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Von Oelhoffen-led Beavers ready for return to Valley Isle for Maui Classic

Mulkey’s LSU, Nevada, Montana State join Oregon State for December tourney

By Robert Collias 5 min read

The Maui Classic women's college basketball tournament has become a stalwart on the Valley Isle sports calendar, and the event is raising the level once again in 2022.

Host Oregon State University is coming off a 17-14 season, but the Beavers will come to town with the third-ranked recruiting class in the nation and a revamped roster for games against Nevada on Dec. 17 and LSU on Dec. 18.

Montana State will also be part of the festivities that will take place at the South Maui Community Park Gym in Kihei -- Vertical Sports Maui, the tournament's local organizer, has made the decision that admission will be free this year in an effort to allow as many folks to see the NCAA Division I games as possible.

"Really excited, four strong programs, it's great to bring talent and role models and exciting basketball to Maui," OSU head coach Scott Rueck said via phone on Monday. "I feel like we've done that again this year and it will be very competitive, exciting games."

Rueck said his team has a lot to accomplish in two games here.

"We have some new faces this year for our roster, so there's some unknowns with this group," Rueck said. "And it's going to be fun to watch it come together. We're a talented group that is going to grow together quickly and they've already proven that they will do that."

The Beavers are led by Talia von Oelhoffen, a sophomore guard and daughter of Molokai legend Kimo von Oelhoffen, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion.

"I would say when I think of Talia, I would just say: 'Next level,' " Rueck said. "She has just leveled up in every category. Last year was her true freshman year and she played very well, earned all-Pac-12 honors and is just such a dynamic player. While within that she has really grown as a leader and stepped into a leadership role for this team."

The Beavers' five freshmen, including two McDonald's All-Americans, have already grown close to Von Oelhoffen, who has bloomed into one of the team's unquestioned leaders.

"There are seven new players on this roster, two of which are grad transfers, but five true freshmen -- she has taken them under her wing," Rueck said. "She has initiated player-led workouts, she has been the voice on our team retreat when she just spoke leadership and confidence into the group. She does that every day at practice, so she is evolving into not just a dynamic player, but evolving into a dynamic leader as well.

"So, it's really amazing and fun to watch."

LSU will arrive with coach Kim Mulkey, who won three NCAA titles at Baylor and was last season's AP Coach of the Year, and freshman guard Flau'jae Johnson, an accomplished rap star who has a record deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. Johnson announced her commitment to LSU with the release of a new song "All Falls Down."

Johnson was also the No. 26 recruit in the nation in the class of 2022, according to ESPN.

LSU was the only team in the Maui Classic field to appear in The Associated Press' Top 25 preseason poll released Tuesday, with the Tigers checking in at No. 16.

"Certainly LSU has such a strong program with a great coach in Kim Mulkey," Rueck said. "I know that they are poised to have a great season, so we're really excited about the possibilities for both of our seasons, I'm sure."

Rueck likes what he will bringing to South Maui for the festivities.

"It's a team that has a little bit of everything," Rueck said of his squad. "We've got size on the inside, we've got great guard play. Talia is the headliner with that group, but we've got a lot of talent."

The Beavers also have graduate transfer Bendu Yeaney, who previously played for Indiana and Arizona, where she was a starter in the 2021 NCAA championship game.

"We've got a really unique combination that to me is exciting and I believe we can be a very good team this year," Rueck said.

In addition to Oregon State's games, Montana State will play LSU on Dec. 17 and then Nevada on Dec. 18 in the Classic.

The teams will all continue the event's tradition of reading to public school children during their time on Maui.

Rueck said it means as much to his players as it does to the kids.

"The greatest joy in life is to give," Rueck said. "And to live with an outward focus is a big part of our program, to help our students understand their impact while they are here at Oregon State is a big part of our program, and this is as fun, unique, special of an experience as we can have as we're helping them understand that.

"And so to get to see them light up as they invest in anyone, but especially these kids, is really special and it transforms them."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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