Selfless Reiven Douglas helping North Carolina A&T while competing for bigger purpose

Each dribble, pass and shot is a tribute, a quiet promise to give her all.

Every time Reiven Douglas steps onto the court, she does so with her family in her heart and meaningful reminders that reflect a deeper purpose. The treasured memories sustain the 5’8 North Carolina A&T senior guard as she competes with an iron will and grit.

Basketball is more than a game for Douglas — it’s an opportunity to continue to push herself to new heights, uplift those around her and honor the memory of Raiquan Massenburg, a friend who died in a 2023 boating accident.

They shared the court, bonding over basketball, his lethal jump shot an instrument of beauty. She recalls the jokes — sometimes at her expense. But what Douglas holds closest are the words of encouragement that continue to inspire her. Douglas learned the transformative power of being selfless by witnessing his work in the community.

In addition to a tattoo on her left thigh of the words “Carpe Diem,” the letters R and M are capitalized in tribute to him.

“He lived by Carpe Diem, which means seize the day,” Douglas said. “This was just kind of a reminder every time I want to be able to share his story. His impact on his community was what was most special to me. He was just a light in general. I wanted his name to live on.”

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She’s doing her best to keep his essence alive by living each day to the fullest, being a difference-maker, spreading joy and demonstrating why every successful program needs a veteran like Douglas, who adds value beyond the stat sheet. Her leadership, commitment and positivity have been the glue of excellence for the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball program. 

With her butterscotch-and-black-colored ponytail tucked beneath a navy headband, Douglas sits near the head of the bench between members of the coaching staff, absorbing wisdom and dispensing encouragement to her teammates. Whether clapping for a teammate who has just come off the floor, keeping them focused during challenging moments or holding them accountable for their responsibilities, Douglas’ enthusiasm lifts everyone around her.

“I wish instead of having her one year, I had her for four years,” North Carolina A&T head women’s basketball coach Tarrell Robinson told The Next following a 65-49 victory over Delaware last Friday night. “She’s a local kid out of the state and has been a tremendous communicator. She’s been exquisite as an example on and off the floor. … She’s our backup point guard when we have to sit Jordyn (Dorsey), and we want to put Jordyn off the ball. She’s one of our hardest workers, and I’m happy to have someone like her in our program.”

North Carolina A&T has been doing a lot of winning lately. The first-place Aggies haven’t lost since the calendar flipped to 2025. With a six-game winning streak, they are the only CAA team without a conference loss through two weekends after claiming hard-fought road victories over Delaware and Towson.

The public may witness 5’9 senior guard Jordyn Dorsey as a reliable offensive force, averaging 15.5 points over two games of the Aggie mid-Atlantic road trip. They may have seen that 6’4 senior center Chaniya Clark sealed a crucial victory at Towson by swishing a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winning shot.

They may even discuss how 5’10 graduate guard Maleia Bracone showcased her versatility against Towson with a key corner 3-pointer, pulling the Aggies to within two points minutes after firing an airball. Bracone’s shot triggered a chain reaction of momentum, leading to the Aggies’ game-ending burst.

Yet, while numerous other players have contributed, like 6’0 sophomore forward Paris Locke, 5’11 sophomore guard Darrionna Howard and 6’1 graduate forward Ajia James, the Aggies’ defense has been stellar. During their winning streak, they held five of their six opponents to fewer than 55 points. North Carolina A&T is 8-7 overall with home games against Drexel on Friday and Stony Brook on Sunday on the docket this upcoming weekend.

However, Douglas’ intangibles have been just as critical to their success behind the scenes.

“She is very vocal, which is something that we need, or all teams need,” Dorsey said of Douglas’ contributions. “She’s not afraid to point out things that need to be said. I think it’s important to have accountability from everyone, not just from captains or returning players but also from new players, so she’s a critical piece to this team.”

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It hasn’t been easy for Douglas, whose younger sister, Reychel, plays basketball for the University of Alabama. Even though she had season-highs of six rebounds against North Carolina on Nov. 12 and six assists against North Carolina Central on Nov. 25, Douglas admitted she’s faced challenges despite her talent and tenacity, particularly with confidence.

