Malia Ruud: Seeing expanding world through a basketball hoop

Chiawana junior not only continues to be one of top players in Washington, she has showcased her talent at an international level as well

PASCO, Wash. - With a basketball in hand, the world seems to be at the feet of Chiawana High School junior Malia Ruud.

The talented post player is a college-ready talent - a walking double-double - as the reigning co-most valuable player of the Mid-Columbia Conference, averaging 18.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Colleges have noticed - the 6-foot-3 forward has 10 NCAA Division I scholarship offers so far.

Photo courtesy of Ana Tuiaea-Ruud

"Any college that gets her is going to be extremely blessed," said Gary Jonas, first-year Chiawana girls basketball coach. "Her talent speaks for itself in our program, but she will also add tremendous value making sure the culture of the team is great. No one outworks her, and she is very unselfish and her teammates biggest cheerleader."

She's already played high-level international competition - with the U-18 Samoan National Team.

And in mid-December, Ruud scored her 1,000th career point as a Riverhawk - one of her most-cherished accolades.

"The 1,000th point is pretty high on my personal list of accolades," Ruud said. "But team comes first for me. It feels good to see where all the work I've put in went, but also going into the game I wasn't thinking about it."

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Photo by Andy Buhler

FROM POST TO PERIMETER - RUUD DOMINATES

Besides her size and strength, her coordination, quickness, aggression, and velvety touch when it comes to scoring is what makes so many colleges come knocking.

It's tough to find a player that can post up with anyone, move up and down the court with ease - or pop out to the perimeter as a shooter.

It might be difficult to find a player to match those qualities, but it's even harder to find a player that can defend them, making a match-up nightmare for opposing coaches in the MCC.

"Not only is Malia's height and strength difficult to match up against," said Richland girls coach and Portland Pilot hall of fame player, Amy Westerfield. "Her quickness and skill puts her at a different level. She moves so efficiently and can play a lot of minutes, if necessary."

Added longtime Kamiakin girls coach Lane Schumacher: "She is a double-double machine, and a nightmare to prepare for."

While Ruud can qualify for a traditional post player, she isn't a one-trick pony. Her depth as a player has been increasing with her work on the finesse of basketball.

"Not only is she nearly unstoppable underneath the basket or around the rim, she has evolved her game to include being able to step out and shoot the three," Jonas said. "She is actually one of our better shooters from downtown in practice on a daily basis."

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Photo courtesy of Ana Tuiaea-Ruud

BASKETBALL RUNS IN FAMILY

It seems Ruud was destined to be a basketball player.

Both parents have size and athletic pedigree: Her father, Jason, played football at Kamiakin and majored in exercise science at Central Washington University. Her mother, Ana (Tuiaea), was part of the women's basketball team at the University of Washington that played in two NCAA Division I tournaments (1997, 1998) before joining the Samoan Women’s National Basketball Team in 1999 for the Olympic Trials in San Diego.

In fact, it hasn't been uncommon for the teenage to pop in a VHS into the VCR to watch some of her mom's highlight tapes.

"I've seen a lot of VCR tapes of her," Ruud said, laughing. "She was always so aggressive. She was more of a true post but seeing her run around the court for every ball is pretty cool."

She admits that she gets her aggressiveness on the court from her mom. While Ana didn't start lacing up and playing basketball until middle school, Ruud started playing basketball in kindergarten - and transitioned into AAU competition in third grade.

"I think I liked it in kindergarten," said Ruud of when she knew she liked basketball. Besides inheriting her mom's height and intangibles on the court, Ana is still a big part of her game. From shooting practice at 5:30 a.m. to pointers after the game, it's a bond the mother-daughter share.

"She really knows basketball," Ruud said. "She's the one I always shoot (with) while getting prepared for the season or some really big games. She really pushes me to be the best I can be, which I'm really appreciative for."

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Photo courtesy of Ana Tuiaea-Ruud

SAMOAN NATIONAL TEAM

Family is important to Ruud, and her heritage created an opportunity for the Pasco native to travel overseas for basketball. Her maternal grandfather, Eti Tuiaea was born in Western Samoa on the Polynesian island.

While at a tournament in Pennsylvania for AAU, she learned of an opportunity to play for the Samoan National Team, requiring at least one family member within two generations to be a native. After rushing a passport, she was suiting up for the U-18 Samoan National Team.

Appearing in two tournaments for Team Samoa, her performance at the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship earned Ruud an All-Star Five Selection. She averaged a double double with 19.8 points and 11.6 rebounds. In her first tournament, she also averaged a double double and helped Samoa to a fourth place finish at the 2022 U18 Asian Championship.

Besides the honor on her resume, Ruud said experiencing the culture in her family's heritage was a surreal experience. When they weren't studying film, they were learning about culture and languages while overseas. Before leaving for Papua New Guinea, Ruud said that they wore a puletasi dress, and performed a traditional dance for their jersey presentation

"I saw something I otherwise wouldn't have experienced," Ruud said. "Having that cultural connection to Samoa with (my grandfather) that he grew up with was pretty special."

Last week, Ruud played her first basketball game without Tuiaea cheering for her. Her grandfather passed away, but his support and her connection to his Samoan culture is something she carries on.

"He was my biggest fan and he inspired me to be my best," Ruud said. "I know he will be with me every game and I want to continue to make him proud."

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Graphic illustration by Jamie Council

THE NEXT STEP

With colleges now reaching out, Ruud said isn't planning on taking a hard look at her options until the spring - all in an effort to focus on her junior year.

It also gives her more time to visit schools during her busy high school schedule, such as the Eastern Washington vs. Boise State game in Cheney in early December.

"I like building connections with coaching staff so that's a big piece of it," said Ruud on her final decision.

The forward wants to find a system that works for her as well as a place she can thrive in the classroom. She plans on majoring in sportscasting or journalism. No matter where basketball takes her, she wants to pick the environment that allows her to thrive both on and off the court. Basketball has been much more than just a game for Ruud.

"My biggest motivator is trying to be the best I can be," Ruud said. "Sometimes I'll think about all the people I know through the sport of basketball and it's just mind blowing."

Whether it's learning about her family heritage and a new culture, traveling the world, getting a good education, or just enjoying a good team dinner with her Riverhawks family, Ruud is experiencing life one court at a time.

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