By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
The unmistakable sound of bouncing basketballs filled the Tulalip Youth Center gymnasium on a recent Saturday. For most teenagers, weekends are sacred. They sleep in, hang out with friends, or bury themselves in their phones. Yet, on this particular August Saturday, two dozen teenagers chose to be inside a gym, dripping sweat, pushing through drills, and chasing improvement. That alone spoke volumes about their love of the game, and about the icon who drew them there: RaeQuan Battle.
For Tulalip, his name is legend. From his days lighting up local gyms as a Marysville Pilchuck phenom, to competing under the NCAA Division 1 bright lights of U.W., Montana State and West Virginia, to most recently grinding with the NBA G-League’s Charlotte Swarm, RaeQuan has carried his community’s pride with him every step of the way.
On this day, though, he wasn’t the one chasing his dreams. He was back home, giving back, hosting a basketball camp to help the next generation of Tulalip hoopers chase theirs.
“It means a lot to come back and hold this camp here at our Youth Center,” RaeQuan said between drills. “This is where I come from. When I was their age, I spent every minute that I could in a gym shooting, dribbling, and just trying to get better. I looked up to the older players who shared stories of getting buckets and taking down tournaments all across Indian Country. Now, it’s my turn to be that person for our kids.”
Rez ball, as it’s affectionately known, is a cultural connector that runs through Tulalip like lifeblood. Fast-paced, fearless, and fueled by heart, rez ball games pack tribal gyms every winter. Generations of kids have grown up with a ball in their hands, dreaming of hitting the same big shots they once watched their cousins, uncles, or aunties drain in crowded community tournaments.
“Basketball is part of our identity here,” said lifelong hooper and current Youth Services manager Sabrina Moses as she watched the camp get going from the sideline. “It’s the sport that brings everyone together more than any other. Kids really do grow up in these gyms.”
RaeQuan himself came out of this tradition. His love for the game was forged on these same hardwood floors, where long nights of pick-up ball stretched late and kids learned toughness by trying to hang with older players. His success, from state tournament runs and D-1 highlight reels to receiving a professional contract, is proof to today’s youth that rez ball can open doors well beyond the Reservation.
That’s why his camp was so important. It was a cultural moment. A homegrown star coming back, reminding the next wave that the dreams they whisper to themselves while shooting jumpers at the Youth Center, Boys & Girls Club or local high school gyms aren’t too big.
For nearly two-and-a-half hours, RaeQuan led the group through a series of drills designed not just to build skill, but to instill discipline and basketball IQ. With a coach’s tone and professional player’s perspective, he demanded focus. The kids gave it. And when they didn’t? Push-ups. Lots and lots of push-ups.
From the very start, the group stretched together, learning the importance of warming up properly to protect their bodies from injury. Then came the fundamentals: crisp chest passes, controlled dribbles with both hands, and the ever-important ability to keep one’s head up while handling the ball.
“Don’t just go through the motions,” RaeQuan urged. “Every rep matters. Every rep is building you into the player you want to be.”
The gym stayed quiet whenever he spoke. You could see it in the kids’ eyes as they regarded him with the utmost respect, admiration, and belief. They knew RaeQuan had walked the path they now dream of walking. His words carried weight.
“He’s been a mentor to me for years now,” shared Heritage Hawks power forward Ziggy Myles-Gilford during a water break. “He’ll watch me at practice or at a game and grab me afterwards to give me tips or moves to work on. Everything means a little more coming from him because I grew up watching him play. I know everything about his story and going through the struggle to make it out the other side bigger and better. He showed us what’s possible.”
Next came movement drills. A classic 3-man weave had players sprinting down the court, working together to pass, cut, and finish at the rim. RaeQuan clapped loudly at clean executions, but also wasn’t afraid to stop a group mid-play to correct a sloppy pass, lazy cut, or worse thing possible – a missed layup.
“It’s about building good habits,” he said. “The habits you build in practice show up in games. Trust me on that. In a professional practice, the ball never hits the floor in a drill like this, even on a miss. The effort is always there to rebound in case your teammate misses.”
Among the two dozen camp participants doing their best to run at full speed and give maximum effort, while keeping their focus on the rim and backboard at all times to not miss a layup, were three female hoop heads. Notably, it was the boys over and over again who missed their layups and caused the group to do pushup after pushup. Meanwhile, the girls sprinted with the best of them and had no difficulty finishing their layups with grace.
For 15-year-old Tashina Cortez, finishing her layups is nothing new. It’s something she’s been fine tuning for years now, and a big part of why she earned All-League 1st team honors as a freshman last year. “To be honest, I haven’t been as active as I’d like to be this summer because I’m doing summer youth with the Natural Resources department,” revealed Tashina while catching her breath following the weave drill. “So when my mom shared the flyer with me about this camp, I figured it would be a good jumpstart to my training.
“I’m having fun, but I wish the boys would pass more,” added the equal opportunity bucket getter. “It definitely seems like it’s the girls who are the most accurate and shooting with the highest percentage, even though we don’t get as much opportunity. That okay though, it’s more fuel for the fire.”
That fire came in handy in another drill. One of the most overlooked, but essential, skills in basketball is boxing out. RaeQuan and his assistant coaches broke down proper positioning, footwork, and the toughness needed to secure a rebound. He demonstrated himself, showing how even a taller, more athletic player could be neutralized by good fundamentals.
“Boxing out is all about heart. Rebounding is effort,” he told them. “This is something you can control every single time the ball goes up.”
Finally, it was time to put the lessons to the test. The campers broke into teams for a 3-on-3 single elimination tournament. The energy in the gym rose with each possession, as buckets were cheered, defensive stops celebrated, and bragging rights hung in the balance.
The championship came down to a squad led by Tulalip Heritage’s big man Ziggy against a team captained by his high school teammate and lead guard, J.J. Gray. In a spirited battle, Ziggy’s team edged out the win. Ziggy’s presence in the paint proving decisive.
Sweaty, smiling, and tired from the grind, the kids gathered around RaeQuan one last time. He reminded them that the game is about more than just points and highlights, it’s about discipline, teamwork, and believing in yourself even when the odds are stacked against you.
“When you’re from Tulalip, people don’t always expect you to succeed,” RaeQuan told them. “But you can. You’ve got to work, you’ve got to sacrifice, and you’ve got to love the game enough to push through the hard days. If you do that, anything’s possible.”
Camp concluded. The two dozen young hoop heads took their time dispersing. Some lingered to put a few extra shots up, while others patiently waited for a photo opportunity with their hoop hero. RaeQuan gave them photos and tips from the professional world, but, most importantly, he gave them a vision of what’s possible.