Approaching halfcourt, the point guard looks up to direct her teammates before making the move. Bounce. Bounce. AAAAnDDDD-Boom. Crossing past the first defender, she transitions into a spin against the next opponent’s back. Then, the finisher: 1 … 2  effortless euro-steps into the paint and a smooth floater. The ball glides into the net as the scoreboard adds two. 

The win? Secured. Her points during the game? 20+. The crowd? Waiting in anticipation. 

As the announcer began speaking on the PA, the gym erupted at the words: “Katie Diao has become Richard Montgomery’s second most all-time scorer.” At the Feb. 20 game against Seneca Valley, Diao racked up 29 points, 16 rebounds and led the RM Rockets to a 64-39 blowout.

Between her shifty changes in direction, clean passes to teammates and, as many Richard Montgomery students call it, ‘mad hops,’ senior Katie Diao is the full package. 

“She takes good shots, she’s quick, she’s really good at giving the ball to her teammates and racking up assists or rebounds. She does a little bit of everything and seems to get better and better every game,” senior teammate and co-captain Manuella Glover said.

As her four-year career at RM nears its end, Diao will leave behind a one-of-a-kind legacy that stretches on and off the court. 

An Early Passion

Diao’s basketball exposure began around first grade, after attending a summer camp. With two parents who are NBA fans, she had already been watching the sport on and off, and decided to try out for her first club team, PV Thunder. Here, she met Coach Krystal, who became an integral part of her basketball journey. 

At this time, Diao was also playing soccer, which continued until fifth grade. However, it wasn’t long before she realized only one of the two sports sparked a passion inside of her.

 “I [liked] the fact that in basketball, while there are positions, you play both offense and defense, whereas in soccer, you can just stand at the end of the field if you play right back, for example. And… I think overall, basketball is more accessible and less weather dependent; it’s more convenient to just dribble somewhere,” Diao said.

In middle school, she started to focus solely on the sport. Diao was able to join another AAU team, Team Final. Here, she played in various big tournaments and was introduced to competition across the country. 

“Both of my parents immigrated from China and didn’t play college sports, so we didn’t really know anything about the recruiting process. But in seventh and eighth grade, it was crazy because when we went to these really big tournaments, people were already getting looks from college coaches in the stands,” Diao said.

During one tournament in particular, “Run for Roses,” Diao remembered seeing teams from across the country on the sidelines. Even though her team didn’t win, the experience proved she was able to compete with high-level players. She began receiving some emails from college coaches and contacted a few herself, though she was fairly inexperienced at the time.

At her STEM magnet school, Takoma Park, Diao experienced middle school basketball for the first time in eighth grade after the pandemic. Unlike AAU, practices and games were right after school. 

Also during her eighth grade year was RM girls varsity basketball coach (and Diao’s future English 10 teacher), Mike Oakes’ first time watching Diao play. 

“I was at one of her practices for her AAU team, and I remember her coach came up to me, knowing that she was gonna be coming to RM through the IB program. And he said, ‘You just hit the jackpot.’ And I would say that could not have been more true,” Coach Oakes said.

After being accepted into Richard Montgomery’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Diao ramped up preparation for high school and the possibility of college basketball. 

“I think I learned a lot in my eighth grade year, heading into ninth grade about how to communicate with coaches and how to handle yourself. And I guess when you’re talking to them I learned how to brag about myself, showcase my abilities, but also just be me and stay grounded,” Diao said.

Road to 1,000 … and more!

Diao’s contributions to the team began from the moment she set foot on the court at Richard Montgomery as a freshman. 

“I noticed that she had a lot of grit. She was a younger person on the team, but she really showed her skills and stood out as a scrappy, hardworking, ‘go get it’ type of player,” RM principal Alicia Deeny said.

Diao was a starter from her first game as a freshman and earned MVP of the team in her first year as well. Coach Oakes recognizes her ability to finish off of awkward angles as one of her biggest strengths with scoring. 

