Nia Irving has been so good for so long it’s easy to take her accomplishments for granted.

The Lawrence senior recently completed her outstanding high school career by being named Miss Maine Basketball. The 6-foot-1 center helped revive basketball in Fairfield with the aid of coach John Donato and some talented teammates. But there’s no doubt she was the catalyst and will be sorely missed as a student/athlete.

Her list of awards and accomplishments could cover a wall or two at Folsom Gymnasium. Here are a few: Four time first team all-state player; two-time Maine Gatorade Player of the Year; led the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference in scoring and rebounding four straight years and named KVAC Player of the Year four times; a Class A state title her junior year; 1,761 career points while averaging 24.4 points and 21.1 rebounds a game.

Add to that Morning Sentinel Girls Basketball Player of the Year, an award she wins this year for the fourth time in a row.

Lawrence’s loss is Boston University’s gain. Irving is already working in a conditioning program in an effort to improve and justify her scholarship. Donato has little doubt she will.

“Her coachability is outstanding,” said Donato, who has over 500 career coaching victories. “I think her attitude and her willingness to improve will make her a good player.”

Irving has wanted to play at BU since the sixth grade when she visited the campus during an AAU tournament. She already has plenty of Terriers gear and can’t wait to wear it as a player.

“I just love the campus,” she said.

Irving received periodic updates from fellow Lawrence legend Cindy Blodgett, who is an assistant coach at the school, and is working hard to fit into the program.

“I do a lot of lifting and legwork and a lot of cardio and running,” she said. “I really want to work on my speed and foot speed for defense. I will probably be playing a 4 (power forward) and I’m really hoping I can make an impact.”

Irving would like to improve her shooting range as well but even at 6-1 she should be effective around the basket. She’s worked hard on her footwork with assistant coach Greg Chesley and has a variety of low post moves. And she rarely forces shots even as she’s being doubled by most defenses.

“She’s a pretty cool customer,” Donato said. “She knows everybody responds to her on the floor.”

Like all great rebounders, Irving anticipates where the ball will come off the rim and goes after it hard. That ability is enhanced by her strength and tenacity.

“Once she gets her hands on anything she never loses it,” Donato said.

Beyond her intrinsic athletic ability, Irving is an outstanding student — she holds a 100.7 weighted average — who is involved in many extra-curricular activities, a consideration when voting for Miss Maine Basketball.

She and her good friend, point guard Dominique Lewis, are both four-year starters and two-time captains who set a positive, supportive tone for the team.

“We’ve always been so close,” Lewis said. “Every game we just loved to play basketball together. We can read each other’s minds.”

Irving will probably play AAU ball this spring for the Brunswick based Maine Mainiacs. She’ll leave for Boston University on July 5. She plans to study biology with a focus on pre-med.

“My whole family is in the medical field,” she said.

Over her high school career, Irving lost less than 10 games. Unfortunately, the only loss for the Bulldogs this season was a one-point loss in the state championship games to York, a contest in which Irving had foul trouble.

“It is bittersweet,” Irving said. “But we played hard and should be proud of what we did.”