MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Just over a year ago, Mallory Collier was practicing at Bartlett High School getting ready for a State Championship game. Now she's getting ready to play in the in the Final Four with NC State.
"It's been definitely a crazy experience," Collier said. "I'm definitely blessed; just look at how many people wish they were in this position, especially as a freshman."
This is the first time Bartlett girls basketball coach Wes Shappley has ever seen a former player win a tournament game, let alone be part of a Final Four team.
"There are so many things that have to go right," Shappley said. "Any kid that plays Division 1 athletics has a chance in playing in some sense on the biggest stage when it's all said and done, but to actually see it, that's special. It can't get any more special than that."
Shappley first saw Collier ball out as a sixth grader.
"I was like, 'that kid is going to be big time,'" Shappley said.
Collier spent her junior and senior years at Bartlett, where she would play nationally ranked teams. She finished her senior season averaging 11 points and over seven rebounds a game.
Those stats saw her ranked as the 55th best player in the class of 2023 by ESPN. According to her dad, she also had more than 85 college offers before she decided to sign with NC State.
"Our coach at Bartlett, he used to make us run miles every day...Getting to college I look back, and I'm like, 'Yup, he definitely prepared me for this,'" Collier said.
The Panther turned Wolf has played in 21 games for NC State this season, scoring 45 points and totaling 38 rebounds. The center has only stepped onto the floor for four minutes in the tournament, but she's making the most of everything this experience has to offer.
"My time is coming. Like, I'm used to playing a lot, but speaking with my coaches, I'm a freshman again, so I have to learn how the college lifestyle is," Collier said.
Mallory's father, Marquis, said he is excited about this new experience for his daughter.
"Her being at NC State - being able to play with girls at a higher level - can't be doing anything but help her in the future," he said.
Marquis played college basketball for UT Chattanooga and advanced to the Sweet 16. According to Marquis, Mallory has always said she would get further than him. Not only has she done that in her freshman year, but she had to beat Chattanooga in round one of the tournament.
"I'm extremely happy that she had the experience to get past where I made it," Marquis said.
On Friday, NC State plays undefeated South Carolina for a spot in the National Championship game. If the Wolfpack can pull off the upset, it will be the program's first-ever title game appearance.