Playing in memory of late father, Memphis commit Tanyuel Welch continues to shine
INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) 鈥� Tanyuel Welch has thrived throughout her basketball career, and is still doing so today. However, over the last few years, taking the hardwood has been a bit different than it used to be.
When she was little, Welch was introduced to basketball by her parents, with her father, Miguel, training her to play. Throughout her youth career, Miguel would be at each of Tanyuel鈥檚 games, supporting his daughter and giving her pointers to get better.
鈥淗e was a real outgoing person, he was a leader, he was funny, definitely a comedian,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淗e was just a real man, he always took care of his business and did whatever he could for his family. He鈥檇 do anything for his family. As far as basketball, he really taught me everything I know.鈥澛�
However, by the time Tanyuel reached high school, things had changed. In 2018, Miguel was diagnosed with stage four renal medullary carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer. Initially, Tanyuel and her younger siblings were not sure what was wrong with their father nor how severe his illness truly was.
鈥淗im and my mom had already knew everything that was going on and they were trying to keep it away from me and my brothers because they just didn鈥檛 want us taking it too hard and it distracting us from school and sports and all that,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淏ut I was concerned and none of that mattered when it came to him and his health, I just wanted to know.鈥�
While Miguel was cooking one night, Tanyuel tried to find out more information. She threw out a few different possibilities that his illness could be, but once she said 鈥榗ancer,鈥� she had her answer.
鈥淓verybody got quiet and he and my mom looked at each other, and he told me, 鈥榶eah,鈥欌�� Tanyuel said.
From there, Tanyuel did research, finding out that most forms of kidney cancer have a decent survival rate. However, soon came the devastating news that the cancer was stage four as well as a rare and aggressive strain.
鈥淚 was like, 鈥楢in鈥檛 nothing wrong with you, you should be able to beat it, you鈥檙e really strong and I鈥檓 sure this should be like a cold to you,鈥欌�� Tanyuel added. 鈥淏ut eventually, he sat the whole family down and he told us it was stage four and it was a rare type of cancer 鈥� We took that pretty hard.鈥�
As anyone would, Tanyuel began losing sleep over the matter, trying to do more research to see what could be done. Sadly, Miguel was given just three to six months to live. Yet, being true to who he was, Miguel tried to keep things positive, encouraging his kids to stay strong.
The Welch family did so, bonding closer than they ever had, whether that meant changing what they eat to match Miguel鈥檚 new diet, or staying home to watch movies together.
鈥淚 actually feel like it brought us closer as a family,鈥� Tanyuel said.
Miguel continued to train Tanyuel and her younger brother in basketball, and was still living a normal life through the early part of his diagnosis. He would beat the timetable to live initially given to him, and made it to Tanyuel鈥檚 basketball games into her junior year.
However, his health was slowly getting worse, and by 2020, things began to go downhill.
鈥淎s the years went on, you could see his health declining,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淭here were points in time where we would get news that his cancer was shrinking, and we would all get excited. And then a couple of weeks later we would get news that it got even bigger.鈥�
By 2020, Miguel was unable to do basic functions such as eating. Tanyuel鈥檚 mother, Tanquetta, stayed home as his nurse, and Tanyuel would also help care for her father while taking on additional responsibilities such as making meals for the family.
With COVID-19 impacting so many in a negative way at that time, the Welch family actually found it to be a positive, as the family was able to stay home and spend some of Miguel鈥檚 last moments together.
鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for Covid, I wouldn鈥檛 have had the time that I had with him,鈥� Tanyuel explained. 鈥淚 was able to stay in his room every night and just do my schoolwork since it was virtual.鈥�
However, as the calendar turned to 2021, things got worse. Miguel had tumors forming all over his body, and was barely able to do so much as speak. On April 4, 2021, Miguel passed away at the age of 39.
While they knew this could happen for some time, it did not make losing the rock of the Welch family any easier.聽
鈥淗e was a big piece of the family and it will always feel like somebody is missing,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淗is personality and his presence is just irreplaceable.鈥�
Tanyuel soon went back to playing AAU basketball just days after her father had passed, getting back on the hardwood where she had such fond memories of Miguel.
鈥淲e had his funeral that week and a day later I had to get back on the court,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淚 only did it because I know that鈥檚 what he would鈥檝e wanted for me 鈥� I promised him I would do that before he passed.鈥�
Remarkably, Tanyuel scored over 20 points in her first game back. However, afterwards, the moment hit her.
