Saniya Rivers

Awards

High School
WBCA All-America (2021)
Naismith All-America Second Team (2021)
McDonald’s All-America (2021)
Gatorade National Player of the Year (2021)
USA Today National Player of the Year (2021)
3x Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year (2019, 2020, 2021)
2x USA Today North Carolina Player of the Year (2019, 2021)
Charlotte Observer North Carolina Ms Basketball (2021)

Bio Information

Career Notes

• Chose to transfer after her freshman year

Freshman Year (2021-22)

• Part of first team in program history to be ranked No 1 in both the AP and the USA Today Coaches’ Polls every week of the season and program’s second National Championship
• Played in 27 games on the season
• Used her length and athleticism to disrupt #4/4 Louisville in NCAA Final Four (Apr. 1), swiping a pair of steals and blocking a shot
• Made her NCAA Tournament debut vs. Creighton (Mar. 27), pulling down a rebound in five minutes of playing time
• Got the team out and running in a big third quarter vs. #12/8 Tennessee (Feb. 20), swiping two steals and scoring five points in the period
• Assisted on four of the team’s eight baskets in the fourth quarter of the win vs. Auburn (Feb. 17) en route to a season-high five assists
• Wowed with her passing ability in the win at Kentucky (Feb. 10), passing out three assists and adding a steal and a block off the bench
• Scored a season-high eight points on 4-of-7 shooting vs. Alabama (Feb. 3), adding two assists and two rebounds
• Logged major minutes in the win over #8/7 Maryland (Dec. 12), tying the game with a bucket at the end of the first quarter and turning a steal into a layup as part of an 8-0 run early in the second
• Made her collegiate debut against Buffalo (Nov. 20) after missing the previous two games with illness and made a series of athletic plays on both ends of the court, including a pair of blocked shots and seven points

High School

• Ranked the No. 2 guard and No. 3 overall player in the Class of 2021
• Named 2021 National Player of the Year by Gatorade and USA Today and earned All-America status after a senior season that included 36.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.3 steals per game
• Captured North Carolina Player of the Year honors from at least organization in each of the last three seasons – Gatorade (2019, 2020, 2021), North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (2019, 2021), USA Today (2019, 2021). The Associated Press (2019) and The Charlotte Observer (2021)
• Was a four-time NCBCA All-State selection (first team – 2019, 2020, 2021; second team – 2018)