Alivia Monroe signs with WVU Tech

Alivia Monroe and success on the hardwood have gone hand in hand over the years.

Along with her WV Legacy AAU triumphs, Monroe has been an integral part of two state high school championship teams and one runner-up for Wyoming East.

WVU Tech is now hoping Monroe can bring that magic formula to the college level and the River States Conference.

Wednesday afternoon, with family, coaches, friends and teammates in attendance, the former Warrior standout signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Golden Bears.

"I think it is a big relief to sign and get it over with," Monroe said, calmly. "We got together back in October when I went on a visit. Then I went back up there after the girls state tournament and we kept in touch."

The success attached to Monroe has resulted largely from her ability to stick to her strengths.

"One of my favorite things about Alivia and one of the things I like about this program are players that know who they are, and know what they are good at," Wyoming East head coach Ryan Davidson said. "Do what you are good at and stay away from the other stuff. I think she did that as good as anybody that I have been around. She was just a rock for us."

Current Greater Beckley Christian girls basketball head coach, Lane Acord, guided Monroe's highly successful WV Legacy team.

"Alivia has played for me since the seventh grade," Acord said. "She is such a hard worker. Alivia is a gym rat. She stays in the gym and she is eager to learn. Alivia is a kid that gives you 110 percent all of the time."

"More importantly, she is a good team player and an unselfish player," Acord went on to say. "She will do the dirty work. She is a good rebounder. You saw that when she played for Wyoming East. She will defend the bigs, but when she is called on to score, she can score."

The transition to the college game always brings an adjustment period. Monroe, however, will be better suited for the transition than most, thanks to her coaches and the regiment at Wyoming East

"When we traveled in AAU, she wasn't really a so-called big, big when we got out into some of the bigger tournaments," Acord said. "We would go against girls that were 6-foot-4, 6-5 or 6-6, so we would have to pull her away from the basket."

"Even when we would practice, I would make her do guard work," Acord continued. "When she gets to the college level, she will be more like a stretch-three or maybe a four. You have to be able to shoot that ball. She has a good touch and is a really good foul shooter which is a plus."

Davidson also talked about Monroe's readiness for the next level.

"I would like to think we do a good job of getting them able to move to the next level, because it is hard. They develop that work ethic here, which will translate up," Davidson said. "What (WVU Tech) is getting is a girl that will work as hard as anybody."

"Alivia is not afraid of the work and not afraid of the hard stuff. I think she will need to expand her game some in regards to shooting a little more in space, and she can do that."

While Monroe admits her scoring will be an area for improvement, she also brings some huge assets to the Golden Bear program immediately.

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"What (WVU Tech) is getting is a kid that rebounds the heck out of the basketball and is as unselfish as anybody that I have been around," Davidson said. "The locker room will be better because she is there and she will be a great kid in the classroom."

Monroe will study pre-Law and Business and will join three WV Legacy teammates in Beckley. Maggie Boroski and Mary Beth Meadows from James Monroe and Taysia Gray from Oak Hill.

"It is really exciting because I have played with a bunch of them (going to WVU Tech) through travel ball, or against them," Monroe said.