At a young age, Tika Koshiyama-Diaz knew she wanted to play college basketball. Her family has always influenced and encouraged her athletic aspirations.

Her mother, Debbie Koshiyama-Diaz, played for the Asian Basketball League, a league of boys and girls of Asian-Pacific Islander heritage, located in the San Francisco area. Tika Koshiyama-Diaz also played in the league.

Both were coached by Tika’s grandfather.

Debbie Koshiyama-Diaz said basketball has always been a dream of Tika’s.”Tika did gymnastics and karate while playing basketball, but she was always much more enthusiastic about basketball,” Debbie Koshiyama-Diaz said.

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz became a starting guard for the Sacramento State women’s basketball team this season after starting sparingly in her first two years as a Hornet.

Because of the season-ending injury to teammate Jasmine Cannady, Tika Koshiyama-Diaz has been forced to play more minutes and both guard positions.

Jamie Craighead, women’s basketball head coach, said Tika Koshiyama-Diaz is a great asset to the team.

“She can play multiple positions, she is a good person and has always maintained a great grade point average,” Craighead said.

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said her most memorable basketball moment came in high school.

“My high school team, Pinewood High School in Los Altos, won back-to-back state championships,” Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said. “We pushed ourselves and it paid off. We played at the highest level of high school women’s basketball possible.”

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz carried that same attitude with her as she began playing with the Hornets.

During her freshman year, she pushed herself in order to play more minutes during the game. She played a career high of 29 minutes that year against Montana State University as well as competing in 23 games that season. She also started her career that season with scoring nine three-point shots.

Craighead said Tika Koshiyama-Diaz has improved significantly since her freshman year.

“She doesn’t even look like the same kid,” Craighead said. “She has tremendous athletic ability, great hang time, her foot speed has increased and she is just an all-around stronger player.”

Junior guard Sami Field-Polisso said Tika Koshiyama-Diaz has become a threat on the offensive end of the court.

“Tika is able to score as well as distribute the ball and make great plays” Field-Polisso said. “She took advantage to play as much as possible and ever since last year’s game against Idaho State University. That was the point when Tika decided to become a star.”

Field-Polisso also said Tika Koshiyama-Diaz has benefited the team.”Koshiyama-Diaz has played more than she has ever before in order to make adjustments, due to injuries,” Field-Polisso said. “She has also dominated more than one position while on the court.”

Field-Polisso said she is privileged to play alongside Tika Koshiyama-Diaz.

“She has been there to help me through my injury and I am just happy that I am able to play with her,” Field-Polisso said.

Craighead praised Tika Koshiyama-Diaz’s play on the court.

“She is a pretty tenacious player, a good teammate and always holds other players accountable,” Craighead said. “She is a complete player. She can drive into the key and knock down the three.”

As a child, Tika’s mother tried to point her into the direction of various different sports.

“When she was younger I tried to get her to play soccer, but she always wanted to play basketball,” Debbie Koshiyama-Diaz said.

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said she plays basketball for a number of reasons.

“I am always striving to improve my game, I play basketball not only because I have been playing my whole life, but because I have found success in it,” Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said. “Basketball has motivated me become a better student. I enjoy playing the game.”

She still remembers growing up in San Jose and playing for the Asian league with her mother, her grandparents and other members of her community.

Although she has become a better player, Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said she has not forgotten where she came from.

“My mother is my biggest influence off the court and, in my opinion, she is the hardest working person alive,” Tika Koshiyama-Diaz said.

After her basketball career is over, she said she would like to be a chief financial officer for a business.

Tika Koshiyama-Diaz, like all players, has progressed so much since she first started playing basketball. She has matured into a dominant player on both ends of the court and is always reminded how much she improved by Field-Polisso.

“Tika, you are a threat on the court,” Field-Polisso said.

Craighead said Tika Koshiyama-Diaz’s future is bright.

“Tika Koshiyama-Diaz has the chance to be a great player in this program,” Craighead said. “She can do great things. The sky is the limit.”

Jules Ramzy can be reached at [email protected]