“Most people, they’re off-balance or unable to make the shots, but Katie always finds a way to use her footwork, to create space, to get herself the shot, even if she’s playing against someone who might be taller or faster. She’s just so smart that she’s able to get to certain angles that nearly no one else can,” Coach Oakes said.

As a freshman, she broke the RM girls varsity basketball scoring record, earning over 300 points and often scoring 20 each game. She also earned a spot on the MCPS 4A South First Team All-Division, earned the MoCo WBCA Newcomer of the Year award and was voted Freshman Female Athlete of the Year at Richard Montgomery. Throughout freshman year (and eventually her high school career), Diao has also been recognized in numerous publications, including ones from The Washington Post, Bethesda Magazine and Max Preps.

 But her success has never been about a score. Even as a point guard, Diao constantly looks for opportunities to make smart passes and be a team player. Furthermore, her work ethic, leadership and humility have made her a strong mentor/role model to others. 

“From her freshman year, you would think that maybe seniors would be jealous when a freshman comes in and is the MVP. But because of her personality, that’s never been the case. And that continues to be the case as a senior, where now she’s taken on a mentorship role with younger players…she makes it easy for them to get to know her,” Coach Oakes said.

Toward the end of her freshman year, Diao returned to her original club, PV Thunder, reuniting with Coach Krystal and playing under a competitive Under Armor Circuit. The Under Armour Circuit is an elite, travel basketball league for top-tier high schoolers 15U-17U, providing high-level competition and allowing current/future Division 1 prospects to get looks from college coaches and recruiters.

As a freshman, Diao remembers when an AAU teammate committed to Division 1 basketball and was inspired to do the same in the future. At the same time, she suffered a mild concussion and was determined more than ever to improve her game upon returning.

“Her ability to use success as motivation while also staying humble and not comparing herself to others has helped her so much,” Glover said.

Sophomore and junior year are the two most important in terms of college recruiting, and Diao’s second year with RM basketball certainly held up to the pressure. Diao was the Montgomery County Player of the Year as a sophomore, an accolade she described as “surreal, and a shock.”

In particular, Coach Oakes remembers her key role in the 2023-2024 regional finals. “It hadn’t been since the ’90s, that the team had won the regional championship, and we were in a situation where the game was close… [Katie], as a sophomore, just turned around to the rest of the girls on the court and yelled, ‘We are not losing this game.’ And when I saw her vocalizing that and displaying that competitiveness, which was a little out of character, that let me know right there, ‘Oh, there’s no chance that we’re gonna lose this game.’” In that game alone, Diao racked up 25 points and 5 assists, describing the win as one of her favorite memories.

By her spring AAU season of 10th grade, Diao began taking initiative in her recruitment. She began using social media to promote herself, sending emails with stats and accolades. Soon after, she began gaining more attention from college coaches.

“I had a really good first tournament, with my sophomore season, and after that Coach Krystal was able to set me up on calls with some of these coaches, including at Yale and Cornell. At the same time, it was busy because I was also doing DECA so we were in ICDC and we had scheduled calls, but even then, it made me realize this was my dream,” Diao said. (DECA is a global non-profit organization/club that prepares high school and college students for careers in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, hospitality, etc., teaching them real world skills such as networking. International Career Development Conference, or ICDC is DECA’s largest event, featuring leaders/participants from all U.S. states and countries across the world.)

However, the beginning of Diao’s junior season presented obstacles. After an ankle injury, she was unable to play in December. 

“It was definitely a struggle at first and we found it difficult to adjust. She did her best to encourage us from the sidelines… and it wasn’t something we’d experienced before, but when she came back we all got into the hang of it and she was very determined to come back stronger than ever,” Glover said.   

Often described as a kind, soft-spoken and a ‘lead by example’ player, being the sole but injured captain that year also posed challenges to the team’s dynamic.

However, Coach Oakes notes the experience ultimately strengthened her leadership skills and even allowed her to observe things from the bench that she had not before.

Then, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Diao’s first game of her senior season, she achieved a milestone shared by just 9 RM alumni. “ I was nervous and actually contemplated whether to tell my friends and coaches to come to that game or the next. I needed 24 points and I knew it would be competitive, but there was just a gut feeling that made me end up telling them to come,” Diao said.

