2020 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Saniya Rivers
***Click here to view a photo gallery of the 2019-20 Winter Coastal Preps Players of the Year***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Bryan Aragao***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Marcus Mondragon***
***ICYMI: Co-Wrestler of the Year Mark Samuel***
***ICYMI: Girls Swimmer of the Year Liza Murtagh***
***ICYMI: Boys Diver of the Year Jason Bunn***
***ICYMI: Boys Swimmer of the Year Jeffrey Settlemyre***
With the winter high school sports season finished, it’s time to reveal the All-Coastal Preps teams. Over the next week, you will get to know more about the players of the year while also seeing who made first and second team in wrestling, girls swimming, boys swimming and diving, girls basketball and boys basketball.
For the second year in a row, the Coastal Preps Girls Basketball Player of the Year is junior Saniya Rivers from Ashley.
Saniya’s Accomplishments
In her first year in an Ashley uniform, Saniya Rivers took the girls basketball program to new heights. They went 25-5 and reached the fourth round of the 4A playoffs for just the second time in school history.
The Screaming Eagles went unbeaten in Mideastern Conference play for the first time and claimed the conference tournament title for the first time since 2012.
Rivers reached double figures in points in every game she played and finished the season averaging 25 points, 11.7 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 4.2 assists and 2 blocks. She scored a season-high 37 points on two occasions and had 19 double-doubles and a pair of triple-doubles.
For the second straight season, Rivers was named the N.C. Gatorade Player of the Year.
More about Saniya
Favorite Food: Lasagna
Favorite Restaurant: PT’s Grille
Favorite Movie: Love & Basketball
Favorite athlete: Chelsea Gray
Favorite memory from the season: Hitting two free throws to take us into overtime against Laney and winning by four.
Favorite thing about your school or team: The supporting coaching staff
At what age did you start playing basketball?: 4
Do you have any superstitions or pre-game rituals? I listen to old school music before the game.
If you could play another sport professionally, what would it be?: Track & field
Who is your biggest role model: My parents
What hobbies do you have outside of participating in sports?: Shopping
What app on your phone do you use the most?: Instagram
What is your dream job?: To play basketball professionally without it feeling like a job.
Are you a morning or night person?: Night
Do you prefer cold or hot weather?: Hot
Would you rather revisit a moment in the past or look ahead to a moment in the future?: Revisit a moment in the past
Would you rather watch a movie at home or in the theater? At home
Who has the best doughnuts in town? Wake and Bake
