Q&A with Talia von Oelhoffen (2021)

Talia von Oelhoffen is our top ranked player in the 2021 class. Furthermore, ESPN has her ranked as the fifth best 2021 in the nation. You can really see her skill when she plays as she is a very high IQ player and get shoot the ball at the same level as the best shooters in the nation. Her skillset is such so that she is a threat to put up a triple double every single night. Oelhoffen holds a few dozen D1 offers to this point and you can expect that list to grow as she develops and gets even better.

She’s a very athletic wing who can play at all five spots on the floor with her finesse and strength. She is a very good playmaker and while her scoring is off the charts good, that isn’t the first thing that sticks out when you watch her play. She is a great passer and defender. Oelhoffen is a player that can easily rack up 10 assists and 10 steals a night. Very long arms allow her to get into the passing lanes. Her length, coupled with IQ allows her to play very good defense.

Offensively, she is a great creator in the half court. Great ability to finish through traffic at the rim or pull-up and take a jumper. She has range way past the 3-point line and can get her shot off without much room. She doesn’t press and take bad shots but rather takes what the defense gives her. Oelhoffen is one of the elite players in the 2021 class throughout the nation. I talked with her about her game, recruiting, and more below!

What do you think the strengths of your game are?
I think that one of my biggest strengths is my court vision. I see the court really well, and I think reading defenses and being able to get my teammates open looks is something that is really important. Second would probably be my versatility. I’m mainly a point guard/shooting guard, but I can also post up and get inside when I need to. 

What are some things that you are working on the most right now?
My biggest focus right now is on my defense. I want to be the go-to to shut down the other team’s best player while still being able to produce on the offensive end. 

What are some of your goals for this season both team oriented and individually?
My team’s biggest goal this year is to win a state title. It would be the first in our school’s history, so that’s definitely the main thing that we are working towards. Individually, my goal for this year is to reach 1,000 career points.

You have a few dozen offers from D1 schools, how do you manage that and stay grounded?
I think the biggest thing is just to stay humble. Letting go of the things people can sometimes say about me can be tough, but I have an amazing support system in my friends and family that helps me to stay focused on my main goal.

How was the trip to Italy with USA basketball? What did you learn from that experience?
It was an amazing experience. I got to travel out of the US for the first time, meet so many great people, and learn a lot about the culture of basketball overseas. Being able to represent my country is definitely something that I am so grateful for and that I’ll never forget. I can’t thank Adidas enough for that opportunity.

What are you looking for in a future school?
I think the most important thing is not only that I have a good connection with the coaching staff, but also that there is a good atmosphere at the university both on and off the court.