22 points and an intense steal later, Diao sprinted down the court in a fast break. “I just kept thinking ‘I hope I don’t miss this layup,’” she said.

3…2…1.

“Katie Diao has scored her 1,000th point!” the PA roared.

“My coach put all the seniors with me on the court, so I was able to celebrate with them,” Diao said. “ I’m really grateful that they were able to stop the game and let my teammates come out, give me posters and balloons and take some pictures.” 

The accolade was the result of countless hours of training, workouts, game review and reflection off the court.

But despite all of her success, friends, coaches, teammates and students corroborate Diao’s humility, stating they rarely hear her talk about achievements. In fact, with each new accolade, Diao only began supporting and celebrating others’ wins even more. 

 Throughout her entire basketball career, she has aimed to leave everything on the court and have fun. Even with initial nerves, Diao often takes deep breaths or visualizes an ideal play to calm herself. She also enjoys listening to music to find the right headspace.

“When I’m playing, I really can’t hear anyone else, in the stands or from the other team…, and sometimes you just gotta remind yourself of the work you put in to deserve to be in the moment, whether it’s taking a game-winning shot or making the assist,” Diao said.

She notes that through the years, her trainers and coaches have helped her maintain a positive mindset even under harsh outcomes.

 “If one game doesn’t go well, I try not to define myself based on a score or play, because it’s a lot bigger than that,” Diao said.                                                                                      

This year, during Diao’s last season, the Rockets started unsteadily, but ended up having a great season, ending with a 20-3 regular season record. Team bonding events and workouts have contributed to their success and chemistry on the court. 

Scoring on and off the court

Richard Montgomery has a history of producing successful student-athletes. Just last year, two volleyball players, Corrine Howard and Ema Djordjevic, committed to Division 1 schools after earning their IB diplomas. And recently, Glover has announced her commitment to Case Western, where she will continue her athletic and academic career. 

RMIB is one of the best public magnet programs in the country, accepting just around 150 applications from a pool that can exceed 2,000 in some years. Though Diao is often known for her skill on the court, her performance in the classroom is equally impressive. By the end of her junior year, she had earned a remarkable 4.0 unweighted and a 4.9 weighted GPA.

“I would say that Katie is an even better student than she is a basketball player. Having had her in my English class, she is a phenomenal writer, she has great discussions and she’s just a real asset to anyone being in class, so very thoughtful, very analytical,” Coach Oakes said.

Diao credits the IB program for allowing her to think about everyday topics in a completely different manner, and although she wants to pursue STEM, the well-rounded program and large focus on writing and philosophy enhanced her critical thinking skills.

Using certain skills in the classroom has also enhanced Diao’s IQ on the court, and vice versa. In class, she is always ready with materials and completed assignments from the previous day, in the same way she constantly trains and works off the court to prepare for a game. 

“The idea that top students can’t be top athletes is a stereotype that Katie and so many others at RM have defied. And so when students see that this is the excellence others have strived for and the excellence they can strive for, it kind of passes down in this great ripple effect,” Principal Deeny said. 

Senior Sophie Huang, a friend and classmate of Diao since their magnet years in middle school, describes Diao’s secret to success as everyday consistency and discipline. 

“She’s definitely mastered being on top of her schedule, and she’s very aware of what she has time for, and how to allocate enough time to perform well in those things. Not to mention, her sleep schedule is phenomenal, and she’s always getting places on time,” Huang said. 

During the week, Diao tries to get as much work done in class or at school, and uses basketball practices or games as a way to decompress. When she returns home, she immediately starts on homework or any other tasks, valuing a strong routine. 

Diao always makes a plan for mapping out her time and keeps a strong training and workout schedule. She makes sure to incorporate conditioning, strength, and mobility into sessions. In addition, she maintains a healthy balanced nutrition but makes sure not to diet or restrict herself.

Occasionally, this also means sacrifice. “We had a senior ski trip recently and she couldn’t go because she needed to stay in shape and not risk an injury. Obviously she tries to come to the big things, but here and there some things she just can’t attend, because as [Katie] always says, ‘it’s just what needs to be done.’” Huang said.

