When a Dove Soars

Maybe it was when you landed your first job? When you won your first race? Or maybe when you won your first high school championship, bringing the title back to your school after 27 years?

Ny’Ceara Pryor, a senior Western Dove and a future Sacred Heart Pioneer soared at her highest height this year and she’s only getting started. This meek but “nasty” guard sat down with InvinciblePR to explain the adversities of being a leader, her definition of winning, what she hopes her legacy will be, and how this year’s championship changed her life!

IPR: THE CHAMP IS HERE [ laughs]. Thank you for agreeing to sit with me.

NP: [ grins] Of course, always a pleasure to sit with another Western Dove.

IPR: Always a pleasure to sit with a state champ [laughs]. Congratulations again, by the way. Awesome win!

NP: [smiles] Thank you.

IPR: So, tell me how did you get started in basketball?

NP: [Grins] Actually, I wanted to play football.

IPR: Football? [ smiles] NP: Yeah, but my father said “maybe football isn’t for you because you aren’t a boy so let’s try basketball.” From there, my father put me in “in house”, which is also called Youth Sports Program and known as Wise P. I played there for three years and from there I played on the travel team for boys.

IPR: Is it more difficult playing with boys?

NP: Kind of, but not by much. The game doesn’t change, basketball is a game of runs, but my first year I did suck [shakes her head and grins]. I told my dad, “Dad I suck, I want to quit” he said “no, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you”. So, I just took the scripture and ran with it.

IPR: Literally [ laughs].

NP: Right! [ smiles]. I started playing with the boys’ team. A lot of the teams would say “there’s a girl on their team we don’t want to play them,” but the teams we did play, we beat them! My coach used to say “don’t worry about her she goin’ be good, just play basketball.” I would say by my father pushing me to pursue basketball and getting me into “in house” that’s how I got started in basketball.

IPR: Looking back on it now, do you believe basketball was the better choice for you or do you still wish you would’ve given football a shot, considering all of your athletic abilities?

NP: First, I thought football was definitely

my sport, even in middle school. I played running back and I always thought it was for me, but I think as time progressed and more opportunities opened up for me as a basketball player, basketball was the right choice. Sometimes people may not know their paths, but if they just stick to one thing it could become their path. Then the opportunities could become endless.

IPR: I agree. I’ve heard many people say, especially in sports that if you just stick to it and perfect it, opportunities and possibilities are endless. What would you say to someone who has more than one talent in different sports? You also run track, is that right?

NP: I do also run track in the off-season to stay in shape. I run the 400, 4x1, 4x2, and the 4x4. I would tell them it’s great to be diverse in sports but pick one and focus on that particular one and let all the others help you to perfect that one.

IPR: You’re a point guard. When you get to college, do you want to be universal and learn different positions or do you just want to be the best point guard you can be?

NP: In college I definitely want to be a point guard, but I also want to get the ball out of my hands to make space for me to have more opportunities to learn other positions. Sometimes with being a point guard everything lies on you so you really don’t have much room to learn anything else. If I can get someone else to bring

up the ball it could possibly give me and my teammates the chance to learn other positions. I don’t mind changing up my game just a little, but nothing too drastic.

Just enough to keep people on their toes [grins].

IPR: Oh you want the challenge?

NP: Of course. That’s the only way you become better, right?

IPR: [smiles] No arguments there.You all heard it here first, Ny’Ceara Pryor is ready for the challenge. Speaking of a challenge, how did you feel about winning this year’s state championship?

NP: The feeling was amazing! Still is. We actually watched Clarksburg play two days before we played them and they were blowing out the other team, we were like “whoa, we gotta bring it”, and not only that they had 12-14 players while we only had seven. Game day was wild! Their student section was packed and they were hyped. I can’t lie, we were nervous. I had four fouls in the first half so my coach had to sit me down. One of the hardest things I had to do was watch my team look and feel defeated, even our student section looked as if we were already defeated. In that moment, it was hard to be a leader but I still had to be one. I had to tell them “things are going to be okay I got yall, and yall got me; let’s go out here and do what we do.” After that I don’t know what happened, maybe the leader in just took over. I went out there and played the best

game of my life! It was the most amazing feeling! To see everyone hit the floor clapping and cheering us on afterwards— [shakes her head] my heart was still racing two weeks later.

IPR: WOW! Life changing.

NP: Life. Changing.

