Lady Cards Land Highly Ranked Recruit
This is not just another commitment for the University of Louisville women’s basketball team. This is the reason Jeff Walz has spent many of his waking hours on the West Coast, mentally and physically, hoping to land this phenomenal basketball player.
She’s the reason Walz is doing cartwheels today. She’s the reason Geno Auriemaa at UConn is wondering what in hell is going on at Louisville. She’s the clincher for making this the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation.
Shoni Schimmel, a multi-faceted, exceptionally-talented 5-foot-9 guard from Portland, Ore., has made her decision. She wants to play for Jeff Walz and the Lady Cards, picking U of L over UCLA, Oregon, Rutgers and South Carolina.
She will join the Lady Cards next season, at the ready when Louisville opens against Tennessee in the new basketball arena. Talk about things coming together.
Schimmel averaged 29.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 5.8 steals as a senior, earning Parade Magazine first-team all-American honors. She finished her career as the No. 6 all-time scorer in Oregon with 2,120 points. She was Player of the Year in Oregon during her junior and senior years and was a first-team All-Stater all four years.
She is also believed to be the highest ranked Native American women’s basketball player ever. Based on numerous reports, her physical skills are exceeded only by her intense desire to win.
Check out the video:
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With Schimmel’s decision, interest in women’s basketball will escalate rapidly, even among those who heretofore have considered women’s basketball beneath them. Seat selection for the upcoming season in the brand new 22,000-seat KFC Yum Basketball Center will begin in August at the Yum Practice Center. Call 852-5151 to get on board.
Yessir! The ladies will be back to where they were before they Lost the #1 WNBA draft pick and Rookie of the Year Angel. Last season was hard to watch coming off a Championship game and I’ve seen her YouTube Videos. We get our 1st womens title with Shoni
Me and my fam are now Cards fans! Congratulations Shoni we cant wait for Basketball Season to begin. Where do I subscribe?lol!
YAY FOR SHONI! I am so excited for her. I have also just become a huge Lady Cards Fan!!! I am very proud of her, and I know she will work hard. 🙂
Best thing is she will be here four seasons. No one-and-dones in women’s basketball.
Couldn’t happen to a better coach. Jeff Walz has been through hell this year, but working through it while going after some of the best players in the country. He is being rewarded for his tenacity and for his ability to recognize talent and to identify with the challenges facing young women today. What a phenomenal job dealing with adversity and soaring to new heights in recruiting. Well done, Jeff.
I’ve just become a big fan of Louisville Women’s basketball!!! We have been anxiously waiting to see where Shoni was going to go. You all have a true ball player on your hands, can’t wait for season to start. I know she’ll make all us Native Americans proud!
Hey, welcome aboard. Hope you can make to Louisville for a few games.
Thanks! Just so happens I have family in Shelbyville, so very possible for me to make a trip out there for a family/game trip.
Whoopie! Incredible news.
My, oh, my. What a class Jeff Walz has landed. All this new talent, plus an adversity-hardened group of returnees, the imagination runs wild. Way to go, U of L.
Make that UNC transfer Cierra Robinson-Warren. Excited fingers on board this morning.
Schimmel has coach Walz very excited, indeed. She is the final link in a 2010 recruiting class that is being callled the “Lady Card legends”. Two guards…in Schimmel and Charmaine Tay…a small forward in Antonita Slaughter…and three paint powers in Shawnta’ Dyer, Polly Harrington and Sherrone Vails.
Walz promised Lady Cards fans that there would be some changes in store after the disappointing 2009-10 season and he has delivered.
In addition to the frosh class…Walz has also secured the services of UNC transfer center Cierra Robinson-Wright for 2011. Tia Gibbs, a transfer from Vandy is available this year. Dez Byrd returns from knee surgery. Leading scorer Monique Reid is back and so is long range bomber Becky Burke.
Front line starters Keisha Hines and Asia Taylor return and guards Rachel Story, LaToya Johnson and Nikki Burton are back. Walk on point guard Shelby Harper could return for another season.
No depth problems this year…
November can’t get here soon enough.
Shelby had better be back.
Truth be told, Harper is probably the weakest of the 4-5 candidates for point guard. But, I know the observer is smitten with her, so I hope she does decide to play this year and you can watch her sit on the bench…LOL