Yet, she approaches each day with a commitment to improvement, reminding herself that growth is a journey to be cherished, not a destination. Her inked inspiration — each holding personal meanings related to personal growth, staying true to herself and faith — provided comfort during her time at Quinnipiac as she adjusted to being away from her North Carolina roots.

“My transition here has been good and challenging,” Douglas told The Next about transferring to North Carolina A&T after appearing in 58 games at Quinnipiac. “It’s been a lot of learning, but I’ve loved every step. … I know just all that comes with being a part of this program. I know that it’s a huge responsibility, but it means everything. What we’re doing, especially this season, has just been special. We’ve been working hard ever since the summer. It just means everything to have that Aggie Pride.

“Not many people find a home like this coming out of the [transfer] portal. I play and try to improve because I was granted this opportunity. The next thing I play for is my family. My parents have so much belief in me and also poured so much into this journey. I want to show them the return on that investment.”

It was a commitment that started when Douglas began playing the sport at 4 years old against boys, before being coached by her dad, Ray, who ran track at North Carolina State. As Douglas got older, her passion for the sport grew. Then, she started playing more competitively, fueled by the relentless dedication and determination of her friend, Jamia Hazell, who currently plays for James Madison.  

“When I first started to get into rec league basketball, I was terrible and clumsy,” Douglas said. “I couldn’t catch a ball, was scared of everything and shot the ball over the backboard at least once a game. But she was just excellent and worked so hard. She kept looking for me on the court, passing me the ball and talking me up, and from there, I decided I wanted to work hard at this and get better and be able to do what she does.”

After entering the transfer portal, Douglas, a Raleigh native, emailed Robinson, who was already looking for a veteran combination guard who could score and handle the ball. They spoke on the phone, and Douglas signed after visiting the historic campus, where a bronze statue of the “Greensboro Four” stands as a powerful tribute to four courageous young men — Ezell Blair Jr. (now Jibreel Khazan), Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and David Richmond — who made history on Feb. 1, 1960, by staging a nonviolent sit-in at the whites-only lunch counter of the Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, challenging racial segregation.

“It was a match made in heaven,” Robinson said. “She’s just a fantastic kid and is always energetic. Her voice was heard encouraging people … and holding people accountable for scouts. We are glad to have her in our program.”

Douglas also wants to help others. As a distinguished Alpha Kappa Kappa sorority member, she takes advantage of numerous community service opportunities such as cleanup projects, food bank volunteering and reading to elementary school children to make an impact.

It’s another reason she’s deeply committed to storytelling and is a budding broadcast journalist. Giving people a platform and the space to share their trials, tribulations and journeys is meaningful to Douglas. She recently launched her podcast, “The Journey,” where she explores topics close to her heart and serves as a sideline reporter for home North Carolina A&T men’s basketball games whenever her schedule doesn’t conflict with road trips.

“I believe everybody has a special story,” Douglas said. “I learned that sharing people’s stories and having them learn from each other makes people feel included, less alone and helps them navigate life. I believe everybody has something about them that not everybody knows. I’ve tried to bring people in and get there to tell their stories. So that’s my biggest passion for journalism, which is telling people stories, creating storylines and letting people know that everybody has something special about you that is deeper than what meets the eye.”

After a thrilling 61-59 victory over Towson, Douglas, clutching her cell phone in her hand, embraced in a warm hug with her mom, Evelyn, her rock. Her engaging smile lit up the darkened facility — only illuminated by streaks of late afternoon sunshine splashing in through the concourse windows — as she laughed, snapped photos and celebrated with 11 family members and friends who attended the game to support her and the Aggies.  

Douglas is still writing her story, but her dedication to the Aggies, devotion to her family and inspiration drawn from her late friend are already leaving a mark of distinction. Douglas is showcasing that success isn’t just about talent, playing time or statistics — it’s about faith, resilience, showing up and a willingness to keep striving for more.

“Faith, that’s my number one thing,” Douglas said. “God is my light. My relationship with him has grown throughout my college career. Being a God-fearing woman is my number one thing. I’m just really grateful to be given this opportunity.”

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