Nia Holloway, a 6-foot senior forward from Eden Prairie (MN) High, committed to Minnesota in October of 2020 and was a part of the four-member recruiting class that is considered the best in school history. She is ranked as the fifth best senior in Minnesota by Prep Hoops.
Holloway is part of a four-player recruiting class of local talent that are ranked as the second, third, fourth and fifth best players in the state. The recruiting class was considered the number ten class in the country. She will join Chaska forward Mallory Heyer, Wayzata guard Mara Braun and Amaya Battle from Hopkins at Minnesota.
Holloway is averaging 16.3 points per game this season for the Eagles, who are off to a 9-2 start. She has scored in double figures in every game, including a season high 26 against Maple Grove.
Holloway averaged 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a junior, scoring in double figures in 14 of 16 games. She had three games of 20 points or more points, including 24 against Chanhassen. Eden Prairie finished 14-6, losing to Minnetonka 57-52 in the section 2AAAA semifinals.
Holloway averaged 8.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore with a season-high of 20 points versus Wayzata. The Eagles lost to Lakeville North in the Class AAAA consolation game.
GopherHole recently caught up with Holloway Monday to learn more about becoming a Gopher and her senior season.
GopherHole: You have played some tough teams so far this season. Do you like playing those tough opponents to get you ready for conference play and the postseason?
Nia Holloway: Yes. I definitely enjoy playing harder opponents just because it get us ready for our hard conference.
GopherHole: You signed with Minnesota in the early signing period. Is it kind of a sense of relief that you are done with that and you can just focus on your senior season?
Nia Holloway: Yes, definitely. I think I just really like the pressure off of me, just so I can enjoy my last season.
GopherHole: I know that you were planning to take your official visit with the other signees. Is that what you ended up doing?
Nia Holloway: Yes, we did. We went during a Gopher game week, so we went to the football game and we ended up staying overnight. That was really a fun time with all four of us.
GopherHole: What all did you get a chance to see and do?
Nia Holloway: Just then we applied, obviously, just so we could get that out of the way to get rid of the early action stuff. We ended up going with our house, so the four freshmen now, Katie, Rose, Lauren and Maggie, they were our hosts, so we hung out with them a bit and then we ended up going to “Valleyscare” the next day with them, which was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun to hang out with the team and then we went out to dinner at Coach Whalen’s house.
GopherHole: Obviously, Coach Whalen was here to watch you play tonight. She has made getting the Minnesota girls a priority. Having her here, what does that mean to you?
Nia Holloway: I think it’s really cool. I love it. It just shows why I picked them because the support that the staff gives me, even though I’m not even there yet. It feels really good to have that.
GopherHole: Have you had a chance to see any of the Gopher games so far this season?
Nia Holloway: I’ve watched a few on TV and actually the four of us Gophers, we went to the North Carolina game, which was a really good game.
GopherHole: What has the impression been? What have you thought about the team?
Nia Holloway: I think they are improving every day. I’m super excited to maybe get there and help the atmosphere that the team has already paved.
GopherHole: We talked about this before, I think that all four of you have unique skills, but I feel that you can play well together and be on the court at the same time. Is that something that you guys have talked about?
Nia Holloway: Definitely. I think a lot of us have just been playing against each other for so long. We are just so excited to play with each other.
GopherHole: You play against two of those girls a lot with Wayzata and Hopkins being in the same conference with you. What is like to play against them?
Nia Holloway: It can get repetitive at times, of course, but I think it’s always fun. I love the competition and I’m just a competitive person. I love playing against them on the court and just joking with them off the court.
GopherHole: What are the expectations for Eden Prairie this year?
Nia Holloway: I’m really just hoping that we can improve every day. We really want to take it one game at a time, especially the four game stretch we had to start the season, so I think that improving every day, so we can get ready for our tough season ahead.