Livonia athlete’s journey to play college hoops is Disney material
Sarah Sylvester is the first Texas Christian University student-athlete to earn dual-sport status in the Big 12 era.
Livonia native Sarah Sylvester possessed all the skills to play Division 1 college basketball once she graduated from high school in 2022; her retired hall of fame hoops coach at Birmingham Marian, Mary Cicerone, is certain of that.
“Sarah was an exceptional basketball player for us,” said Cicerone, whose final season at Marian was also Sylvester’s senior year. “You don’t see many 6-foot-2 players with her footwork and skill level.”
The primary reason Sylvester didn’t choose to continue her basketball career following an extraordinary four-years-on-varsity career at Marian is because she was an even better volleyball player.
With a buffet of D1 college volleyball offers on the table, Sylvester chose Texas Christian University, where this past season her 138 total blocks were the sixth-best single-season total in program history.
She also set a TCU three-set match record of 13 blocks against Utah State on Sept. 8, 2023.
Two-sport star
As much as Sylvester may have loved (and thrived at) basketball, it became crystal clear very quickly that she made the right decision regarding her collegiate sport of choice.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when, following a phenomenal 14-0 start, TCU’s women’s basketball team was decimated by injuries.
By mid-January, the Horned Frogs’ 14-player roster had been reduced to six, forcing the program to forfeit two games due to a lack of players.
Shifting to desperation mode, first-year TCU Head Coach Mark Campbell organized an unprecedented open tryout for TCU students so that the team could at least finish the final two months of its season.
Once she heard about her university’s basketball team’s predicament, Sylvester asked volleyball coach Jason Williams if he was cool with her attending the tryouts, according to ESPN.com.
Thumbs up from coach
Williams not only consented, he attended the tryout to watch his star middle blocker play her second-best sport.
Sylvester impressed Campbell and his staff so much that she was added to the basketball team’s roster — making her TCU’s first dual-sport athlete in the Big 12 era.
She debuted Jan. 23 in the Horned Frogs’ 66-60 victory over the University of Central Florida, missing her only shot attempt (a three-pointer) in one minute of action.
In Rudy-esque fashion, Sylvester scored her first collegiate point Feb. 7 against Oklahoma when she drained one of two free throws.
While her playing time has been understandably limited during her six-game career, Sylvester’s decision to assist her school’s athletic program is beyond commendable.
And due to Sylvester’s commitment, the Horned Frogs’ women’s hoops program has at least one additional fan.
“I watch TCU whenever they’re on TV now,” Cicerone said, smiling.
“I’m happy for Sarah. I always like to see my former players go on to play in college. Her situation is unique, obviously, but very cool nonetheless.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
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