Saniya Rivers has been surrounded by the game of basketball for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, Saniya recalls quickly fostering a deep love for the game after her sister introduced her to the sport at an early age and her grandmother bought her her first mini hoop. This was the first step that would commence an incredible journey for her over the next few years—one filled with tremendous personal growth and achievement. As she began her high school career at Laney High School, where she played for two seasons before transferring to Ashley High School, Saniya continued to expand her skills on the court and basketball IQ. She didn’t just stop there. During her time at Ashley, she solidified her personal legacy as one of the best high school girls basketball players in North Carolina and the nation—scoring over 2,000 career points, earning a McDonald’s All-American selection, and becoming a three-time Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year as well as the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year. It was only up from there. Upon graduating from high school, Saniya started her collegiate journey at the University of South Carolina before transferring to NC State after her freshman season. As she begins her sophomore year of college and first season at NC State, Saniya is excited to make an impact on the floor, work towards another national championship, and embrace the journey to becoming the best version of herself both on and off the court.
Take us back to your journey early on, especially in high school. You attended Laney High School before going to Ashley. Could you share more with us about your experiences there?
I had a great high school experience. I never did get to win a national championship, but we made playoff runs every year so definitely appreciative for that. At Laney, coming in as a freshman, starting, and taking the team all the way to the Final Four—if I'm not mistaken—was a great feeling going into my sophomore year. I can't remember what round we got to, but then (with) Hurricane Florence hitting my sophomore year, we had to move to another house that put me at Ashley. Coming to Ashley—new to the neighborhood, new to the school—, everybody knew who I was so that kind of helped me get adjusted and all that good stuff. We came in and had a killer season, nobody expected us to go as far as we did. I think that was the year we had to play in masks too.
You wrapped up your high school career with an array of accolades—including being named a McDonald's All-American, earning several Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year awards, and also winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor. Along with that, you also surpassed 2,000 career points. What did achieving those milestones mean to you?
You wrapped up your high school career with an array of accolades—including being named a McDonald's All-American, earning several Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year awards, and also winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year honor. Along with that, you also surpassed 2,000 career points. What did achieving those milestones mean to you?
How do you think your game elevated throughout your high school career to prepare you for the next level?