IPR: How did you still manage to score 40 points after having four fouls? How?! [laughs] NP: [smiles from ear to ear as she shakes her head] What’s crazy is I didn’t know I scored 40 points until I looked up at the end of the night. I was like “oh gosh I got 40?!” But to answer your question It. Was. Just. About. Winning. I also had a lot of emotions in that game. I don’t know if you saw the video, but I was rolling around on the floor after the game because we made history! For seven women to come back from COVID-19 and win a championship at Western High School, that’s a lot! And for me I just remember saying “I didn’t want to have to go home after experiencing another loss--we felt that before. We went to state and lost. We knew what it was like to get to the end of a season and not win the championship. I didn’t want that feeling again. I wanted to win everything! I wanted it all!” Another thing I believe helped a lot was us not fighting so hard to keep the lead, but growing the lead. We learned that once we played St. Frances.

When we don’t protect and keep the lead going you see a whole different game.

“I don’t want to have to go home after experiencing another loss—we’ve felt that already, we’ve been to State and have loss, we know what it’s like to get to the end of a season and not win the championship, I didn’t want that feeling again. I wanted to win everything! I wanted it all!”

IPR: It comes to you.

NP: Exactly! That was the biggest thing for us—to keep going no matter what and to keep the refs out of our heads! I also think keeping them out of my head helped me to get that 40 ball.

IPR: Were you shocked that you scored 40 points?

NP: In that particular game, yes, but that’s not my first 40 ball. When we played Spalding High School I scored 40 then again at the All-Star game.

IPR: WOW! I think 40 is your number [laughs].

NP:Yeah, I think 40 is my number [says excitingly throwing hands in the air— smiles]. If I could make more shots, I could probably hit a 50 ball, I don’t know [laughs].

IPR: 40 points! Amazing. Now that we’ve declared 40 is your number, do you think when you get to college you’ll attempt to increase it? “Let me see if I can do 42, 44, etc.” or are you ok with 40?

NP: Honestly, I don’t care if I only get 2 points, I just want to win basketball games. I never cared about the points so when I get to college I don’t think that will change. Now don’t get me wrong, if I get the ball I’ll score, but I’m not going into the game with the mindset “I’m scoring 40 tonight” or “I’m scoring 50 tonight”. No, I want to get my teammates involved and from there the career will come to me. I have other things to work on besides getting a 40 ball.

IPR: Well, clearly you don’t have to work too hard [ laughs] NP: [smiles] You know what I mean, I’m sure there are other things as a team we could be working on and developing; so hitting beyond 40 is not something I’m looking to achieve but if it comes I’ll take it.

IPR: Understood. I keep hearing you say “I want to win games” what’s your definition of winning?

NP: Of course championships, rings, etc. all comes to mind first, but besides that I think winning is when you can lose with dignity.

Anytime you’re putting your best foot forward, win, lose, or draw, that’s a win to me.

IPR: Has that always been your mindset or did you develop that over time as a leader?

NP: I think it developed over time as I became leader. Remember, when I first started playing basketball I wanted to quit because

I thought I sucked. When I became a leader and understood the amount of work winning requires, and learned I could still lose a game (as long, as I did my best) with dignity that’s still a win for me.

IPR: Do you think you grew into being a leader at Western or did you come in as a leader?

NP: I don’t think I came in as a leader.

I think being at Western among other leaders helped to groom me for the role.

When I came in as a freshman, I was in the background—I sat back and observed other leaders. I took the time to understand what my team needed in a leader and I stepped up starting in my sophomore year and each year I stepped it up a little more and now here we are [grins].

IPR: Yeah, that tends to happen, they groom us into leaders [smiles].

IPR: Do you feel the pressure of being a leader at times?

NP: YES. Especially during this championship game. I felt as if the pressure was on me because I knew we only had seven players and yet I was going out there fouling, allegedly [laughs]. I believe when you’re a leader there are certain things you are supposed to do. When you don’t do them your coaches for the most part, are going to blame you. For example, if we would’ve lost that game because I fouled out, then that would’ve been on me.

So yeah, it’s a lot of pressure that comes along with being a leader and sometimes it’s overwhelming. It requires me to take a step back from it all and then come back.

It’s hard for sure.

IPR: During half time, what locker room pep-talk did you give the team as a leader?

and all it has to offer a student athlete-good and bad?

