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Riverton • Forward Tiena Afu is a girl on the move.
The Riverton Silver Wolves star has traveled to Africa, Argentina and Tonga in her life, visits that gave her an appreciation for giving.
As one of the few returning players with experience on a team that played in the 5A semifinals a year ago, she gave up playing volleyball to concentrate on basketball her senior season. And, as a student with a 3.875 grade point average, Afu dreams of becoming a pediatrician so she can work with kids.
If Afu can improve from her 13-point scoring average a year ago and further bolster her rebounding skills, and if 6-foot-2 sophomore Morgan Kane develops, Riverton could challenge defending champion Brighton, Layton, Bingham, American Fork and Pleasant Grove for the 5A title.
Afu visited Tonga on a family reunion and picked up brothers serving church missions in Ghana and Argentina.
Those visits seem to have left a profound impact on the 5-foot-11 player.
"It made me grateful for the smallest things, like plumbing and electricity," said Afu. "You go out there and see the things they don't have, yet they are able to be so happy."
She said she noticed in visiting those places that even when people have so little, they are so willing to give.
"They are so generous, when they have barely anything," she observed. "A lot of people here have so much but aren't as willing to give as much as people who have so little."
Afu said the lessons she learned traveling have helped her with sports, where Riverton coach Ron Ence says she sets an example by what she does on the floor.
The senior elected to give up prep volleyball this season to concentrate on basketball, playing for Natalie Williams on the Utah Flash over the summer and in a fall league that gave her extra practice. She would love to play college basketball somewhere.
"This high school season, I decided to focus more towards basketball. I love volleyball and enjoyed the time when I played. Overall, I love playing basketball more. If I could be better at one than mediocre at both, that's what I should do."
Ence said Afu jumps well for her size, has a near-perfect shot and is a kind person who could actually improve her play if she were more aggressive.
As for Afu, she wants to see her demeanor.
"I am grateful that I can play basketball and grateful to be part of a good team," she said. "As a person and a player, I would like to be more kind and generous in the way I treat people on and off the court. That ties into the kind of person I want to be."
For now, Afu would be happy if her team remains competitive in what is shaping up to be a strong 5A field.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
About Tiena Afu
• Riverton's 5-foot-11 senior forward is one of the top returning players in 5A girls' basketball.
• Afu helped lead the Silver Wolves into last year's Class 5A semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Brighton.
• Afu, who has a 3.875 grade point average, has traveled to Africa, South America and Tonga.