Still, Diao enjoys various hobbies and quality time with loved ones. In her free time, she plays the piano, watches TV and loves attending big school events with friends. Considering Diao and her friends have their drivers licenses, Diao often enjoys going on late night drives as well. 

This year, she and Huang are participating in DECA together, and they often volunteer at Huang’s nonprofit that works with the elderly. 

Diao also has a large support system behind her, including her parents, who are there through each play and decision. Huang and other friends also record and cheer during her games. 

“I’ve never really been into watching any sports before, so, through [Katie], I was really able to start getting into it. And of course, it’s even better when over the years you watch a friend and realize just how talented they are,” Huang said. 

For the love of the game

On Dec. 17, 2024, Instagram erupted as Katie Diao announced her commitment to play basketball at Yale University.

One year later, preparing for her college journey, Diao stated that while her exact career path is unknown, she plans on studying neuroscience and would like to earn a degree in the healthcare or research industry. She also looks forward to interacting with like-minded people and being relatively near home. 

“It was a big decision and ultimately education and athletics were two big factors. I wanted to go to a school that values both since I’m lucky enough to even play basketball in college, and Yale also has this nice community feel like here in the suburbs,” Diao said. 

Huang, who is attending Harvard this fall, joked that she may sneak into the rival student section while Diao plays.

Final (and next) moves

Although Richard Montgomery lost the Montgomery County Championships on Feb. 25 (which they played in for the first time in program history) in a close game against Walt Whitman High School, the Rockets completely turned the tables for state playoffs. 

During the March 3 game, Diao led the team to a 57-37 victory over Blake, earning 22 points and 11 rebounds. From there, the Rockets continued on a winning streak, beating Einstein, Dulaney and Western High Schools to advance to a game they had never played since 1996. The State Championship Game. 

 At the UMBC arena, the student section was filled with spirit among other varsity athletes and friends of the players. The cheer team also showed their spirit with energetic routines throughout the season. Going into the game, Diao averaged an impressive 10.3 rebounds per game.  

The Rockets faced steep competition, facing Walt Whitman, who had an undefeated season. Whitman heavily guarded Diao, who faced an injury during a timeout, but bounced back with a buzzer-beater three-pointer at the end of third quarter. 

Richard Montgomery fought long and hard, but ultimately lost 40-51 to Whitman, and finished the season with a 23-4 record. 

 “We worked twice as hard to prepare for this game by working on post moves, handling double teams and watching film. As a first-year player, it was so cool to be there and see everyone play their hearts out and I can only imagine the craze of emotions the seniors felt,” freshman player Sienna Shane said. 

For seniors like Diao who were playing the final game of their entire high school career, there was a lot more to think about than the outcome.

“Obviously, spending my last game for RM and all the seniors’ last game at states means so much. I’m glad I got to end my RM career on such a high note in front of everyone, and I couldn’t be prouder of this team,” Diao said. 

Despite the bittersweetness of finishing her high school basketball journey, Diao plans to come back to watch games and participate in RM’s alumni games.

Diao’s total high school stats amounted to 1552, only 9 points short of Kate Thirolf’s record in 1996. She was also nominated for Maryland basketball player of the week following her performance at the State Championship. In early April, she will also play in the prestigious Capital Classic game in DC, which features some of the best basketball players in the nation. 

Just this week, Diao was also nominated to the 2025-2026 girls basketball All-Met Second Team (and has consistently ranked her throughout her high school career).

With the closing of Diao’s high school career, she will leave an everlasting mark on Richard Montgomery and Montgomery County.

“If I could describe her in one word, it would be tenacious. Everyone knows that she’ll leave a legacy as one of the best students and athletes at RM and in MoCo, but she’s also leaving a legacy as one of the kindest teammates, friends and overall people,” Glover said. 

“However things exactly pan out in 5 years, whether I’m in the workforce or somewhere else, I’m just so grateful for this journey, and all the people who supported me through it. And of course, I’m excited for what’s to come,” Diao said.

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