Given her huge success in her freshman year at the University of Louisville, it would be easy for former Hermiston Bulldogs standout Shoni Schimmel to be arrogant. It would be easy to be a self-absorbed, conceited NCAA Division I athlete looking out for herself but thats not Shoni.

After playing in and dominating the Takin It to the Streets 3-on-3 basketball tournament Saturday and Sunday in Hermiston, the humble Schimmel had an ear-to-ear smile on her face and was just pleased to be back where her meteoric rise to basketball fame hit its stride: Hermiston.

Its just fun to come back and see everyone, she said after leading her team through the womens division. Its awesome; Im home again.

It was refreshing to hear that Schimmel hasnt forgot where she came from. She values what home is and truly enjoys being able to return to watch her brothers and sisters play.

I mean, seriously, shes already been the subject of a documentary, titled Off the Rez, which chronicles her life as an elite basketball player along with life on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Mission. 

I expect a couple biographies next, plus perhaps a memoir when she reaches the WNBA, which if she builds off her rookie year at Louisville, shell be a pretty high draft choice when the times comes.

Shes grown an incredible amount as a basketball player since her days in Hermiston and Franklin high schools. While I certainly enjoyed watching her drill 28-foot pull-up 3-pointers in transition, and how she sliced and diced defenses like an informercial vegetable cutter, she played in Coach Jeff Walzs system masterfully and was selected as a first-team Freshman All-America performer. 

She was second on the Cardinals with 15.1 points per game and led the squads in assists with 4.9 per contest. Her assist-to-turnover ratio a key stat for any ball handler was 1.2, meaning she had more assists than turnovers. 

I expect that to be the lowest such ratio of her career. Shes now acclimated to the speed and precision of NCAA Division I womens basketball, and being able to do it in such a prestigious and rugged conference (the Big East) just puts a bow on a great year.

She also accepted an invitation to try out for the USA U19 national team, and while she didnt make the team, just being invited is an honor in itself.

Even though she plays big-time college hoops in a super-structured environment now, she still has a flair for the jaw-dropping, what-did-she-just-do type of plays that made her a 4-time Oregon first team all-state player.

My boss, Herald editor Neill Woelk, and I were watching Shoni carve up their opponents like a pumpkin in late October, and then Shoni flipped a no-look pass over the her head.

 

 

With her back completely turned to the hoop, her pass went straight to her sister Jude, who was all alone for an easy layup. Everyone watching was stunned and had blank expressions on their faces. They couldnt believe that just happened. It was ridiculous.

Neill told me hes never seen anyone attempt a pass like that. Thats impressive, considering Neill covered Big 10 Conference sports for the Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera for three decades before he landed here in Hermiston. 

Thirty years and he hadnt seen a pass like that? That has to be something special.

She had more in her bag of tricks, too. She went after a loose ball, and while fighting off another player, she gathered the ball with her right hand and whipped a behind-the-back pass to Jude, again, for an easy bucket.

Her court vision and awareness tops out just about any chart you can put it on. It would make Microsoft Excel crash and one of those fundraiser thermometers look like it hemorrhaged.

But after I had the chance to chat with her during the tournament, I was just as impressed with her attitude and love for the game of basketball than of her skills. Shes the kind of athlete you can always root for.

And by the way, Jude, will be along side her next season at Louisville. Jude, the 2010-11 Oregon Class 5A player of the year, signed with the Cardinals in May.

I expect Shoni, Jude and the rest of the crew to go deep into the NCAA tournament for years to come. They lost one player from last seasons Sweet 16 team.

While Shoni didnt give any predictions about a potential run to the Womens Final Four next season, its safe to assume thats on her to-do list.

Shell tackle it like she does everything else, with perspective and humility.

Billy is the sports editor for the Hermiston Herald. Write him at bgates@hermistonherald.com.