NP: I don’t want to say when you’re in high school it’s easier to balance your mental and physical health, but it is because it only requires time management. I feel like when I get to college a lot of the academic portion will play part in me staying on the court and being a leader. I think it will be a hard adjustment my first year but as time goes on I will get better at certain things.

IPR: First, thank you for your honesty and being brave to admit that because most students wouldn’t. Second, I think your first year will definitely be a transitional period as I’m sure it was from middle to high school NP: [ Interjects, RIGHT!] IPR: The same thing will occur from high school to college; it’s just a different type of transition—the classes are a little harder, you’ll have to study a little longer, or even change your study methods, but the good thing is you can pick your own schedule and because you’re going in as a student athlete your counselor will be more willing help you with any adjustments you may need to make in your schedule. This is me speaking from past experiences, I used to be an orientation leader for the incoming Freshman and transfer students. Don’t worry, you got this! [smiles].

NP: Oh for sure, but thank you [grins].

IPR: Do you believe Gabby Johnson helped you develop your leadership skills since she’s a leader as well? I believe I read something that said you’ve been playing together since 6th grade?

NP: Yeah, we have played together since 6th grade. It is easy to play with her NP: I apologized for fouling four times, but because we’ve been playing together for I also said “this is where we are, we have so long and we know what each other is to play through adversity” and we went capable of—we push each other regardless back out there. I felt like after that we of what’s going on. As far as leadership were all locked in, I know I was. I prayed when I’m slacking Gabby steps up, when saying “God, help me; just help me to get she’s slacking in her leadership I step up, through this game.” I took a deep breath and if we’re both slacking someone else and stepped back on the court. steps up, that’s just what we call sisterhood, accountability, and just being a good IPR: Do you believe because you’ve already teammate. experienced the pressures of being a high school athlete that you’re ready for college IPR: I read something that said before you

played for Western you went to Coach Tasha and told her “I’m going to win that championship when I come play for you.”

NP: [grins] Yeah, I did. My sister actually played for Western, so after one of their games I walked up to Coach Tasha and told her I wanted to play for her and that I was going to win the championship. Coach then explained to me that coming to Western has to be my choice and that to win a championship I have to want it. Of course, we see I chose Western. I had to choose between Western or McDonough High School.

IPR: I think having faith and speaking things into existence is huge! And it boggles my mind you said “I’m going to win you a championship” and then actually did it! I don’t know if you know, but many athletes share that story—they speak it then eat, sleep, and breathe it until its reality. Jayson Tatum told his elementary school teacher he wanted to be a basketball player and she told him to dream a more realistic dream. Durant wrote it on his wall. Jaylen Brown was in the arena watching a game while in college and said “I want it so badly, I’ll be back don’t worry” and now he plays of the Boston Celtics. Speaking of professional players, who are your favorite players, both WNBA and NBA? NP: WNBA is Skylar Diggins-Smith. I. love. her. I’ve loved her game since she’s played for Notre Dame. When I first saw her I said “She is nasty!” And when I saw her get drafted I was happy for her, because she wasn’t like everyone else; her motive was different. I had an opportunity to see one of her college games and no one could guard her because she just had the motive to go! I also love Courtney Williams— she’s nasty and small. She reminds me of myself. In my mind that’s who I want to play like. I want to have her nasty jumper [shakes her head with excitement] her jumper is nasty—I just love her game.

IPR: Do you think you’ll follow her game in particular a little closer?

NP: Not just hers, there are a lot of guards who’s game I like—such as Chennedy Carter, I love her game too. It’s something about these nasty guards [smiles with excitement]. But there has to be a difference between nasty and humble, you gotta have that nasty-humbleness and all

three of them have it. They’re not trying to boast; they just know what they can do.

stipulation was you had to finish college, what would the ultimate wish be?

IPR: Teacher by day, trainer by night?

As far as the NBA, LeBron James is my favorite player. I love LeBron James because no matter what team he’s on, he plays the same; his game does not change.

It doesn’t matter if he has help or not he plays with the same intensity and he makes his teammates better. When LeBron played for Miami his game was the same. When Kyrie Irving decided to leave him and the Cavaliers he still played the same and I love that about him.

NP: With my crystal ball, I need two more crystal balls. [both laugh]

IPR: Does it matter what you teach?

