“Riley has great size and length which allows her to see the floor a step ahead of most competitors. She has a high basketball IQ and understands the smaller details of the game.”

Ali Hashemzadeh

Head Coach - head coach of Seneca Valley High

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-1 junior guard and forward had led the Coyotes to a 22-0 record and a berth in the Class 4A state quarterfinals at the time of her selection. Nelson averaged 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per game through 22 games. Ranked as the nation’s No. 36 recruit in the Class of 2023 by HoopGurlz, she played just one game as a freshman before breaking her wrist and then missed her entire sophomore year because of the pandemic.

Academic Achievement

Nelson has maintained a weighted 4.24 GPA in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Maryland beginning in the fall of 2023.

Exemplary Character

An American Legion Community Service award winner, Nelson runs her own help-the-homeless foundation, which raises money and organizes clothing and food drives for local shelters. She has also volunteered locally preparing Thanksgiving meals for the needy and as a youth basketball coach.