VCU’s Hollingsworth leaving a legacy

Let's begin by dispelling a myth: Quanitra Hollingsworth hasn't been at Virginia Commonwealth University longer than the fountain in Monroe Park. It only seems that way.

Hollingsworth, the Rams' all-Colonial Athletic Association post player, arrived at VCU in 2004 as a 15-year-old high school prodigy.

She will depart in May as a 20-year-old woman who has earned an undergraduate degree, made significant progress toward her master's and - in her spare time - helped transform the school's women's basketball program from dreary to something resembling dynamic. She particularly is proud of the latter accomplishment.

From the moment she signed her VCU letter of intent, Hollingsworth said, "I had one goal. I wanted to make this program better. I knew it wasn't going to be a cakewalk. I knew I wasn't coming to a team that could guarantee me four rings and four NCAA tournaments. But that was OK. Whatever I got, I wanted to earn. I didn't want anything given to me. I wanted to see my team and my program grow. I wanted to be able to say, 'I helped do that. I was a part of that.'"

Hollingsworth can say it now. And if she is reluctant to do so, the Rams will say it for her. VCU has won 51 games over the past two seasons.

A bit of perspective: In the first 32 years of its existence, VCU's women's program suffered though 21 campaigns that produced records of .500 or worse. Until last year, the Rams had produced more 20-loss seasons (three) than 20-win seasons (two).

Hollingsworth, 6-5 and uncommonly athletic, has been key to the Rams' refurbishment.More steady than spectacular, she spits out double-doubles (16 this year, 53 for her career) with monotonous regularity. She will carry averages of 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds into this weekend's CAA tournament.

"She's been the face of the program since the day she got here," Rams coach Beth Cunningham said. "That's hard - I don't think people understand exactly how hard. It's tough enough to deal with that kind of responsibility when you're 18. But when you're 15?" Cunningham shook her head. "That's amazing."

Hollingsworth, who graduated two years ahead of schedule from Great Bridge High in Chesapeake, has blossomed during the past 12 months - not only as a player but also as an individual. She is more poised, more confident, more disciplined, less likely to surrender to adolescent emotion. She is growing up. But she is in no hurry to grow old.

"There'll be plenty of time to be an adult when I leave [VCU]," said Hollingsworth, who hopes to use professional basketball to defray the cost of graduate school. "But right now, I just want to relax and kick back and be a teenager. I still have moments when I just want to be a little kid. My TV is still tuned to the Disney Channel. I still love my [Saturday morning] cartoons."

When spending free time with teammates, she said, she is likely to gravitate toward 18-year-old freshmen than 21and 22-year-old upperclassmen.

"I like to stay young and have fun and act goofy," she said.

Away from the classroom and the basketball court, she said, "I don't take too many things too seriously. I don't think there's a lot in life that's worth stressing over."

Even so, there is little doubt that she has matured to a significant extent. She said her first-team all-CAA distinction, while satisfying, wasn't the thrill she once thought it would be.

"Being recognized for what you accomplish as an individual is nice," she said. "But being recognized for what you accomplish as a team is a lot nicer."