IPR: Ok just this once you can have three, but you have to list them in order. [both laugh]

NP: I want to teach math. I am very good at math— I love Algebra I & II, to me they’re very easy.

mind “whoever’s in front of me

IPR: No way! [giggles] I didn’t do well in Algebra I or II, but I did like Geometry.

I’m go to kill them every time until

NP: yeah.

NP: [smiles] Ok, deal. With the first crystal ball I want to be drafted to the WNBA, with the second I want to play on the Confessional basketball team, and with the third I want to be an elementary school teacher. The reason I want to be IPR: I am not a LeBron fan, but I do agree an elementary school teacher is because I with you he is talented and I will never take that away from him. My favorite player want to help and to create a safe space for students who really need it. I think is still Allen “A.I.” Iverson. I believe his teachers are so focused on educating that story was short lived, he could have had it’s no longer fun it’s just work, work, work. a long lasting career in the NBA plus he’s I think when you make learning fun at a made NBA history. young age, students will take it, run with NP: [shakes her head in agreement] I love it, and make it their own. When kids have A.I. too My ANU coach suggested I watch that creative ability when they’re youngsome of his games because he wanted me er, anything is possible—so that’s what I want to do if I become a teacher. I want to develop his killa crossover –see he’s to incorporate creativity in my lessons so nasty too. He’s one of those nasty-humble kids want to come back saying “what are guys. [laughs] we learning today?” My goal is to help kids IPR: If I gave you a crystal ball and the only and train them too.

NP: Geometry? Trying to learn all the angles? No thank you. [laughs] IPR: So you’re good at math, you’ll make sure your accountant isn’t stealing from you? [smiles] NP: For sure!

IPR: There aren’t too many educators who know how to do both, educate and create a safe space for creativity. Do you have one teacher in mind that made you want to teach?

NP: More than one for sure. My mom IPR:Your mom is a teacher?

NP:Yes! [smiles] and my pre-kindergarten teacher, Ms. Banister. She made teaching fun! No matter what she was going through she had a smile on her face. I know people say “pre-k is always fun” but she really made it fun. I wanted to come to school every day because she made every lesson fun for me. I think fun is what’s needed to help people get to the next grade—just knowing the next grade or the next subject is going to be fun. I think that’s important.

IPR: I agree. I think that’s extremely important as well. I think a lot of people who dropped out of school would have been more willing to stay if it was fun or just something that caught their attention.

NP:YES! IPR: I think it’s extremely hard to find teachers who will take the extra time especially now because there isn’t a lot of funding. A lot of schools are closing so many are just trying to stay afloat; so it’s hard to tend to every kid’s need or to find out what every kid is great at and to hone

“I had already implanted in my

someone stops me”

in on that. There are some teachers who can do it, so I think it’s great when kids are blessed with teachers like that.

NP: Another thing is when you can relate to them, that’s a big deal. A lot of these students don’t have a great support system in the household, so then school becomes their safe place and that makes them want to come back. That’s what I hope to create, school being their safe space.

IPR: Good Stuff. Do you think the court is your safe space or a home away from home?

NP: For sure! To be able to get in the gym, going up and down the court or just shooting around when I have stuff on my mind helps me. Because it’s a safe space for me. Even when I stop playing at the college and professional level, I’ll never leave the court because it’s my escape from the world.

I got that from my dad [laughs] but he did pass his genes down. [laughs]

in front of me I’m goin’ to kill them every time until someone stops me”

IPR: If you were the #1 draft pick, what team would you hope drafted you?

IPR: Oh you went into 9th grade ready? [says excitingly]

NP: Well Courtney Williams just went back NP: Oh yeah! to Connecticut so I would go there or the Mystics.

IPR: Of course as your basketball career advances you’ll meet more professional IPR: Ok, great choices. Why? players, who would you love to meet from both the WNBA and NBA? NP: I think I would go to Connecticut to get my footing in the league. The Mystics NP: [face lights up smiling from ear to ear] have a whole all-star team right now and I Skylar Diggins-Smith. She’s just an allwant to go somewhere, where I could play. around dog! She plays defense, offense, she Plus, Courtney Williams could help me cheers her team mates on even after her work on my game. [grins] pregnancy she attended every home game

IPR: Based upon whichever crystal ball you want to pick, what would you like your legacy to be?

