When Scott Rueck was in the beginning stages of trying to build the Oregon State women’s basketball program, he naturally looked to some of the top talent in his home state.

The likes of Jordan Reynolds (Central Catholic), Mercedes Russell (Springfield) and Jaime Nared (Westview) were among those he would have loved to have joined the process.

But all three had other thoughts in mind and headed to Tennessee, one of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball.

Two of those players — Nared and Russell — will be opposite Rueck and the Beavers in Sunday’s second-round game of the NCAA Tournament.

No. 6 seed Oregon State and No. 3 seed and host Tennessee will meet at 11 a.m. Pacific time with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Beavers (24-7) are looking to make it three straight appearances.

There will be another Oregonian in the starting lineup for the Lady Vols, and one that current OSU junior Katie McWilliams knows quite well.

McWilliams and Tennessee freshman Evina Westbrook were high school teammates at South Salem and won the 2015 Class 6A state title together.

“She was a great teammate in high school, and it’s just awesome that we are both here playing on the big stage for college women’s basketball,” McWilliams said. “I’m excited to be able to match up against her.”

A fifth Oregonian, freshman Aleah Goodman (La Salle Prep), will also likely play a key roll off the bench for the Beavers.

Nared, a 6-foot-2 senior guard/forward, leads the Lady Vols at 16.9 points per game. Russell, a 6-6 redshirt senior center, chips in 15.1.

Like Nared and Russell, Westbrook has started all 32 games and is averaging 8.5 per game.

In all three players’ cases, they were nationally ranked recruits in high school. Nared and Westbrook both said Saturday they considered Oregon State.

In Nared’s and Russell’s cases, it would have been a leap of faith as the Beavers had yet to be a national player.

Nared said the Beavers were in her top five but ultimately chose to go to Tennessee.

“Scott is a great coach and great person,” she said. “They have a great staff and brought their program to a very high level. They are successful and a tough team, and I am excited to play them.”

Westbrook had Oregon State in her final six before choosing the Vols. She said she knows the OSU players well and is looking forward to the matchup on Sunday.

“I played with a lot of them, so I know how the function on the court and off the court,” she said. “I kind of know what to expect from them, but it’s good to watch film to know what they have improved on and what other things they do. We’re going to watch film (Saturday) and catch up on everything and be all on the same page (Sunday).”

Rueck said he knew it was a bit of a long shot to get Reynolds, who graduated last year, Russell and Nared so early in the building process.

“It wasn’t really a surprise because they had so many opportunities, and we hadn’t won,” he said Saturday. “We had all of them on campus numerous times so we got to know them really well.

“I listened to them, but I knew kind of what their dreams were, and I couldn’t really argue with it because we hadn’t done it. It was still a vision and it wasn’t reality yet.”

As for Westbrook, Rueck said she was up front from the start in the recruiting process.

“She told me Day 1 that she wanted to go away,” he said. “We were in it till the end on some level.”

Rueck was asked if he was frustrated those player chose to go elsewhere.

“Well, if that’s not their dream then you don’t want that,” he said. “Whatever their dream is, go fulfill whatever it is you want to do. If it’s not you, we’ll find someone else. That’s what every college coach does and that’s recruiting in general.

“This is my 22nd year doing this, I learned a long time ago to not sweat a recruit. If you don’t get somebody, it’s OK. There’s somebody else. There’s a reason for everything. Like I said, I’m happy for them. Find that niche for you and if it’s here that’s great. If it’s there that’s fine too.”

Does the familiarity add a little extra motivation for Sunday’s game for the Oregonians on the roster?

“It’s an NCAA tournament game, and I think any game from here on out is going to be competitive,” Nared said. “It’s nice to play a team from back home. I’m not really familiar with the players, but I think it’s nice to be able to play a coach that is competitive.

“From here on out though, the games are going to be super tough. If you bring what you have, which is what we’re focused on doing, then I think it will be a good game.”