Senior Spotlight: HolliJo Harvey

HolliJo Harvey is a forward and combo guard on the Riverside Indian School basketball team in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

“I started playing basketball when I was in the fifth grade…as soon as it became available to me, there really wasn't much to it,” she said. “I mean, I was the kind of girl that just wanted to play every sport available to me, and at the time, the only things you could play were softball and basketball. So, I kind of got into that field, and my mom…was extremely good in high school with basketball, and I think that just kind of carries into me…I guess carry on that legacy, but yeah, she was awesome, and I felt like it was just kind of bound to happen.”

Harvey participates in track.

“I started track probably in middle school. I do shot put in the 100 meter dash, which I think I do well in shot put more than I do in 100 meter, and that's kind of something that…I do like, I guess, keep me in shape, but it really doesn't keep me in shape because it's a sprinting event,” she said. “…But I enjoy sprinting more than…my long-distance events…but shot put, I think I do pretty well in that. I haven't competed here yet, since I mean, I'm at a new school, but at my old school, I mean, I would place like two or three.”

Harvey is also a lifelong softball player.

“I've been playing softball since I was in 8U, so since I was eight years old. I kind of transitioned from like third base, and then when I got into high school, my sophomore year, I became a catcher. And then my junior year, I was catching as well, and then I transferred here and, unfortunately, I didn't get to play fast pitch my senior season,” she said. “…And then slow pitch, I'm not completely sure where I'll play yet, but when I did play slow pitch at my previous school, I was right center.”

Harvey is the senior class vice president and helps fundraise for senior events.

“We actually planned our senior sunrise…which that was fun, but…I think lots more to come whenever we get towards the end of our senior year,” she said. “Because that's whenever we start planning more things, so right now it's just being kind of chill and just raising money for um those events.”

In her junior year, Harvey earned her 1,000-career points and was inducted into the 500 Rebound Club. She received all-tournament team honors twice at the Caddo County Tournament, was nominated for Prep Nation’s Player of the Year, was named Oklahoma All-State Honorable Mention, and, this year, received all-tournament honors at the Chickasha Tournament. Harvey said her team has won all three tournaments they were in.

Off the court, she said maturing as a person was a personal accomplishment.

“There was a lot I had to go through a lot of adversity…I had to transfer schools. I had to do a lot for myself,” Harvey said. “I think the biggest thing, the biggest accomplishment, and a lot I'm proud of myself for is choosing myself and doing what I thought was best for me.”

When she graduates, Harvey will miss her teammates most.

“I say a majority of my teammates are underclassmen, and that's the biggest heartbreak. I remember being an underclassman and my seniors leaving and that hurt, so I can't even imagine how I'm [going to] feel then,” she said. “So, definitely my teammates, I mean, the atmosphere here is definitely different, I mean, my teachers, I love my teachers. Pretty much…about everything, I mean, it's a hard place not to miss…I can't speak for a lot of people, but for me, in my experience here, it's [going to] be everything I'm just [going to] miss it.”

Harvey plans to play collegiate basketball and get a degree in meteorology.

“I've always had a special interest in weather, I mean…I was crazy [about it]. I mean, I would always watch the weather channel and just watch different things about the weather. I was just very fascinated by it,” she said. “I mean, it's just like I don't know, it's just different, but yeah, I've always just had some type of fascination towards weather.”

Tornadoes are Harvey’s favorite weather phenomenon to observe.

“As unfortunate as it is, we live in one of the best states for that type of weather, but that's what makes it so awesome,” she said. “I mean, that's what makes it so cool. Like you have such…an environment to study and like be surrounded by and like not many people have that, which I'm not [going to] say it's the most fortunate thing ever, but it's so much like it just puts you in a good position to…get to know the weather better.”

Harvey said going to school at Riverside has kept her in touch with her heritage. She enjoys activities, including fashion shows and traditions, such as being cedared before games and powwows.