NP: I would pick the elementary school teacher’s crystal ball. I want my legacy to be to helping kids. I think when kids come back twenty years from now and say “you really helped me become the person I am today” that’s when I’ll feel like I did my job; not when they go to the next grade because often times teachers will just pass students along and not take the time to actually teach and make sure they get it.

Twenty years from now I want my legacy to say “Ms. Pryor helped people”, “Ms. Pryor put a banner in Western High School”, and “Ms. Pryor coached Western High School.” I want to give back what people gave me; to be able to offer others the same opportunity that was given to me.

IPR: I think that’s an amazing legacy to want to have.You’ll pass down something they’ll remember for a lifetime. Speaking of passing things down, you mentioned your mom is a teacher, did you get your athletic abilities from her as well?

about your upcoming college career.

What school did you commit to for the upcoming fall semester?

NP: Sacred Heart College in Fairfield, Connecticut.

IPR: Congratulations! [smiles]. Why Sacred Heart?

NP: When I first pulled up to the campus I saw red, black, and white—Western’s colors [laughs]. It wasn’t the only reason although their campus is beautiful. I have the opportunity of possibly graduating early because I have college credits. A lot of the other schools that were recruiting me didn’t have my major. I also didn’t want to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) because it always seems the focus is on the men’s football and basketball teams and never the women’s. The women stands’ are never filled, meanwhile the men’s are full and overflowing. I also chose Sacred Heart for a change of scenery. I am close enough that I can drive home in case of an emergency, but far enough to gain independence and a commute my parents wouldn’t drive every day. [ laughs] IPR: The College rules have changed for athletes, you all can have endorsements how do you feel about that?

IPR: Have you had a chance to meet any WNBA or NBA players?

supporting and cheering for them. In the NBA, Kyrie Irving.

NP: The Mystics. Our team got a chance to IPR: Me too! I’m right there with you. meet them after a game.

NP: This year Kyrie had to endure.

IPR: Sounds exciting. Did you get a chance [both says] soo much. to sit and talk to them; ask questions or gain advice?

NP: And he still put his best foot forward.

NP:Yeah it was a meet and greet. I remember asking Natasha Cloud “what’s your mindset going into a game?” She said “I want to beat anybody in front of me” and it was as if a light went off I said “Oh! That’s got to be our mindset every time we step on the court, doesn’t matter who it NP: [grins] Both of my parents actually. My is—grandmother, father, grandfather it doesn’t dad played with Muggsy Bogues and my matter we’ve got to put our best foot mother ran track. Also my mother’s uncle, forward”. When I heard that I was just Luther Dean “Ticky” Burden played for the about to start the 9th grade and I had Los Angeles Lakers. I didn’t get his height, already implanted in my mind “whoever’s

IPR: [shakes head in agreement] Kyrie takes on a lot. He’s an active supporter of the WNBA, a humanitarian, an active philanthropist, and a new father. He’s amazing; to mentally be able to take on all of that and you can see it wearing on him.

NP: [anxiously interrupts]: But he doesn’t allow that to effect his game at all.

IPR: Not at all! It’s an amazing quality to have. Let’s switch gears just a little to talk

NP: I think it’s a great thing. I’m not going to lie, I love money and even though I’m on a full scholarship I could use the money—I could help others who aren’t on scholarship, my parents etc. Athletes back in the day didn’t have this opportunity and they had to figure it out. Now we don’t have to be in debt before getting into the league. I’m just glad they finally decided to give us athletes an opportunity.

IPR: Oh yeah, I think the opportunity is huge and I like you’re way of thinking—it can relieve you from creating debt before you’re in the league. So tell me something you want everyone to know that they don’t know.

NP: [Pauses and thinks] I used to sing but because I eat lots of ice and drink cold beverages to stay hydrated I can’t anymore.

Oh, I have one. I can do poetry. I performed at my 8th grade graduation.

IPR: OK! We have a poet on our hands

[laughs]. Poetry is good, it also helps you to flush out your thoughts and feelings.

NP:Yeah it does. My poem was about the mass shootings we’ve had from Columbine to Trayvon Martin IPR:You’re a poet, a math whiz, a future WNBA player, and you’re going to retire as a math teacher—you are going to have it all [both laugh].Your future looks very bright and I can’t wait to see it all unfold for you. I will meet you at the WNBA draft. Thank you again.

NP: Thank you.

Written by Freelance Journalist, Traveya Brown, Owner of InvinciblePR