If 2022 was the Year of the Tiger, 2023 is shaping up to be the Year of the Pili.
On New Year’s Day, Alissa Pili scored 17 points to lead the eighth-ranked Utah women’s basketball team to its 14th straight victory.
Today, Jan. 2, her brother Brandon Pili recorded a tackle and deflected a pass for the eighth-ranked USC football team in the Cotton Bowl.
Two days, two siblings out of Dimond High in Anchorage doing big things for Alaska on the big stage.
Playing at an elite level is nothing new for this dynamic duo; they are both battle-tested veterans from multiple years of experience in the Pac-12 Conference. Brandon came first in 2017, followed by Alissa in 2019.
But this season stands out above the rest because both siblings have posted signature seasons for top-10 ranked teams. It’s been an epic ‘Whatever you can do, I can do better’ back and forth on a national level.
Anchorage’s Brandon Pili celebrates a defensive stop for USC. John McGillen/USC Athletics
Alissa, a 6-foot junior, has been the centerpiece for an undefeated Utah team that’s arguably the most efficient offensive squad in the country.
Brandon, a 6-foot-3 senior, was a key defensive tackle for a USC team that won 11 games and qualified for a bowl game for the first time since 2019.
He played for a Trojans team that featured Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and was in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth before losing to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game.
Brandon’s final game in a No. 91 USC jersey came in today’s Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, where Tulane scored the go-ahead touchdown with six seconds left to pull out a stunning 46-45 victory.
It was his 52nd career appearance, which ranks second among Alaskans at the NCAA Division I level.
ALASKA’S IRON MAN CLUB
Most Career D1 Football Games
53 – Jeff Overbaugh (Service) San Diego St 2012-15
52 – Brandon Pili (Dimond) USC 2017-23
51 – Daryn Colledge (North Pole) Boise St 2002-05
51 – Eathyn Manumaleuna (East) BYU 2007-13
49 – Mark Schlereth (Service) Idaho 1985-88
49 – Cole Magner (Colony) Bowling Green 2001-04
This was Brandon’s second trip to the Cotton Bowl, having also played in the 2017 game against No. 5 Ohio State.
He ended the season with a personal-best 25 tackles in 14 games and finished his career with 74 tackles, including 10 for loss. He added 3.5 sacks, four pass deflections and a blocked field goal.
His 16 quarterback hurries this season were the most since he had 20 in 2019 and his three QB hits were a personal best.
Next up for Brandon is the NFL Scouting Combine next month in Indianapolis as he looks to become the first Dimond alum drafted since Chris Kuper in 2006.
Anchorage’s Alissa Pili shoots a free throw against Washington. Photo by Utah Athletics
Alissa has been nothing short of sensational in a Utah uniform as she leads the Pac-12 in FG% (.637). She ranks fourth in scoring (19.7), seventh in FT% (.800) and fifteenth in rebounds (6.1).
She recently became the third-fastest Alaska woman to reach the 1,000-point benchmark at the D1 level.
Utah ranks second nationally with a team FG% of .509, trailing only to UConn (.516), and sits third with an average of 88.7 points per game.
Alissa transferred to Utah from USC, where she averaged 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 63 career games. Her best season came in 2019-2020 when she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
That year she averaged 16.3 points on 51 percent shooting, and left us wondering if could play better. Turns out, she can. Alissa’s shooting percentage at Utah has skyrocketed to .637, buoyed by these standout performances:
- 27 points on 12-14 FGs vs. Idaho
- 21 points on 8-12 FGs vs. No. 16 Oklahoma
- 21 points on 8-14 FGs vs Ole Miss
- 28 points on 12-16 FGs vs. Mississippi Valley
- 28 points on 13-18 FGs vs. BYU
- 25 points on 10-14 FGs vs. Colorado
Alissa hasn’t just been good, good; she’s been national player-of-the-year candidate good.
“@EJayArrow: We are not talking enough about ALISSA PILI!!! She is the nucleus of that Utah team, who is 1 of 5 undefeated teams left…She is absolutely in the conversation for NPOY” RT! @alissa_pili
— wegotnextt 🏀❄️ (@wegotnextt) January 2, 2023