14- Year Old Teen Phenom: TAMA SHIMABUKURO
The Kid: Hawaii’s Youngest Rising Pickleball Star
From a backyard Target net to the pro circuit, this 14-year-old is making a name for himself in the pickleball world.
In November 2023, a 13-year-old from Hawaii stepped onto the courts at a mainland pickleball tournament. At that time, he was an unknown kid from the islands. But that anonymity didn’t last long.
By the time the tournament ended, it seemed as though everyone was asking the same question:
Who is this kid?
Tama Shimabukuro (nicknamed "The Kid" by mainland players) had no formal pickleball training, no coach, and no real reference point for how good he was—because in Hawaii, there was no other junior player at his level. His mother remembers the moment when the tournament director pulled her aside and told her, “Your son has serious potential, but…you live in Hawaii.”
THE DICHOTOMY
For Tama’s mother, Tatum, the question became, “How do you become a top professional player when you live thousands of miles from where the competition is? What is the path, and how can I support that path?”
From skateboarding to pickleball: the origin story
For most top pickleball players, the story starts with tennis. But not for Tama.
He grew up skateboarding and surfing, following in the footsteps of his older siblings.
And he was great at those too---he was competing in surfing and was sponsored by Nike and RVCA in skateboarding, allowing him to travel to competitions around the country before he was even a teenager.
Then, in the summer of 2023, during a skateboarding trip to California, his family stumbled across a group of people playing a sport that looked like tennis, but wasn’t. Curious, Tatum googled it: pickleball.
Back home in Hawaii, they bought a cheap Target net, set it up in their driveway, and the entire family started playing.
By the end of that summer, he was already entering tournaments.
A First Taste of Mainland Competition
With no formal training, no private lessons, and no idea how he measured up to other players, Tama entered his first local tournament just a few months after picking up a paddle. He won.
Encouraged by his early success, his family decided to test his skills against mainland competition.
His first big opportunity came in November 2023, when he traveled to Texas for a junior-focused tournament. But there was a challenge—Hawaii didn’t have a big junior scene, which meant Tama had no junior partners at his level here locally. His doubles partner for Texas was chosen last-minute, and they faced the toughest competition right away. They were knocked out early.
But in singles… that’s when people started paying attention.
Even without a strong doubles showing, Tama’s raw talent stood out----people were recognizing his potential.
He returned home, in his mom’s words, “fired up.”
Proving Grounds: The Tournaments That Put Tama on the Map
In April 2024, Tama took the next step—entering his first PPA tournament in Los Cab, California, where he partnered with David Creswell from Pittsburgh. It was his first true taste of the pro circuit. They made it to the last round of the pro qualifiers before just falling short.
But something bigger happened.
Major paddle brands started paying attention. Players and coaches who had never heard of him before were suddenly watching his matches.
From there, the tournaments came fast:
April 2024: PPA Veolia LA Open (CA) Won Bronze in Mens Singles 5.0 and PPA Selkirk Red Rock Open (UT): Won Silver in Men’s Singles 5.0 and Bronze in Men’s Doubles 5.0 (8-34).
June 2024: PPA Select Medical Orange County Cup (CA): Another test against top-level talent, pushing him closer to making it out of qualifiers and into the main draw.
February 2025: PPA Carvana Mesa Cup (AZ): Competed in the pro qualifiers, gaining more experience at the highest level.
Tama is no longer “the kid” from Hawaii showing up to play—he’s a real contender...at just 14 years old.
Get to know “The Kid”: Q&A with tama
What was it like playing with your partner (David Creswell) at your first PPA Event?
It was good. I think our games complement each other. It was fun. He could hit very hard and I could control the game, so it worked good.
How did it feel, playing for the first time at that level?
It was fun. I mean, a little nervous in the beginning, but once we got to the first round, then it was just fun getting to play good people.
How does it feel to be a teenager amongst all adults at that level?
It feels good.
You like it? It's not nerve wracking?
No, not really because even in skateboarding, it was always adults so I’m kind of used to it.
What would you say was your biggest learning experience so far?
I think just learning the game and seeing how different players play, everything is different, every person you play is different.
What goes into preparing for a match?
I think just getting a good night's rest and working and practicing all your shots the day before.
Do you feel that there is any pressure or expectations for you?
Not really. I think I have more expectations for myself.
So how do you handle that?
I just have fun and just don't think about it.
How do you balance training and competition with being a student?
So I'm homeschooled. Whenever I'm free, I do my homework, get it done and then pretty much that’s it.
What subjects in school interest you the most?
I really like math.
What do you do for fun when you're not playing pickleball?
Go surf, hang out the family, maybe go eat dinner with the family.
