The debate is over. The list of the greatest Lady Bulldog basketball player is one. Riley Harvey slams the door on all discussion with her “four-pete” of being named the District MVP in all four years of her varsity career. The only person in Howe history, if not Grayson County, to accomplish such a feat, Harvey’s response to the award was not one of individual recognition, but instead to shift the accomplishment to point out the importance of the team over individual achievements.
“It’s definitely a team sport and we all have a role to play and I think everyone did a great job at that.” said Harvey. “It helped me excel and hopefully I helped them out. That’s what you have to do as a team.”
Harvey is the second of six children to parents Brice and Keri Harvey, both of which graduated from Stephen F. Austin where their 4-time MVP daughter will be headed to play basketball in the fall on a full scholarship. After being a 3-time District MVP, Harvey didn’t take for granted the role she had to play her senior year, “I wouldn’t say it was expected it, but I wanted it and hoped that would be the outcome.”
She looked at her freshman year on varsity as one of being crucial for her development.
“That year was the most exciting for me because that team was fun to play with. I thought each and every one of my teammates could have had the (MVP) award.” said Harvey. “I didn’t even know they gave awards at that time. But I thought Morgan Bailey would have got it so I didn’t expect it at all. That year I wasn’t expected to be a leader, not that I don’t love that role, but I got put in different positions and they (seniors) were telling me what to do. I got to learn from them because they were all great players. I carried a lot of what they taught me in the years later.”
Sometimes having success so early can put pressure on an athlete to make sure and repeat their performances. But Harvey says she thrives on that environment.
“I kind of like pressure.” said Harvey. “I think it makes me better. It just pushed me harder to try and get it again and then hopefully more.”
In 2015, Harvey was named to the All-State team and hopes for another spot this year. Her basketball life began in Howe at the age of four in the Howe Youth Basketball Little Dribblers Organization.
Her first coaches were Michelle Carney and her mom. Even at four, she was one of the taller players. But it wasn’t until after seventh grade basketball that she really began to feel a special connection about her future and the game of basketball.
“I started playing select basketball so that I could potentially go to the next level.” said Harvey. “I played softball for awhile and actually had to quit because it conflicted with summer basketball. I really just wanted to try it out for a year and see how it went. I was really hesitant at playing select ball at first because I was scared that I might not like it.”
But that never happened. She continued to play select basketball throughout her high school career and never burned out due to, she says, because her parents never forced her to play.
“After every game or tournament, my parents would tell me that if I didn’t want to play that I didn’t have to.” said Harvey. “They never pushed me to play and it was always my decision and that helped.”
There are no regrets of leaving aside her softball or volleyball playing days. She is a one-sport gym rat and only wants to play basketball.
“I’m not against people that play other sports obviously, but because I love basketball so much, I don’t want anything to do with other sports.” said Harvey. “I enjoyed volleyball, but I didn’t love it.
As mentioned before, Harvey is only one of six Harvey kids. Her older brother Brice Jr., herself and sophomore brother Ty now can help out the parents by driving the younger kids to different events. Those younger siblings are Ally, Emma and Tate, all of which are also athletes. Ty was the sixth man on varsity basketball team this season and the next Harvey in line is Ally, who is also an impressive basketball player in her own right. But some might feel a little sorry for the younger Harvey girl who will be a freshman next season and expected to fill the shoes of older sister.
“She just got on the select team that I was on.” said Harvey. “They had their first practice the other day and everyone kept asking her if she was Riley’s sister, because we look alike, I guess. My mom was a little worried because what’s expected of her isn’t going to be the same as what I did. She’ll be a good. We’re a competitive family. She’ll be good.”
Riley Harvey benefited from the rare advantage of going from one Coach Lands to another. Shannon Lands is the eighth grade girls basketball coach and her husband Derek is the varsity girls basketball coach. Harvey feels that helped tremendously with the transition her freshman year.
“Mrs. Lands eased us into a game that we would be playing in high school and that helped us.” said Harvey. “It also helps to build a program and a future.”
Harvey’s Howe basketball future is behind her and she reflected on the final game against Grandview in the area championship that knocked the Lady Bulldogs out and finished the senior careers.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. We’d played them before.” said Harvey. “We didn’t expect to lose by 20. They fought harder. We could have closed the gap but we never did. They physically and mentally pushed us with the press. It was like a mental block that we couldn’t overcome.”
The game ended a three-year run of four starters working together towards a common goal. Those four included Harvey, Holly Hawkins, Darci Foster and Alissa Smith. As sophomore starters, they paid no attention to their youth and inexperience and marched their way to the playoffs until finally losing to Alvord.
“I just remember people saying, ‘they’re so young,’ but after that year, you only have two years left” said Harvey. “At some point, you just have play. Even if you’re 15-year-olds playing against 18-year-olds – that’s why you’re on varsity – you can do it. When we lost to Alvord, we had two years left, but those two years went fast.”
After graduation, she will head to Stephen F. Austin State University, as her parents did. Due to excellent planning and taking college classes while in high school, she will obtain her Associates Degree even before she will be presented with her High School Diploma in June. Her plans are not to be on the basketball team, but her plans are to play the game she loves.
“I know that it’s not going to come easy. I’m going to have to work at it just as I had to the same in high school.” said Harvey. “I know what it takes to make it as a freshman and I know how much work it takes to start. That’s why I’m working out now and trying to get stronger because I know that I won’t be the tallest in college.
With always one eye on the future, she can see life after basketball and will be majoring in Communication Disorders with visions of becoming a Speech Pathologist. With four years of eligibility to play basketball, because of her diligence in both the high school and college classrooms, her scholarship at Stephen F. Austin will actually pay for studies towards her masters degree.
There have been a number of Lady Bulldogs who over the years would be in the conversation as the greatest to ever wear the black and white. Players like Amber Murray, Taylor Murray, Cheryl Anderson, Jordan England, Mickey Dutton, Carlene Wilson, Marsha Bonner, Tania Bement, Robin Stonebarger, Michelle Haynes, Amy Campbell and others are always on the front of the tongue for fans of the Lady Bulldogs. Four years from now, we very well could be talking about another Harvey girl having great success for the Lady Bulldogs. But for now, Riley Harvey and Riley Harvey alone can stake claim to the greatest Lady Bulldogs basketball player to ever wear the black and white. It’s amazing what happens when a very talented individual coupled with intellect and a vision while having a great supporting cast can achieve.
