Rian Forestier aims to 鈥榤ake an impact鈥� with USC basketball
SAN ANTONIO (BVM) 鈥� Brandeis High School girls basketball player Rian Forestier knows a thing or two about impacting a game. The rising senior guard did as much this past season for the Broncos as she led them to a 20-11 record by averaging 24.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 6.2 steals, 5.4 assists and 3.8 blocks en route to UIL District 28-6A MVP and Class 6A all-state honors.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e incredible honors but for me it鈥檚 just more motivation to keep getting better and just a stepping stone for what I really want to achieve,鈥� Forestier said.
Brandeis' Rian Forestier, Clark's Arianna Roberson and Wagner's LA Sneed headline this season's Express-News All-Area girls basketball teams.
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews)
Her well-rounded game also attracted a number of Division I programs to her talents. With two dozen offers to consider, Forestier ultimately committed to the USC Trojans over a number of other schools including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and Oregon, among others.
鈥淚 feel really good. I found a college that fits everything that I want. I found a family and a second home so I feel great about it,鈥� Forestier said. 鈥溾�淭o start it鈥檚 an incredible academic school and that was one of the main things I was looking for. It鈥檚 a top-25 academic school as well as a top-25 basketball program. I believe it’s a school that is on the come up and I can go in there and make some impact.鈥�
I鈥橫 HOME! 鉂わ笍馃挍鉁岎煆火煆�. GOD鈥橲 FAVOR馃檹馃徎
— rian forestier (@rian_forestier)
The guard is ranked as the No. 53 player in the Class of 2024 by ESPN鈥檚 HoopGurlz rankings, putting her among the nation鈥檚 elite. She has proven it too through a solid game that saw her finish in the top-10 in scoring in all of UIL girls basketball.
鈥淚 can shoot really well, I鈥檓 a pretty good defender, I鈥檓 a pretty good all around player,鈥� Forestier said of her game. 鈥淚 like to use my length a lot, I like to get everyone involved. I feel I鈥檓 a good leader on the ball or off the ball. I鈥檓 the type of player that鈥檚 going to work for whatever I can get. My game is always improving and I鈥檓 trying to improve every day.鈥�
Appreciate the recognition. Thank you! Not done yet.
— rian forestier (@rian_forestier)
This tenacity for improvement is likely a trait Forestier inherited from her mother. Rian鈥檚 mother, Denise, is a San Antonio basketball legend in her own right and even played D-I basketball, first for Texas and later for UTSA.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. I wouldn鈥檛 be anywhere near where I am today without her,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so incredibly blessed for her.鈥�
While Denise has always provided the love and support of a mother for Rian, she is also a great mentor for her daughter as she鈥檚 made her way through the recruiting process. When the two made the trip to the USC campus, they knew it was the right choice for Rian.
鈥淎side from her guiding me she just told me to find a fit and a place that would be like a second home to me and I would feel it when I knew what college I would go to,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we both got when we went to USC.鈥�
While her mother has unsurprisingly been a great source of inspiration and information for Rian, she also got unprecedented access to one of the best women鈥檚 basketball players and coaches of all time. Last year, Rian was featured in a Bleacher Report and AT&T alongside Las Vegas Aces head basketball coach Becky Hammon. During their brief time together, Rian was able to pick the brain of the women鈥檚 basketball legend.
鈥淭hat was incredible getting to meet Becky Hammon. She鈥檚 a legend, that was so big for me and I was glad to be there,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淚 was trying to pick her brain the whole session. She is incredible, she really is a legend, she鈥檚 the GOAT.鈥�
A few weeks ago I had the honor of working and being mentored by the GOAT on Bleacher Report/AT&T segment called She鈥檚 connected. So much fun & blessed to have worked with emmy nominee producer Shirley Williams. The segment will air in January. Amazing experience.
— rian forestier (@rian_forestier)
Even with a busy schedule that included college visits, commercial tapings and basketball games and practices all year round, Rian has still found time to give back to her community. Last October, Rian launched her non-profit fundraiser 鈥�4ward鈥� with the goal to help raise money in order to buy underprivileged female youth basketball players the proper equipment, such as shoes, to play the game.
鈥淚n the summer is when my mom and I really talked about it and started thinking about it. We just wanted to get it out as soon as possible and try to help as many kids as we possibly could as early as we possibly could,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淲ith basketball season coming up we figured that would be the best time to help them.鈥�
Rian鈥檚 fundraising efforts have been embraced by the community. Since its launch, 4ward has sold over 800 t-shirts and, with the help of the San Antonio Spurs , was able to provide new basketball shoes to over 50 students at Pat Neff Middle School, a Title 1 middle school in the city.
鈥淚t’s been incredible. This community and this basketball community has helped it so much,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even express how grateful I am. Everyone has been so giving and I truly cannot express how blessed I am for the people around me.鈥�
Approx.75% of title 1 ms student athletes do not have the proper shoes to play the game. 4WARD鈥檚 mission is to remove that obstacle. Your continued support with purchasing a 4WARD tshirt is appreciated & has tremendous impact. Thank you for the awesome video.
— 4WARD (@4WARD_RIAN)
With one season left at Brandeis, Rian is focused on leaving the school with a memorable senior campaign.
鈥淢y goal is to go out with a bang. I鈥檓 trying to achieve as much as I possibly can while making my teammates around me better. I want to go out with an incredible year.鈥�
Once with the Trojans, Rian is focused on not only being part of the team, but making an impact early in her tenure. Given her playing style, she feels she has a good chance to do just that.
鈥淥n the court I鈥檇 say [I鈥檓 an] incredible competitor. I want to win all the time and I want my team to win all the time,鈥� Rian said. 鈥淚 want to make an impact at USC and try to get us a title obviously with the teammates around me and the coaches I have.鈥�
