Indiana's Miss Basketball Skylar Diggins has had herself one of those weeks in which she'll be lucky enough that someone doesn't pinch her to wake her from this dream.
The South Bend Washington graduate, who led the team to a 26-1 record and averaged a state best 29.0 points per game in 2009, was first flown to Los Angeles, California, where she was selected as the Gatorade Female National Athlete of the Year.
"Winning this award was a blessing; you don't start the year out looking for individual accolades," said Diggins.
"You just have to give thanks to everyone, to god, my family, teammates, coaching staff, and everybody at ESPN. I know I sound redundant, but the other five nominees weren't too shabby at all! If you watched how compassion the other athletes showed and how competitive they are, then really anyone could have won."
The rest of the night played out for Diggins as if she was starring in her own Hollywood movie. After the Gatorade awards ceremony, she, along with her family, attended ESPN's annual awards show, the "Espy's".
"It was nuts, and the most fun I've ever had in my life! I'll never forget that moment, meeting all these athletes and Olympians you see on television, and you're sitting by them," giggled Diggins.
"It's just amazing, to be on the red carpet with everyone. You know last year I watched it, and now I was on it, it was just a dream because I never thought I could be there."
Diggins eventually felt comfortable with the elite company she had around her, and even became friends with a fellow "G".
"I was so nervous, but I met Serena Williams. But hey, you know she does the G commercials, and I was the Gatorade Female National Athlete of the Year, so we were connected in a way I felt," laughed Diggins.
"But it's just one of those things that you look back on and tell your grandkids, and for my parents to experience it too, it was just great."
When she woke up Thursday morning, Diggins had to take a flight back to reality. Colorado Springs and the USA U-19 World Championship Team were awaiting her presence, as the team finished up workouts Thursday night in preparation for the 2009 FIBA U-19 World Championship.
"I think everyone is feeling really good. Everybody is being very competitive, we've all been working on our games and chemistry together, and we've definitely shown progress over the past couple days," said Diggins.
Diggins, who is joined by Heritage Christian graduate Kelly Faris, will both be representing the United States together after claiming gold at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Skylar is excited that her fellow hoosier will be joining along for the ride, and feels that the combination of the two are just an example of what Indiana basketball is all about.
"Kelly and I have played so much together, last year's team, the Indiana All-Stars, and I'm just glad to have her as a teammate because she works hard for everything," said Diggins.
"It's great to have someone from the area, representing Indiana also, and it says a lot about Indiana basketball as a whole. In any other state, basketball is just a sport, but here it's life."
Friday morning Diggins and the rest of the USA squad will take a bus to Denver, and then a plane trip to Los Angeles. There Team USA will load onto a plane headed toward Thailand, where Diggins will proudly represent her native land.
"Having USA across your chest, it's a sense of pride and patriotism" said the proud Diggins.
"When we go over there, it can be the only time somebody over there has been around Americans, and their impressions of America maybe solely based on us. We have to represent, because to them, we are USA. It is a sense of pride, and something I'll never forget."
When it's all said and done, Diggins travels will eventually lead her back to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana, where she is the most highly touted recruit in Notre Dame women's basketball history.
"This is what you work hard for, to go to college, and growing up around Notre Dame I've always had dreams of wearing that jersey. Now that it's there, I'm just great to get started. I talked to some of my teammates earlier throughout this trip, everyone's been working hard, and by time the season starts we're going to be full throttle".
If you see Diggins in the near future, make sure to ask her all about the trips she has been on. But please don't pinch her, it'd be rude to wake her from this dream.
The South Bend Washington graduate, who led the team to a 26-1 record and averaged a state best 29.0 points per game in 2009, was first flown to Los Angeles, California, where she was selected as the Gatorade Female National Athlete of the Year.
"Winning this award was a blessing; you don't start the year out looking for individual accolades," said Diggins.
"You just have to give thanks to everyone, to god, my family, teammates, coaching staff, and everybody at ESPN. I know I sound redundant, but the other five nominees weren't too shabby at all! If you watched how compassion the other athletes showed and how competitive they are, then really anyone could have won."
The rest of the night played out for Diggins as if she was starring in her own Hollywood movie. After the Gatorade awards ceremony, she, along with her family, attended ESPN's annual awards show, the "Espy's".
"It was nuts, and the most fun I've ever had in my life! I'll never forget that moment, meeting all these athletes and Olympians you see on television, and you're sitting by them," giggled Diggins.
"It's just amazing, to be on the red carpet with everyone. You know last year I watched it, and now I was on it, it was just a dream because I never thought I could be there."
Diggins eventually felt comfortable with the elite company she had around her, and even became friends with a fellow "G".
"I was so nervous, but I met Serena Williams. But hey, you know she does the G commercials, and I was the Gatorade Female National Athlete of the Year, so we were connected in a way I felt," laughed Diggins.
"But it's just one of those things that you look back on and tell your grandkids, and for my parents to experience it too, it was just great."
When she woke up Thursday morning, Diggins had to take a flight back to reality. Colorado Springs and the USA U-19 World Championship Team were awaiting her presence, as the team finished up workouts Thursday night in preparation for the 2009 FIBA U-19 World Championship.
"I think everyone is feeling really good. Everybody is being very competitive, we've all been working on our games and chemistry together, and we've definitely shown progress over the past couple days," said Diggins.
Diggins, who is joined by Heritage Christian graduate Kelly Faris, will both be representing the United States together after claiming gold at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Skylar is excited that her fellow hoosier will be joining along for the ride, and feels that the combination of the two are just an example of what Indiana basketball is all about.
"Kelly and I have played so much together, last year's team, the Indiana All-Stars, and I'm just glad to have her as a teammate because she works hard for everything," said Diggins.
"It's great to have someone from the area, representing Indiana also, and it says a lot about Indiana basketball as a whole. In any other state, basketball is just a sport, but here it's life."
Friday morning Diggins and the rest of the USA squad will take a bus to Denver, and then a plane trip to Los Angeles. There Team USA will load onto a plane headed toward Thailand, where Diggins will proudly represent her native land.
"Having USA across your chest, it's a sense of pride and patriotism" said the proud Diggins.
"When we go over there, it can be the only time somebody over there has been around Americans, and their impressions of America maybe solely based on us. We have to represent, because to them, we are USA. It is a sense of pride, and something I'll never forget."
When it's all said and done, Diggins travels will eventually lead her back to her hometown of South Bend, Indiana, where she is the most highly touted recruit in Notre Dame women's basketball history.
"This is what you work hard for, to go to college, and growing up around Notre Dame I've always had dreams of wearing that jersey. Now that it's there, I'm just great to get started. I talked to some of my teammates earlier throughout this trip, everyone's been working hard, and by time the season starts we're going to be full throttle".
If you see Diggins in the near future, make sure to ask her all about the trips she has been on. But please don't pinch her, it'd be rude to wake her from this dream.