鈥淎fter that game, I got in the car and I just cried so hard,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淎fter games like that, I would look over or he鈥檇 be standing there waiting on me, just smiling, rocking back and forth, excited to talk about it. And no matter how good I played he would鈥檝e found something to criticize me for. It really just hit me.鈥�
Understandably, Tanyuel鈥檚 play suffered a bit throughout the rest of the tournament, but just the fact that she was back out on the court already was quite a feat.聽
Throughout her life, basketball has come easier than most to Tanyuel, but she has also put in an incredible amount of work to get to where she is at. After a strong youth career with the Gym Rats, the 5-foot-10 guard began her high school career at North Central, joining a program full of elite talent.
In her freshman season, Tanyuel had to get used to playing alongside and against older girls than she was used to as a starter for North Central. But her development was evident that first season and as a sophomore when she became a true leader for the Panthers and an all-county player.
鈥淚t was different now, I was in charge,鈥� Tanyuel said about her sophomore season. 鈥淚 adjusted really quickly. Every year, I improved in almost every category whether it was scoring, rebounding, steals or assists. I always looked to grow as a player no matter what. Not only that, but helping my team grow as well, making everybody better.鈥�
Of course, Tanyuel鈥檚 junior season was made difficult by what was going on off the court, but she still found a way to excel on the hardwood, becoming an all-conference performer.聽
鈥淚 was able to stay focused because I always just believed what鈥檚 for me would come to me,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淚 just continued to work hard and let it come to me.鈥�
However, the North Central senior saved her best for last this past winter. Prior to the season she was named an Indiana Ms. Basketball candidate, and proved she was one of the best prospects in the state all winter, averaging nearly 19 points per game.
Some truly special milestones occurred during and after the season, beginning with Tanyuel scoring her 1,000th career point in November.
鈥淭hat game was very emotional, not only because of that but because we also played our rival school,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淲hen I scored that 1000th point, it really just hit me. All the stuff that I鈥檇 been through, all the years that I played with that program, an accomplishment like that just shows how far I had come. It was really emotional.鈥�
After the season concluded, Tanyuel was named a first team all-state player, named to the All-USA Central Indiana Super Team First-Team, and became an Indiana All-Star.
鈥淚t just shows you that the hard work, everything that you鈥檝e put in, even when you were younger, it all paid off,鈥� Tanyuel added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a big accomplishment.鈥�
Yet, perhaps the most important part of her final high school season was playing for her father, and remembering what he would do and say had he been able to watch his daughter鈥檚 senior season.
鈥淚 just dedicated the entire year for him,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淭his is my last year, I hate that he鈥檚 not physically here to see it. Everything that I鈥檇 done these past three years and all the improvement I made, I might as well leave it on the floor and that鈥檚 what I did. I thought about him before every game, I thought about what he鈥檇 say to me. I鈥檇 think about when I played really good, how excited he鈥檇 be 鈥� It really pushed me and kept me going. The way he pushed and kept going when he was fighting cancer is the same type of energy I wanted to use on the court.鈥�
Tanyuel鈥檚 basketball career is far from over, and she has aspirations of playing professionally someday.
鈥淚 absolutely do believe I could go professional,鈥� Tanyuel mentioned. 鈥淚f I continue to work hard and put my mind to that goal, I strongly believe I鈥檒l be able to make it to that level.鈥�
First, however, she will head south to Tennessee to join the Memphis Tigers. Tanyuel had plenty of mid-major and some high-level interest and offers from schools like Butler, Indiana State, Ball State, Kentucky and Nebraska. But Memphis stuck with the point guard and was the school that has given her a chance.
鈥淢emphis came along and they had seen me before,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淚 started talking with the coaches and getting to know them and they wanted to give me a chance 鈥� I went on a visit, they offered me, and on that visit I accepted the offer.鈥�
A big reason the North Central senior got noticed by Memphis and others was thanks to her time playing with Indiana Elite, a program she will forever be thankful for.
鈥淭hat program means so much to me,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淲e were a really stacked team. We built bonds that will last a long time. It was just overall a really good experience.鈥�
Tanyuel will join a program that hopes to soon be on the rise under the direction of head coach Katrina Merriweather who has been with Memphis for a little over a year now.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 very, very excited,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淚 feel like Memphis is going to become more known for women鈥檚 basketball and blow up with the people they have over there and are bringing in, including myself.鈥�
Whether it’s Memphis or anywhere else Tanyuel鈥檚 bright future in basketball takes her, the memories of her father will never leave her side. She will always continue playing in honor of Miguel, and knows he would be proud with what she has achieved in the past year, and what she is about to accomplish at Memphis.
鈥淚 will still continue to play in honor of him,鈥� Tanyuel said. 鈥淢y game is based off of him and I will continue to let that be known wherever I go.鈥�
