Early PIPs (Players in Progress) member Ryleigh Dalleh had a chance to show her basketball handling skills with a group of PIPs from across the state at the halftime of the UT vs. OU women’s basketball game in Austin on Saturday, January 5th.

Dalleh was selected to perform in the halftime show after being nominated by her local PIP Coach Meldina Mitchell.

Coach Mitchell explained that the PIP has to learn the ball handling drills and do them correctly in a certain amount of time. The PIPS that are nominated have to be well disciplined and be very efficient in their skills and are nominated by their local coaches.  Then they are chosen by the National PIP office according to their skills and abilities to be able to work well with other PIPS to learn a performance together in a short amount of time. The PIPS chosen are from several different locations in Texas.

“Ryleigh is very experienced in her skills and is a great asset to our Early PIPS. She has been very dependable and is always encouraging the other PIPS to do their best,” said Coach Meldina Mitchell.  “She has worked very hard for the last 7 years to become the great PIP that she is today.”

Dalleh herself stated that she loved the experience; she was very excited and honored to be chosen to participate.

“Doing PIPS at UT, it was so much fun, it was a great experience,” said Dalleh.  “I was glad that I was chosen to go.”

Dalleh is pictured above left and the group she performed with is pictured below.  Photos contributed.