House Resolution 40

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING VICTORIA VIVIANS FOR HER NUMEROUS ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AND FOR BEING CHOSEN BY THE INDIANA FEVER IN THE 2018 WNBA DRAFT.

WHEREAS, Victoria Vivians, perhaps one of the greatest basketball players in Mississippi's history, has been honored with numerous athletic accomplishments throughout her basketball career and was chosen by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft, an outstanding achievement for Victoria and an honor for the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, born on November 17, 1994, as the daughter of John and Angela Vivians and Deborah Peatry, Victoria moved from Carthage, Mississippi, to Forest, Mississippi, and transferred to Scott Central High School where she began her indomitable rise to become one of the most elite basketball athletes in the nation, scoring 30 points during a game against the local rival school when she was just in the eighth grade, which placed her on the basketball map and successfully garnered the attention of many college scouts in attendance; and

WHEREAS, averaging almost 40 points and 15 rebounds a game during her junior year, Victoria received numerous letters from colleges, each pleading with her to play on their court, but as she narrowed her choices to Florida, Mississippi State, Louisville and Kentucky, she ultimately decided to attend Mississippi State, with the deciding factor being her unwavering dedication to her family, since the other three out-of-state colleges were each at least an eight-hour drive from her family; and

WHEREAS, during Victoria's illustrious high school basketball career, she accomplished many exceptional achievements: she scored 5,745 career points, a national record; she was the two-time first team All-American; she led the nation with a 46.2 scoring average as a senior, bettering her own state record and ranking fifth in national high school records; she was Mississippi's Miss Basketball her final two seasons; she was the four-time all-state selection; her high school jersey hangs in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Ring of Honor; and she has a permanent tribute in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her many high school honors and awards, Victoria's athletic prowess and basketball accomplishments landed her a scholarship to Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, where she majored in human sciences while representing the Bulldogs as a guard on the court, and she helped lead the team to four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three Sweet Sixteens and appearances in the championship game in 2017 and 2018; and

WHEREAS, during her legendary tenure at Mississippi State, Victoria received numerous honors and awards including the CSpire Gillom Trophy in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; the Associated Press First Team All-American for 2017-2018; the NCAA Kansas City Co-Most Outstanding Player for 2017-2018; the NCAA All-Final Four Team for 2017-2018 and 2016-2017; the First Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches) for 2017-2018, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015; the SEC All-Tournament Team for 2017-2018 and 2015-2016; the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2014-2015, and being dedicated to academic excellence, she was honored with the SEC Academic Honor Roll for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017; and

WHEREAS, Victoria was also honored with being the 2nd at Mississippi State University and the 9th in the SEC in career scoring with 2,527 points, and she was named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American and was the 1st 4-time Gillom Trophy winner (Mississippi's top women's college basketball player); and

WHEREAS, a stellar senior season, her last in the Bulldog maroon and white, earned Victoria First-Team All-American honors from USA Today, and she was honored for the first time by the 32-member National Media Panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week; and

WHEREAS, during her historic campaign, she became the third player in Mississippi State's history to pass 2,000-career points, scoring 2,400 points during her time in Starkville and entering the NCAA Tournament 21 points shy of tying Tan White for second at Mississippi State; and

WHEREAS, striving for excellence, Victoria boosted her field-goal percentage from 42.5 percent in her junior season to 48.6 percent as a senior, and the two-time All-American averaged 19.8 points a game in her final season, leading the Bulldogs to a 37-2 record, the best record in school history; and

WHEREAS, while her basketball awards abound, Victoria is not just a phenomenon on the basketball court, but also on the homecoming court, as she reigned supreme as the 2017 Homecoming Queen at Mississippi State, being dubbed "Queen Victoria" by students and faculty across campus; and

WHEREAS, Victoria has been tremendously blessed with a supportive family, especially her father who made it a priority to attend each of her basketball games, but because he drives an 18-wheeler, he often had to juggle his trucking routes with her schedule but he would change his routes or do whatever it took to make sure he arrived in time to see his baby girl play; and

WHEREAS, the 6-foot-1 senior forward who came to Mississippi State as the best player in Mississippi high school basketball history transformed herself into a go-to player for the Bulldogs, capping her career with a second straight trip to the NCAA Championship game; and

WHEREAS, Victoria's outstanding talent on the basketball court at Mississippi State garnered the attention of Indiana Fever Head Coach Pokey Chatman, and she was chosen eighth overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 WNBA Draft on April 12, 2018, a truly exceptional and life-changing achievement; and

WHEREAS, a small-town girl making big-time moves, Victoria will take her Mississippi roots with her as she moves to Indiana, along with her steadfast dedication to her family and immense appreciation to all those who helped her succeed along the way; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend great Mississippi athletes, especially those such as Victoria Vivians, whose unwavering dedication and astounding triumph have inspired all Mississippians to strive for excellence in all facets of their lives, bringing honor to Scott Central High School, Mississippi State University, the communities of Carthage and Forest and to this great Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Victoria Vivians upon her numerous basketball accomplishments, and especially for being chosen by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 Women's National Basketball Association Draft, and express our deepest wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Victoria Vivians and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.