EP’s Nia Holloway receives big honor in McDonald’s All-American nomination

For the first time in a decade, Eden Prairie girls’ basketball has a nomination for the McDonald’s All-American Game.

EP’s Nia Holloway was one of 760 nominees for this year’s All-American game between the boys’ and girls’ games. The senior standout is headed to the University of Minnesota and is one of the state’s top players this season.

This is the first time an Eagle has been chosen for this honor since Jackie Johnson in 2012. She also was set to head to the University of Minnesota after her time at EPHS.

Holloway, a dynamic forward, has been a presence in the EP frontcourt for years now. She started as an eighth-grader playing for the Eagles’ varsity squad during the 2017-18 season.

As a freshman, she had a limited role, averaging 5.9 points per game. As a sophomore, she started to progress, averaging 8.7 points per game. 

Holloway entered her own during her junior season, averaging 13.8 points per game as her role increased with the Eagles. So far this season, she has averaged 16.3 points per game.

On Nov. 6, 2020, Holloway verbally accepted her scholarship to the Gophers. She will eventually play with a lot of her current high school rivals, including Mallory Heyer of Chaska and Amaya Battle of Hopkins.

Before she heads to Dinkytown, Holloway will attempt to get her Eagle squad back to state for the first time since 2020. EP currently holds a record of 8-2. The first loss came to Chaska, while the second came to Hopkins on Jan. 14.