Tai Wesley
Encyclopedia
Tai William Evans Wesley (born May 13, 1986) is an American professional basketball forward for EiffelTowers
of the Dutch Basketball League
. He played college basketball at Utah State University
.
and is one of seven children. His father Hiagi Wesley was born in Rotuma
, Fiji
.
Wesley graduated from Provo High School
in 2004 and earned the "Mr. Basketball
" title from Deseret News and was named 4A Most Valuable Player by the Salt Lake Tribune. At Utah State, Wesley redshirted his freshman year, went on a two-year Mormon mission
to Oaxaca, Mexico
, and returned to Utah State in 2007.
He ended his sophomore season in 2009 with averages of 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Wesley scored two free throws in the final seconds of the 2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
semifinal for Utah State to defeat San Jose State
58-54.
. He signed a one-year contract with the Dutch Basketball League
team EiffelTowers
on June 15, 2011.
EiffelTowers
The EiffelTowers is a Dutch professional basketball team that plays in the FEB Eredivisie. The team has also been a regular at international competitions, lastly when it played in the EuroChallenge 2009–10...
of the Dutch Basketball League
Dutch Basketball League
The Dutch Basketball League , is the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands. The league has a closed system...
. He played college basketball at Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
.
Early life and college
Tai Wesley was born in Orem, UtahOrem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
and is one of seven children. His father Hiagi Wesley was born in Rotuma
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
.
Wesley graduated from Provo High School
Provo High School
Provo High School is a public secondary school located in Provo, Utah. It is one of the schools in the Provo District. It is part of the Provo City School District, and is the oldest existent secondary school in the city...
in 2004 and earned the "Mr. Basketball
Utah Mr. Basketball
Each year the Utah Mr. Basketball is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Utah, in the United States. Class 5A was introduced in 1994.The award has been given since 1987 by the Deseret Morning News...
" title from Deseret News and was named 4A Most Valuable Player by the Salt Lake Tribune. At Utah State, Wesley redshirted his freshman year, went on a two-year Mormon mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
to Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca, Mexico, may refer to:*The state of Oaxaca, one of the 32 component federal entities of the United Mexican States*Oaxaca, Oaxaca, capital city of that state...
, and returned to Utah State in 2007.
He ended his sophomore season in 2009 with averages of 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Wesley scored two free throws in the final seconds of the 2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
2011 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
-References:...
semifinal for Utah State to defeat San Jose State
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
58-54.
Professional career
In June 2011, Wesley entered workouts with the NBA team Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. He signed a one-year contract with the Dutch Basketball League
Dutch Basketball League
The Dutch Basketball League , is the highest professional basketball league in the Netherlands. The league has a closed system...
team EiffelTowers
EiffelTowers
The EiffelTowers is a Dutch professional basketball team that plays in the FEB Eredivisie. The team has also been a regular at international competitions, lastly when it played in the EuroChallenge 2009–10...
on June 15, 2011.