It has been a remarkable stretch for one Madison basketball family.
Nyajaucni “Nya” Riak, a rising junior at Madison La Follette High School, recently earned a spot on the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team, placing her among the top young players in the country. Around the same time, her younger sister, Nyagol Riak, received her first Division I scholarship offer from the University of Florida before even beginning her freshman year of high school.
For the Riak family, the past few weeks have marked a major milestone and another sign that one of Madison’s most talented basketball families is continuing to rise.
At just 15 years old, Nya is now competing alongside some of the best young talent in America. Earning a USA Basketball roster spot is one of the highest honors available in basketball and further cements her growing national reputation.
La Follette head coach Will Green said Nya’s development has been driven by her versatility and maturity on the court.
“Nyajuacni continues to prove why she’s one of the top young players in the state and country,” Green said. “At only 15 years old, making the 17U USA Basketball team is a tremendous accomplishment and speaks to her versatility, work ethic, and basketball IQ.”
Green expects Nya to take another leap heading into her junior season.
“Going into her junior year, we expect her to be a dominant force this season. She can play every position on the floor, and we look forward to her being a major piece of the success for La Follette High School basketball.”
While Nya’s USA Basketball selection brought national attention, Nyagol is already beginning to create momentum of her own.
The 6-foot-2 wing, who will enter La Follette as a freshman this fall, recently picked up her first Division I offer from Florida, an early indication of how highly college programs view her potential.
Green said the offer reflects Nyagol’s commitment to improvement.
“Nyagol is a hard worker who is always willing to learn and improve,” Green said. “Getting her first Division I offer from the University of Florida is a testament to the time and effort she’s putting in.”
He believes she has the potential to become an important part of La Follette’s future.
“As she continues to grow and develop, we believe she can become a key piece of the future for La Follette High School basketball,” he said.
For Green, the story also carries personal significance. The Riak family’s connection to the La Follette program stretches back years through older sister Nyenhial, whom he coached during his first season leading the program.
“It’s also special for me personally because it’s truly a family affair,” Green said.
The simultaneous rise of both sisters highlights the growing level of talent coming out of Madison and Wisconsin girls’ basketball as a whole. National recognition and Power Four scholarship offers are becoming more common for elite Midwest prospects, but it remains rare to see two siblings attracting this level of attention at the same time.
Now, the Riak sisters are giving Madison basketball a moment worth celebrating.
Nya enters her junior season as a USA Basketball player with national momentum. Nyagol begins her high school career already holding a major Division I offer. Together, they represent not only the future of La Follette basketball, but also the continued emergence of Madison talent on the national stage.
