Former high school athletics standout Schaeffer leads women's basketball

Women's basketball has greatly improved under head coach Richard Barron. One of Barron's best players, junior wing Kelly Schaeffer, recently sat down with 'Prince' senior writer Chandra Russell.

'Prince': Where are you from?

Schaeffer: I was born and raised in South Huntington, Long Island, New York. I graduated from Walt Whitman High School.

P: When did you start playing basketball?

S: I started playing basketball in third grade when I joined the CYO basketball league. My dad also had played pro ball in the ABA for the New York Nets so basketball has always been a focus in my household.

P: In high school, you were an all-league, all-county, all-state, and all-northeast selection in soccer and you were your volleyball team's captain. How did you decide to continue with basketball in college? Do you have any regrets about notbeing able to continue with the other two?

S: I decided in the summer after sixth grade that I would focus more on basketball. I had previously played on a very competitive travel soccer team whose schedule conflicted with AAU basketball. I liked playing basketball more and thought I would have a better opportunity for a scholarship to play basketball in college, so I chose to play on the AAU team. I continued with soccer though by playing on a less competitive club team during middle school and then in high school. I regard my high school soccer experience as one of my most cherished memories. I still miss playing, especially when I go to the women's soccer games here.

P: How did you decide to go to Princeton to play basketball?

S: I was recruited to play for Princeton. When it came down to seriously choosing Princeton as the school I would attend, I was considering playing basketball at Brown or Harvard.

P: Coming out of Walt Whitman, you had amassed an impressive number of awards, including MVP from 1998 to 2000. Did you find the high school-to-college transition difficult, going from an environment where you were the best to an environment where you were a freshman who didn't get to play as many minutes?

S: There was definitely an ego check coming from being the star for four years to entering a structured hierarchy of players. It was certainly frustrating not getting the minutes I was used to and maybe not being given the chances I felt I might have deserved.

P: The basketball team had a rough year in the 2000-01 season. Since Coach Barron took over last season, what changes or improvements do you see as most significant?

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S: I feel the change in the general attitude of our team has been one of the most significant changes since Coach Barron has been here. We didn't have any confidence two years ago. Now, we genuinely believe that we can vie for the Ivy League title and win most of our non-conference contests. We play a tougher schedule to raise our level of play. Our practices are much more disciplined and productive. We realize that what separates us from the better teams are the little things. Therefore, in order to improve and be competitive, we must concentrate on doing those little things well, always.

P: Last year, you led the team in rebounding with 132 boards, were second in scoring with a 12.9 per-game average, and led the Ivy League with a .427 three-point percentage. Which one of these achievements are you most proud of? What do you think is your most important role on the court for this team?

S: I was most proud that I contributed to the team in a variety of ways last year. This year, I feel my role is to continue in the rebounding effort, to create shots for all the great shooters we have on our team through penetration, to hit the open shots I have, to defend aggressively and to be a vocal leader on the court.

P: What are your goals for the team, and do you think they're realistic?

S: Our main goals, of course, are to win the Ivy League and to finish with a winning record. I think these goals are very practical as we have the talent to be competitive in the league and to win all other non-conference games. Harvard was predicted to win the Ivy League crown again this year. We beat them last year and there isn't any reason why we can't beat them again.

P: If you could pick one, what personal goal do you most want to achieve in the 2002-03 season?

S: I would love to know by the end of the season that I did all I could to contribute to the team. Our seniors, who are two of my best friends, have one last opportunity to play college basketball and I would love to help make the season the most successful yet for them.

P: What is your most cherished memory of a basketball game?

S: Although I rank last year's Harvard game as one of my top basketball memories, I remember one AAU game when I was in seventh grade always with a very big smile. We were playing for a bid to the national tournament and were not at all expected to win. In order to win this regional tournament, we had to beat the defending champions for the second time that day. Everyone thought the first game was a fluke win and there was no chance we could beat this team again.

Nonetheless, we went out and won with ease and earned a spot to compete in the national tournament which was held in Oklahoma City a month or two later. It was a great day!