Story by
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii women’s basketball preview: Senior guard Jovi Lefotu
- Story byThe Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- Hawaii women’s basketball preview: Senior guard Jovi Lefotu
Jovi Lefotu believes this will be her final season playing basketball at any level.
The oft-injured, fifth-year senior point guard for the Hawaii women's basketball team isn't sure there is a future for her playing the game she loves,.
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So why not go out savoring every moment of this season?
"Just looking over my whole basketball career, knowing this is probably my last time playing with a team and being in a team atmosphere, you just want to make the most of all of the basketball trips and not taking for granted the practices and the weights and all of it," Lefotu said. "I think just having fun is probably my number one goal."
When Lefotu, who was the Star-Advertiser Hawaii State Player of the Year her senior season at 'Iolani, came to the University of Hawaii to play with her sister, it was the ultimate dream come true.
The combination of Lefotu and Lily Wahinekapu in the backcourt brought incredible excitement to the Rainbow Wahine basketball program.
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The two had their moments, but injuries to both players, including multiple ACL injuries and concussions suffered by Lefotu, kept the sisters duo from really getting to shine their brightest together on the Stan Sheriff Center floor.
Nonetheless, as Lefotu reflects on her final season, the decision to stay home and play with her sister is one she will never regret.
"It was the best decision I've made in my life," Lefotu said. "I got to be with my family and definitely in the hardships and the lows that I have been through with my college career, if I didn't have them, I don't know what I would have done. Being with my sister was the highlight of my life sharing the court with her one last time. I know once I'm done here, when I see (the fans) out at Costco or even at dinners, building all of those connections has made me happy and grateful."
Lefotu could have called it a career after last season, but she never wavered in her decision to come back.
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First-year head coach Khalilah Mitchell, who previously was an assistant, never had to sit down and have that talk with Lefotu.
Lefotu has been steadfast in her commitment to putting together her best season ever from the moment Mitchell took over in her new role.
"What she provides for the girls is a composure and a calmness and that's the cool part about it," Mitchell said. "I've never seen a team need someone so much. Like, they need her. So we respect who she is, we respect her knees, but we push her, I push her, because this is her last year playing for her state and playing in front of her family and friends. We want to make sure she can have the best season that she can."
Roughly a month into Mitchell's tenure, Lefotu recalls a conversation between the two.
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Mitchell was asking Lefotu how she felt about the style of play Mitchell was trying to coach.
In thinking of an answer, Lefotu went back to her days at 'Iolani, where she won state championships all three years the tournament was held.
"This (up-tempo) offense is taking me back to my roots. I love this," Lefotu recalled saying.
For her career, Lefotu has averaged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game with 43 steals and 87 assists.
She played in the first 18 games of her career before a knee injury cost her the rest of that season and all of the following year.
She came back to play in 26 games in her third season, but then had to deal with another knee injury.
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Last season, she was able to average 13.6 minutes in the 22 games she played with six starts.
Heading into this year after her healthiest preseason camp since her first season, Lefotu feels as good as she can these days.
She started at point guard in UH's exhibition against Hawaii Pacific.
"It's still a work in progress, but it's OK," Lefotu said.
During Lefotu's time with the program, UH has seen an influx of players from Australia and New Zealand.
Lefotu has done her part to help her teammates assimilate to the culture in Hawaii.
As for anything she has taken from them, Lefotu says she still can't quite pick up on any of the slang they use for certain terms.
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"They call ground beef 'mince.' So when we talk about 'oh, what did you cook?,' they are like, 'mince,' and it's so weird. I never thought I could say that," Lefotu said laughing. "It's just small stuff they say, like, 'Do you reckon?' Yeah it's a little different."
2026-27 HAWAII RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL ROSTER
NO.
NAME
POS.
HT.
CL.
HOMETOWN
NOTES
1
Liz Udeze
G
5-6
Jr.
Victorville, Calif.
Mt. San Antonio transfer twice named All-South Coast Conference
2
Teyahna Bond
G
5-8
So.
Cairns, Australia
Played in all 33 games as a freshman, averaging 3.6 points and 2.1 assists
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3
Bailey Flavell
G
5-10
So.
Auckland, New Zealand
Reigning Big West Freshman of the Year set UH freshman scoring record
4
Jovi Lefotu
G
5-8
Sr.
Kaneohe
Fifth-year senior was healthy for camp for first time since freshman year
5
Taryn Bond
G
5-9
Fr.
Cairns, Australia
Helped Australia win gold in FIBA U17 Women's Oceanic Cup in 2025
6
Kyra Webb
G
6-1
So.
Melbourne, Australia
Averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in all 33 games last year
7
Zyriah Price
F
6-0
Jr.
Huntsville, Ala.
Siena transfer played in 34 games in two seasons; averaged 4.7 points
8
Rebecca Moors
F
6-2
Jr.
Auckland, New Zealand
Played in 57 games in her first two seasons at Hawaii
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17
Fiamma Serra
F
6-4
So.
La Spezia, Italy
Averaged four minutes in 11 games last season
22
Jade Peacock
G
6-0
Sr.
Gold Coast, Australia
Played in 94 career games; started 19 of last 20 games last year
24
Ritorya Tamilo
C
6-5
Jr.
Auckland, New Zealand
Reigning Big West Sixth of the Year has 89 blocks in two seasons
39
Payton Mills
F
6-2
Fr.
Lynden, Wash.
Four-time, first-team All-State player was Washington 2A Player of the Year
