava understand what is expected of her and where she can continue to improve.

Moving from California to Utah brought challenges beyond joining a new team. Tava quickly noticed the difference in pace between the two regions, with Utah basketball demanding a faster style of play. The higher elevation added another adjustment, making conditioning especially difficult during her first few weeks.

“One of the biggest challenges for me coming to Utah was adjusting to the elevation because it’s a lot higher than it is in California. Doing all the conditioning we do in practice and preseason, and just going as hard as I can during practice, has really helped me adjust to the fast pace everyone plays here,” Tava said.

As a freshman she is eager to lean into her strengths as a shooter while looking for ways to become a more complete player. She hopes to become more consistent on the boards, stronger in the paint and more impactful defensively. 

The team has already had opportunities to test its progress against new competition. At tournaments in Arizona and Texas, SLCC finished 2-1 at each event, giving the players an early look at what they can accomplish together and what still needs work. With more tournaments ahead, Tava is continuing to learn how her role fits into the team's larger goals.

For her, junior college is about more than finding a path to a four-year program. It is also a chance to better understand herself, both as a basketball player and as a person. The demands of the JUCO level have pushed her to navigate new challenges while figuring out what she wants from the game moving forward.

“Juco basketball really helps someone find out who they are. There are so many obstacles that we go through, and you really get to see who you are as a player through Juco basketball,” Tava said.

Receiving a full scholarship has also given Tava the opportunity to continue her education while pursuing basketball, something that remains especially important to her. As she begins studying psychology and explores what she may want to do in the future, she is giving herself room to grow without needing to have every step mapped out.

With a new team, a new environment and two years of college basketball ahead of her, Tava is embracing the opportunity to learn as she goes. Whether she is developing her game on the court or discovering her interests in the classroom, she is using this chapter at SLCC to build a clearer picture of the person and player she hopes to become.