By Niveen Rasheed, Princeton ‘13
IvyLeague.com: Why did you choose to attend an Ivy League institution?
Niveen: I chose to attend an Ivy League institution because I wanted the best of both worlds: academics and athletics. I chose Princeton to be a part of a world-renowned academic institution, while also having the opportunity to create a powerhouse culture and winning legacy for the Princeton women’s basketball team.
IvyLeague.com: What comes to mind when you think about the Ivy League?
Niveen: A collection of the most elite.
IvyLeague.com: How do you feel your Ivy League experience helped prepare you for your career?
Niveen: There are no shortcuts when it comes to being an Ivy League student-athlete. You have to learn to adjust and adapt at all aspects during your collegiate career. There is no slack given to you just because you are an athlete; if anything, more is expected of you because you are an athlete. The values and mindset I gained during my college years are the foundation of how I attack my career now, a “get it done” competitive mentality that is ready to handle anything.
IvyLeague.com: What makes an Ivy League experience different from other schools?
Niveen: The major difference is the network you gain through your college experience that continues to grow throughout the rest of your life. I knew Princeton would open doors for me that I never would have dreamed of; as I get older, I see it’s more than just the Princeton network, it’s the entire Ivy League. Even six years out now, you feel a bond toward other Ivy Leaguers (especially Ivy League athletes) that will connect you for life. It is an elite membership that is earned and those shared experiences have allowed me to connect with people in various industries all over the world.
IvyLeague.com: What athletic accomplishment are you the most proud of/has the most significance to you?
Niveen: The athletic accomplishment that I am most proud of is the dynasty that my teammates and I brought to the Princeton women’s basketball program. Buying into Coach
Courtney Banghart’s vision, and turning that into four-straight Ivy League titles is something I do not take for granted. We created a culture of winning that is still going on today.
IvyLeague.com: What is your most memorable experience from your time as an Ivy League student-athlete?
Niveen: The most memorable experience from my time as an Ivy student-athlete was the first time the program broke the AP Top 25 rankings. That is when we knew that we had shattered the dated stereotype the Ivy League basketball wasn’t good enough to compete with the rest of Division I.
IvyLeague.com: How did your Ivy League experience compare to your expectations?
Niveen: My Ivy League experience was a crazy dream that came true. I chose Princeton over some big Pac-12 schools because I could not pass up the opportunity of a world-class education, and I hoped that my D1 basketball dreams wouldn’t be compromised with this decision. Fortunately, I walked away with the best of both worlds and was able to compete with the best in the nation with Princeton across my chest.
IvyLeague.com: What Ivy League school did you enjoy competing against the most and why?
Niveen: My favorite Ivy League games was Harvard. It was a love-hate relationship, but it was always a battle where you had to leave it all on the court.
IvyLeague.com: How has Ivy League basketball evolved since your time as a student-athlete?
Niveen: I am so proud of how Ivy League basketball has earned the respect it deserves nationally. Not just Princeton, but all of these Ivy League schools, the Ivy League competition cannot just be written off anymore.
IvyLeague.com: What would you share with a prospect deciding on attending either an Ivy or non-Ivy League school?
Niveen: Look beyond the four years of college and take away sports and what do you have? The best education in the world. The respect you get for attending an Ivy League institution will carry you for life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The weight of being an Ivy League athlete is immeasurable.
IvyLeague.com: How has the Ivy League community impacted your life or career?
Niveen: The Ivy League community again has given me the opportunity to have the best of both worlds and continues to be very much a part of my life. I have come across numerous Ivy League alumni and athletes since I graduated in 2013, many of whom have helped me in some way succeed along my career path. I am still very close with Coach Banghart, my teammates and my friends from college and look forward to maintaining those relationships for the rest of my life.
IvyLeague.com: What is it like when you meet another former Ivy League student-athlete, and have you ever worked with another former Ivy League student-athlete?
Niveen: There is this unspoken bond when you meet another former Ivy League student-athlete. You both have an automatic respect for one another. Being an Ivy League student-athlete means that you must fulfill a higher standard than other students. You must uphold the same academic standard, and your athletic commitment does not excuse that. Nothing is given or made easier, if anything, you are expected to do more.
I have in fact worked with many Ivy League athletes. Fortunately, throughout my career I have surrounded myself with other Ivy League athletes, and even hired a former Harvard basketball player.
IvyLeague.com: What kind of relationship do you have with those you competed against during your time as a student-athlete?
Niveen: It is always fun to meet and create relationships with former athletes that you used to compete against. Especially being in New York, you somehow find yourselves surrounded by them since you inevitably share all the same values and are much more similar than you ever wanted to believe.
IvyLeague.com: Who were your idols while you were an Ivy League student-athlete?
Niveen: My idols and strength during my Ivy League career was my family. They were the biggest support system in helping me choose to go to Princeton and continued that support until the day I graduated with an Ivy League degree.
IvyLeague.com: What does it mean to you to be a Legend of Ivy League Basketball?
Niveen: My career at Princeton was a surreal experience. It was hard to contextualize in the moment of how much my teammates and I accomplished during those four years, and the legacy we left with the program. To be able to still celebrate the legacy six years later is something that I do not take for granted. My Ivy League experience has left a lasting effect on me, it is a gift that keeps on giving and I am honored to be named a Legend of Ivy League Basketball. I am proud to have made as much of an impact on the league as it did on me.
IvyLeague.com: What are you looking forward to most about the Ivy League Basketball Tournaments?
Niveen: I am looking forward to seeing my Tigers compete and bring home the Ivy Tournament Championship and watch them dance on the big stage again.
IvyLeague.com: Are you still involved with your alma mater, and if so how?
Niveen: Princeton and Princeton Basketball are still very much a part of my identity. I am so proud of my alma mater and try to give back and stay involved as much as possible. The Princeton basketball network continues to give even after you graduate, so I try to give back to the program with mentorship and being the loudest fan possible in the stands.
Niveen Rasheed was a Princeton women's basketball student-athlete from 2009-13. She is a member of the 2019 Class of Legends of Ivy League Basketball that will be formally honored during the 2019 Ivy League Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments on Saturday, March 16, at the John J. Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, Conn. Purchase tickets at
IvyMadness.com.