Anastasia Hayes' jersey to hang at Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Cecil Joyce
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Former Riverdale standout and current University of Tennessee basketball player Anastasia Hayes will have her high school jersey hanging in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame for the next year.

The jersey has been placed at the WBHOF in the Ring of Honor, coinciding with the 2017 induction class, which will be held at Tennessee Theater in Knoxville on Saturday at 7 p.m.

"This is a big honor, to have my jersey put in the women's hall of fame," said Hayes, who enrolled at Tennessee in late May.

Riverdale's Anastasia Hayes (3) kisses the Championship Trophy after Riverdale's victory over Memphis Central in the Class AAA State championship game in March. Hayes' jersey will hang at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame for a year.

About 100 jerseys are hung in the Ring of Honor for a year before the process begins again at the 2018 hall of fame class induction. Those include college all americans and high school Gatorate Players of the Year.

Winning the Gatorade Player of the Year for Tennessee earned Hayes the honor.

Hayes was a McDonald's All American and was one of the finalists for the Naismith National Player of the Year after her senior year in which she led Riverdale to an unbeaten season and second straight Class AAA state title.

The Lady Warriors were also named national champions by both USA Today and MaxPreps.

Anastasia Hayes accepts her Girls Athlete of the Year Award at The Tennessean Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn.

Hayes averaged more than 22 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals a game during her senior season.

Even with her accolades, Hayes was surprised at the hall of fame honor.

"I didn't believe it," she said. "I was like, 'Really?' I was really shocked."

Hayes committed to Tennessee last October then signed with the Lady Vols in November.

Hayes won two state championships, was a Class AAA Miss Basketball finalist her junior year, won the Miss Basketball award her senior season.

She also played in the Jordan Brand Classic all american game.

The Daily News Journal's Girls Basketball Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year, she won the same two awards at Tuesday's Tennessean Sports Awards.

The six inductees into the women's hall of fame Saturday include MTSU women's coach Rick Insell, along with Sally Bell, Christine Grant, Sheryl Swoopes, Kara Wolters and Louise O'neal.

Hayes has settled in at Tennessee but is anxious to hit the basketball court.

"It's been good," Hayes said. "I can't wait to be out there with the other players."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.