Hillmon Rejects Invitation

Na’Sheema Hillmon turned down an invitation to play basketball at the U.S. Olympic Festival this week with good reason. She’s eight months pregnant.

One of the country’s top recruits last year, the 6-foot-2 Hillmon learned she was pregnant last Christmas. She received a doctor’s permission to keep playing, and she told no one at Vanderbilt of the news.

The forward went on to become the second-leading scorer and rebounder for sixth-ranked Vanderbilt. She was named to the Southeastern Conference all-tournament team after the Commodores won the title and finished 28-7.

Hillmon, 19, currently is home in Cleveland with her family. She plans to return for her sophomore season a couple of weeks after giving birth to a son. Her mother, Gail Hillmon, and other family members will care for the child while Hillmon concentrates on school and basketball.