A sense of belonging on her recruiting visit prompted Julissa Tago to pursue college basketball in Hawaii.

Her next trip only reinforced that notion.

Tago submitted her letter of intent to join the Rainbow Wahine about a month before playing her first game in the state with South Medford (Ore.) High School in the ‘Iolani Classic last December. There her future teammates and coaches surprised her with a raucous welcome.

“Honestly it was crazy because the whole team came to my game,” Tago recalled. “It was cool when I got in the starting lineup and I got announced they were really loud.

“When I came here on my (recruiting) visit I already felt like they were family. But seeing them there, I was like, ‘Wow, they’re really going to be supportive and be there for me,’ and it was really awesome.”

After getting a head start on melding into the program’s culture, Tago meshed with UH’s on-court chemistry quickly enough to earn a starting role three games into her college career.

Although Tago went scoreless in her first two games, UH coach Laura Beeman entrusted her with a spot in the starting five last week. She responded by hitting seven of 14 field-goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, and grabbing nine rebounds in wins over Youngstown State and New Mexico State.

“A lot of it is just her competitive nature,” Beeman said. “She loves to rebound, she’s a physical kid and she can score the ball. So she’s definitely giving us a lot on both sides of the ball.”

Tago could be among three freshmen in the first five when UH (2-2) opens the three-day Rainbow Wahine Showdown today against San Jose State (1-3) at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Wahine face Oregon (4-0) on Saturday and close the weekend against No. 7 Mississippi State (4-0) on Sunday.

As she adjusted to the speed of Division I basketball, Tago’s all-around efforts and versatility earned her minutes in a young UH rotation and the starting spot last week. She traded roles with senior Briana Harris, who provided production off the bench to earn MVP honors in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic.

Tago hit two 3-pointers in a win over Youngstown State a week ago and attacked the basket in a nine-point, four-rebound effort against New Mexico State on Sunday.

“I just told myself just play like you would play even if I wasn’t starting,” Tago said. “Just come in and give your team what they need wherever they need you on the floor.”

An All-State player at South Medford, Tago also took a leadership role off the court as student body president as a senior and has her eye on higher office down the road.

“I always tell (her teammates) once I’m older I want to run for president,” said the politically minded freshman. “That’s one of my dreams. Hopefully I get the chance to.”

Lunas represented

Today’s UH-SJSU game will reunite two Lahainaluna graduates, with Keleah-Aiko Koloi projected to start at forward for the Wahine and Fa-Ko-Fieme‘a Hafoka on the Spartans roster. Both were Star-Advertiser Fab 15 picks while helping the Lunas win four MIL titles and reach the Division I state final two of the past three years.

Koloi could step in for sophomore Lahni Salanoa, who suffered an ankle injury early against NMSU. Koloi went 5-for-9 from the field and had 11 rebounds last weekend. Freshman forward Makenna Woodfolk has started all four games and sparked UH with nine points in the fourth quarter against NMSU.