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From Point Hope to Grays Harbor
December 3rd 6:53 pm | Van Williams
Point Hope's Guy Tuzroyluk had the perfect debut for the Grays Harbor College Chokers in last week's NWAAC men's basketball opener.
He didn't miss a shot.
The 21-year-old guard sank all 5 field goals en route to scoring 12 points against Peninsula College. His team lost 102-57, however, Tuzroyluk played well in reaching double figures and playing a team-high 25 minutes.
A few nights later, he was outshined by his girlfriend Ruth Nash.
She pumped in 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to lead the Grays Harbor women's team to a 65-45 victory over Northwestern Indian College.
High school sweethearts, Nash and Tuzroyluk have been playing basketball since they were little dribblers in Tikigaq. Now in college, they are running the give-and-go with 5-year-old daughter Jennifer in Aberdeen, Wash.
Until Christmas, though, young Jennifer is staying with her grandparents from both families in Point Hope while the couple adjusts to the start of the college basketball season, a luxury Nash appreciates every single day.
"I'm very fortunate for that support," said Nash, 22. "She's old enough now to understand that I'm here for school and that's why I can't be around her all the time...but it's tough."
Having Tuzroyluk at her side is essential. They are basically connected at the hip, sharing an apartment and a cell phone.
"It helps a lot," she said.
They are honest with each other on and off the court, even when it means analyzing each other's game.
"He's like my biggest critic," she said with a laugh. "He tells me stuff I don't want to hear. I tell him stuff he doesn't want to hear."
Nash, a former all-state player at Point Hope, averaged 17 points per game last year at Grays Harbor.
This season the team has started 2-2 with Nash averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals. She's also shooting 60 percent from the field.
Even better, she will earn her two-year associates degree in business.
"That's very important," Nash said.
Tuzroyluk is just as impressive.
He was also an all-state player for Point Hope and helped the Harpooners win an ASAA Class 2A state championship.
After he graduated he spent a semester at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he earned his pilot's license.
"It was super expensive," Tuzroyluk said. "I spent like $17,000 for my private and $15,000 for my classes. I bought a car. But I couldn't afford it, so I came home and worked."
Last year he attended classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he completed more flying requirements.
"I want to get my commercial and fly somewhere," he said. "Here I'm just going for a basic AA so I can get back into the aviation field."
He dreams of being a pilot, but for now he'll have to settle for layups if he wants to fly.
This is Tuzroyluk's first season of organized basketball since playing for the Harpooners three years ago. He has kept in shape over the years through pickup games and traveling around to different villages for tournaments.
He believes more Alaskans could go on to play at the the next level.
"That's what I'd like to see," he said, "because there are a lot of colleges out here and there are a lot of spots. There are a lot of good people in Alaska and I'd like to see more of them out here."
Tuzroyluk will see a few familiar faces Friday night when Grays Harbor faces Blue Mountain College, which features four Alaskans including Barrow's Tyler Adams.
"Barrow was like our biggest rival," Tuzroyluk said. "It'll be fun."
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