After three incredible seasons at Norwell (Mass.) High School, Grace Oliver made a tough decision that she hopes will pay off in the long run.

Now he’s starting his college basketball career in Colorado and he’s reaping the benefits of that decision.

“It definitely worked,” he told BuffZone recently.

After his junior year at Norwell, Oliver chose to transfer to boarding school and reclassify, which meant repeating his junior year. After two seasons at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Mass., Oliver feels ready for his journey at CU.

“It’s a huge thing on the East Coast and nowhere else — boarding school and the whole reclassification process,” said Oliver, one of four freshmen on the CU women’s basketball team. “I think just getting another year of buckling up, both basketball and socially and practicing living away from home — and academically — is really good.”

Oliver said he chose the most academically challenging school but that it also helped him develop his game. A 6-foot-1-inch winger, Oliver comes to CU hoping to contribute right away.