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Hall of Fame
Alaivaa A. Nuualiitia
- Induction:
- 2018
- Class:
- 2003
Alaivaa Nuualiitia’s ’03 impact on the Brown basketball team went well beyond his numbers. He worked in the trenches, rebounding and scoring in the paint, and started every game of his career (110), never missing a game.
Bears’ head coach Mike Martin ’04, who played with Nuualiitia for three years, calls Alai, “a fierce competitor, tireless worker and a man of incredible character, who led by example. He was an outstanding teammate because of his selflessness, his durability and drive to make a difference.”
A First Team All-Ivy selection as a senior under head coach Glen Miller, the 6-7 Nuualiitia played a major role in the success of a Brown team that earned an NIT berth after posting a school best 12-2 Ivy League record in 2003, while winning a school-record 17 games.
His most memorable weekend came in 2003 when the Bears became the first Brown team to defeat Princeton at Jadwin Gym in 53 tries, and had a near sweep of the weekend in a classic game at Penn the following evening. Nuualiitia connected on 15-of-16 field goals on that Princeton/Penn road trip, including 8-of-8 in the win over the Tigers.
He and teammate Earl Hunt ’03, Brown’s all-time leading scorer, formed a one-two punch that left behind an unprecedented legacy of success at Brown. Miller called the duo, “terrific leaders, who built the foundation of our turnaround as a basketball program, leading our younger players by example.”
A Biology concentrator, Nuualiitia completed his storied career ranked in the top 10 in seven career statistical categories and four single-season rankings. When his hardwood career ended at Virginia in the NIT, his 1,344 career points ranked third in Brown basketball history, while he ranked first in blocked shots (119). He was also fifth in field goal percentage (.557), free throws made (362) and steals (123), and was seventh in rebounds (710) and field goals made (486).
His 42 blocked shots in 2003 were a Brown single season record, while shooting 62 percent from the field, second best all-time at Brown. He led the Ivy League in field goal percentage for three straight seasons, shooting 62-percent as a senior, and owns three of the top seven seasons for field goal percentage in program history. Nuualiitia was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week five times as a freshman, leading the Bears in rebounding, blocks and steals.
As a sophomore, Nuualiitia was a Second Team All-Ivy selection and earned Brown’s Stan Ward Award, given to the player, who, in a quiet and unobtrusive way, contributes the most to the team. Brown’s senior co-captain earned the Rusty Tyler Coaches Award as a senior, given to the member of the team who, through total dedication and loyalty, has given the most of himself for the good of the team.
Nuualiitia was named to Brown’s All-Time Team at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Brown Basketball.
Bears’ head coach Mike Martin ’04, who played with Nuualiitia for three years, calls Alai, “a fierce competitor, tireless worker and a man of incredible character, who led by example. He was an outstanding teammate because of his selflessness, his durability and drive to make a difference.”
A First Team All-Ivy selection as a senior under head coach Glen Miller, the 6-7 Nuualiitia played a major role in the success of a Brown team that earned an NIT berth after posting a school best 12-2 Ivy League record in 2003, while winning a school-record 17 games.
His most memorable weekend came in 2003 when the Bears became the first Brown team to defeat Princeton at Jadwin Gym in 53 tries, and had a near sweep of the weekend in a classic game at Penn the following evening. Nuualiitia connected on 15-of-16 field goals on that Princeton/Penn road trip, including 8-of-8 in the win over the Tigers.
He and teammate Earl Hunt ’03, Brown’s all-time leading scorer, formed a one-two punch that left behind an unprecedented legacy of success at Brown. Miller called the duo, “terrific leaders, who built the foundation of our turnaround as a basketball program, leading our younger players by example.”
A Biology concentrator, Nuualiitia completed his storied career ranked in the top 10 in seven career statistical categories and four single-season rankings. When his hardwood career ended at Virginia in the NIT, his 1,344 career points ranked third in Brown basketball history, while he ranked first in blocked shots (119). He was also fifth in field goal percentage (.557), free throws made (362) and steals (123), and was seventh in rebounds (710) and field goals made (486).
His 42 blocked shots in 2003 were a Brown single season record, while shooting 62 percent from the field, second best all-time at Brown. He led the Ivy League in field goal percentage for three straight seasons, shooting 62-percent as a senior, and owns three of the top seven seasons for field goal percentage in program history. Nuualiitia was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week five times as a freshman, leading the Bears in rebounding, blocks and steals.
As a sophomore, Nuualiitia was a Second Team All-Ivy selection and earned Brown’s Stan Ward Award, given to the player, who, in a quiet and unobtrusive way, contributes the most to the team. Brown’s senior co-captain earned the Rusty Tyler Coaches Award as a senior, given to the member of the team who, through total dedication and loyalty, has given the most of himself for the good of the team.
Nuualiitia was named to Brown’s All-Time Team at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Brown Basketball.
Brown Bears Football Report: Episode 5 (10-16-2025)
Friday, October 17
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Thursday, October 16
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Tuesday, October 14
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Saturday, October 11
