Rachel Hollivay is going to Rutgers University.
According to a text message at 11:49 a.m. Monday from her father, Ray Sr., and a subsequent conversation with him early this afternoon, the Heritage Academy 6-foot-5 senior center has decided to play basketball for veteran coach C. Vivian Stringer in Piscataway, N.J.
“Rachel is headed to Rutgers,” Ray Hollivay Sr. texted. “This process over. She can enjoy her senior year now.”
Hollivay said late last month after she completed official visits to the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tennessee that she would make her decision Nov. 11, which is in the early signing period that begins Wednesday and ends Nov. 16. She apparently trimmed that list of five to Rutgers and Tennessee before making her final decision. Hollivay’s commitment is non-binding until she signs a National Letter of Intent. It is unclear if she intends to do that Friday.
Hollivay said before she made the trips all of the schools were “on the same page,” and that she planned to make a decision in time for the early signing period.
Hollivay, who transferred from New Hope High School prior to her junior season, is ranked No. 11 in the country by Dan Olson’s Collegiate Girls Reports, a national scouting service, while ESPN HoopGurlz has Hollivay as the eighth-best player in the Class of 2012.
Last month, Hollivay said Rutgers was the most “family based” of the schools she visited. She said earlier in the process that Rutgers, which plays in the Big East Conference, wouldn’t have an advantage because that is where her friend, April Sykes, plays. Sykes, a former All-State player at East Oktibbeha County High, is a senior at Rutgers this season.
Hollivay said she scrimmaged on her visits to Oklahoma, Rutgers, and Tennessee and fit right in at all three places. She said she would base her final decision on multiple factors, including distance from home (Rutgers is a 13-hour drive, Tennessee is a six-hour drive, Oklahoma is a 10- to 12-hour drive), teammates, field of study, atmosphere at the school, and others.
Hollivay Sr. emphasized Rutgers “put forth more effort than anybody” and was in Columbus most recently as Friday checking on Rachel. Hollivay Sr. said Stringer and Rutgers stayed involved with Rachel academically and athletically throughout the entire process and that Rachel “really loved” coach Stringer, which made the final choice easier.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.