All roads lead to Troy for the Leggetts

For most incoming transfers at Troy, they’re in uncharted territory. Unfamiliar with a new school and new classes, they feel overwhelmed.  

Rachel Leggett, one of the newest members of the Troy women’s basketball team, is just following in the footsteps of her older sister, former Trojan Amber Leggett.  

Before she ever stepped foot on a college campus, Rachel was exposed to the Trojans, seeing her older sister transfer to the university to play basketball under head coach Chanda Rigby, all during Rachel’s senior year of high school.  

“I always loved coming to watch her,” said Rachel Leggett about her older sister. “I had my permit, didn’t even have my license yet, and I was over here trying to drive to come watch her.” 

For Amber, it was a new school with new people, a completely different environment for her senior year – but she was close to home. Amber was only three hours up the road from her family and her sister, who was tearing it up on the court in her own senior season.  

“The nerves were high at first, but then it just felt like home,” said Amber , a 2023 Troy graduate. “ 

“As soon as my name jumped in that portal, they gave me a call, everything just aligned for me. The playstyle, the coaches, their energy, and being really close [to] home all worked. 

They told me on the first call that ‘we’re gonna win the next year, we’re winning next year and we just need you.’” 

Win is what they did, as the Trojans captured the 2021-22 Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship. Amber Leggett, the former Sam Houston State standout, averaged 11.8 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game.  

Now Rachel, in her own senior year of college and four years after her older sister, finds herself in an almost identical situation to Amber. A new school with new people, in a completely different environment – but she knew this was where she wanted to be.  

“It was just the energy and everything,” said Rachel, “I’m always hyper, and I’m always excited to be where I am.  

“I see that [energy] within Zay [Dyer], Stitch [Guion] and Emani [Jenkins] and everyone. I think that was super cool and just seeing the home atmosphere, the coaches really do care, that had a lot to do with it.” 

A homecoming of sorts.  

Just like most homecoming festivities, there was a parade. This time though, it was a parade of emotions. 

“It was very surreal,” said Rachel, “I never think I would have ever switched schools, old me would have just stayed at South [Alabama] another year. 

“It was a proud moment, I was like, ‘you really did it and now you’re hear at one of the best schools, the best school, in the conference.’” 

Amber said she was ecstatic to see Rachel carrying on the family tradition. 

“I can’t even redo the excitement and happiness I had whenever she called me and told me she was going to Troy,” said Amber. “I almost did a backflip, and I’ve never done one in my life before. 

“I was like, ‘really?’ and put my ring on, I think I put my graduation sash on and I know my family was so annoyed with me for that whole week.” 

Before Troy, Rachel was the star on a bad South Alabama team in the last couple of years, averaging 13.1 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game in her junior year as a Jaguar. Her junior campaign included a career-high 27 points against Troy, topping her old career-high of 26 against Troy.  

It was a steady climb into becoming a major contributor for South Alabama, a team she originally picked because of the chance to play against her sister. 

“I think a big part of it was wanting to play against Amber,” said Rachel. “I was like, ‘oh my gosh that’s something so cool I could do.’” 

When it came time to pick her next school, Rachel knew who she could lean on for advice.  

“Amber was the middleman,” said Rachel. “I easily could have watched their call ring and not answer. 

“She was like, ‘Just give them a chance,’ and she sent me their WNIT game versus Buffalo and was like ‘Tune into this real quick.’” 

Amber said she pushed Rachel to transfer to develop her skills and play at a higher level. 

“I told Rachel, even though she’s coming from the same conference, the level of skill is different at Troy,” Amber said.  

“So I said, ‘Rachel, even though you might have been one of the best players to step on the court at South, you’re kind of back on the same field, you’re gonna have to work harder, play harder and be in the gym longer hours.’” 

Although the sisters have helped each other out in many ways, not all of the advice Rachel has gotten from her older sister is basketball related. 

“If I wanted some food she’d be like, ‘go try this place and this place’ so I’d say she was probably a big help in the food section,” said Rachel, with a laugh, about her sister’s advice when she first arrived at Troy.  

The younger Leggett sister looks poised for a breakout year in the cardinal, getting selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason Second Team. However, she has her eyes set on cutting down the nets.  

“I texted Coach Murphy the other day,” said Rachel, “I said, ‘we’re winning a chip, there’s nothing less. I don’t see why the expectations would be less.’” 

It’s just another accomplishment Rachel looks to echo four years later after her sister.