After Giving Back With Jags, Oregon State Guard Tiara Bolden Stays Hungry For More
The former Eastern Arizona and LaSalle transfer shared her thoughts on the TBL, making it out of Eugene, and her very bright future in Corvallis.
Philomath, Oregon – Tiara Bolden could have done anything with her time on Sunday afternoon.
The Oregon State Beavers Senior guard could have traveled back home to Eugene, hit the books in Corvallis to brace for another long week of classes, or even getting some extra work in herself on the court at Gill Coliseum.
Instead, Tiara happily teamed-up with The Basketball League’s Emerald City Jaguars at Philomath High School to give back to the local community by working with a dozen eager young hoopers to improve their skills. Boys and girls. Short and tall. All together on the floor looking to get better. Along with walking players through a series of drills and cheering them on from the sidelines during scrimmages, Tiara also shared valuable words of understanding and support to what the Jags and their pro hopefuls are going through.
She’s been there. Done that.
“Coming out of Eugene, it’s harder to get noticed if you are trying to play at the next level or overseas,” said Bolten, who arrived at OSU after playing at Eastern Arizona and LaSalle.
“I know guys who didn’t have opportunities and they kept at it, and were able to finally play professionally. That says a lot because guys can get overlooked. That’s why things like this with the Jags are so nice to see. I like the idea of the Jags coming to play up this way. I think it’s a bigger community in Corvallis and in the Willamette Valley.”
A graduate of Churchill High School in Eugene where she was all-conference, Tiara will close out her college career at Oregon State. But much like the aspiring pros competing in the Jags two-day tryout at Philomath High School, her journey through the game almost didn’t happen.
“For me, I was a wildcard. I wasn’t supposed to make it. I didn’t have the resources growing up in Eugene, so I know exactly what it means to have a team like the Jags come in and provide for kids and guys trying to make it. That’s like me. My story is an underdog story. Not a lot of people make it out of Eugene.”
Just as the 5’11 guard is known for her versatility and defensive toughness on the court, it is Tiara’s ability to dig deeper when challenges arise that’s kept her going. How did she manage to cope while transfering from Eastern Arizona and LaSalle, to only land at the same school where she fell in love with the game at Oregon State?
“I got through my tough times being away at college for the first time because of my family. My family supported me. That’s how I got to where I am today. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I realized I can play this game one day in college. And then when Covid hit, that’s really when I grew as a player. I was basically living in the gym.”
Living in the gym.
That sounds beyond familiar, particularly on Sunday morning when the Jags’ coaching staff evaluated potential players to bring back for the team’s second tryout scheduled for Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 at McArthur Court in Eugene. There’s a lot of prep and planning that needs to take place before then, both for the Jags and the players weighing their pro options.
Thankfully, there’s one standout guard that doesn’t need to ponder the future.
“I am not thinking about life beyond college at all. I am focused on what we are doing as a team this coming season. I have a job to do, that’s how I look at it,” Tiara said with a slight smile.
So, what’s next then?
“Wait and see what I can do. That is my mindset right now. I’m at peace here and am grateful, but I am also hungry for more.”
Wendell Maxey is the author of Around The Basketball League and has written about professional basketball and sports for 20 years. He’s been featured on NBA.com, ESPN.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, and SLAM Magazine among other publications and media outlets. You can connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree.