WASHINGTON (December 18, 2024) - For Saniyah King (Washington), every layup, assist, rebound and roar from her large family section echoes a legacy that began long before she ever stepped onto Howard University's hallowed hardwood floor inside of Burr Gymnasium.
 
It is more than a basketball game for King—it Is a family reunion stitched together by shared stories, hometown pride and Howard's historic campus where numerous members of her family, including her mom, Stacey Pettiford, have attended.
 
Although she cannot recall exactly how much time she spent on Howard's campus, the 5-foot-7 freshman point guard vividly remembers attending games as a child, dreaming of the day she would be in the spotlight, creating unforgettable moments. Back then, she was the young fan waiting in line for autographs. Now, the roles have reversed — King is the one signing posters and shirts, posing for photos with wide-eyed kids who see her as their inspiration, a role she embraces with grace and humility.
 
Amazingly, of the 11 family members who attended Howard before her, including her mom, King is the first student-athlete. King spent so much time at Howard before officially enrolling that she could have been mistaken for one of the campus's iconic landmarks, like Founders Library—the historic site where Thurgood Marshall prepared his briefs for the landmark Brown
v. Board of Education case.
 
One of King's aunts, Melissa Estrado, is the president of the Howard alumni association, and her godsister is the captain of Howard's "Ohh La La" dance team.
 
King had a vision long before Howard offered her a scholarship as a sophomore in high school.
 
"I remember coming up to Howard with my trainer because he's also a videographer and he was taking some pictures and stuff," King recalled. "He had just finished training; he asked me if I wanted to go. I remember sitting in the stands saying to myself, 'what if I play here?' Just thinking in my head as a kid, and that day, I got an offer from Howard University."
 
Attending Howard is personal for King, who was encouraged by her mom to attend in a school out of the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) region only because she wanted to reduce potential distractions for her daughter. King is a DMV basketball icon.
 
King is excited when some of her former AAU coaches bring their younger players to watch her play and hear wisdom from the energetic King. It is one of many ways that King is giving back to the sport she loves.
 
She knew Howard was where she belonged, following her family's sacred footsteps mattered.
 
"It means a lot to me to play at Howard," King said. "Just being able to be an example for other girls and athletes, in general, that are coming out of the DMV because the DMV is a very competitive area. So, being an example right here, in front of them, is a great feeling. It is an amazing opportunity and I am very familiar with Howard. I automatically felt at home here. I also love the sisterhood that the program has created. I can feel myself creating at Howard with my teammates and others now."
 
Just 12 games into her fledgling career, King has made an immediate impact for the Bison, who are 6-6 overall as it prepares to compete in the Saint Joseph's Hawk Classic this weekend (Dec. 20-21) in Philadelphia. The Bison meet the host Hawks Friday (Dec. 20) at 11 a.m. Howard will play either College of Charleston or Northwestern Saturday (Dec. 21) at 11 a.m.
 
A decorated D.C. native who was a standout player at private Catholic preparatory school Bishop Ireton and a key component on her AAU team, Team Durant EYBL, King has delivered more dimes than a bank teller recently. She has finished with at least six assists in seven of Howard's last eight contests. King's 14 points and career-high nine assists helped Howard terminate Army West Point's seven-game winning streak.
 
With this being the season of giving, King is third nationally among freshmen in assists per game at 4.9 per game, the same category in which she leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The only freshmen who average more assists than King are UCLA's Elina Aarnisalo (5.7 per game) and Florida's Liv McGill (5.5). King has also been named MEAC Rookie of the Week four times through the first six weeks of the 2024-25 women's basketball season.
 
"That's crazy," King said, being ranked third among freshmen nationally. "That means a lot to me because I love assists, especially as the point guard. I got to feed my team, get people going and put the ball in the right spots at the right time. Seeing that and me focusing on getting my teammates the ball tells me my hard work is paying off and it is just amazing to me."
 
Of course, watching King compete with the tenacity of a bear disturbed during hibernation on the floor, nobody would ever guess that basketball was not her first love. King played flag football and soccer growing up. Ultimately, during recess, she developed a passion and love for the sport of playing against boys. From there, the rest was history for King, who did not play on her first organized team until middle school.
 
One of the players she vividly remembers watching when attending games was Howard graduate guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.). King admired Howell's game and enjoyed head women's basketball coach Ty Grace's personality.
 
Now, Howell and King are teammates. Howell has been impressed with King's development. The dynamic duo has developed a special bond as Howell affectionately considers King her "little sis."
 
"Saniyah has been a great addition to the team in all aspects," Howell said. "The first thing I noticed about her is that she is not scared of work, she does not duck no smoke and I love that. She is a good teammate who leads by example and always tries to motivate us when needed. Her positivity and confidence are transferable; we can feed off that. Overall, she is a good person, making it easier to be a good teammate. Saniyah is just the player you enjoy and want to play with. She plays with a pace and boogie that cannot be taught. Since she first got here, we all knew she was a bucket and had some tough moves in her bag, but most importantly, I am glad she has /been able to translate to the game for her. Now, everybody can see what we have been watching brew for months."
 
King stands out on the court with fierce determination and a sly smirk that hints at a hidden joy. Her vision is as sharp as an owl at night, allowing her to read the game effortlessly. She thrives on sharing the ball and attacks each play with the intensity and flair of her favorite players, Ja Morant and Arike Ogunbowale. King's leadership and character have become invaluable assets to the program, elevating her teammates and the game.
 
King has adjusted to the faster pace of playing Division I basketball, but she has also understood how to control the tempo and when to switch gears. Her mentality has been the ultimate separator for King, elevating her from ordinary to special. The scary part is that her best days are ahead of her.
 
King admitted she settles for too many jump shots. She wants to consistently attack the basket more, believing the increased pressure King places on a defense, the easier it will be to set her teammates for quality and higher percentage scoring opportunities.
 
"I feel like a point guard needs to have a dog mentality," King said. "When it is game time, it is time to eat, like, I am hungry. I have been working. It is time to go; get a win. That is my end goal. So, I got to go hard from start to finish. I take everything personally. Some people tell you, do not take it personally, but I take it personally. If somebody is going at me, I am going at them 10 times harder. You are not scoring more buckets on me than I am scoring on you."
 
King is more than a passer. She can also score, as evidenced by her 8.5 points per game average. She has scored in double figures six times, including a career-high 17 points against New Hampshire (Nov. 23). King also had an electric fourth-quarter performance in a 69-66 win over George Washington (Nov. 8), in which she scored all 14 of her points.
 
"Even though I was playing hard and good defense, I struggled throughout that game," King said. "I was eager to play against a school I wanted to beat. When I made my first bucket of the game in the fourth quarter, I fell on the floor and was screaming with teammates. That was my proudest moment this season so far."
 
King, who was an AP scholar and member of the National Honor Society in high school, stays grounded off the court by her family and faith. She loves cooking and her specialty is chicken Alfredo. King chose Howard because of the great coaches, basketball program and academic excellence.
 
Being close to home has made her journey even sweeter. It allows King to play relaxed and shine on the court before her family while inspiring the next generation of youngsters who look up to her.
   
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.