Jude Schimmel says she's Louisville bound.

TUESDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE




JUDE SCHIMMEL HEADED TO THE 'VILLE

Jude ready to be a Lard Card?

Portland (OR) Franklin High School star Jude Schimmel is headed to the Louisville Cardinals to join her sister Shoni on the Lady Cards basketball team. Jude confirmed the selection when talking with an OREGON LIVE reporter after the Oregon vs. Washington All-Star Game.

When asked how things were going in the college selection process, Jude replied:



"I'm pretty sure I'm going to Louisville with my sister. I really like the coaches there and it's a plus that my sister is there and I think it's the best decision for me."

 (On the family connection with Shoni at Louisville)

"It's just a plus. The coaches were really nice and the girls were really nice when I got to meet them.

(On watching the NCAA Women's Tournament)

"I got to see my sister and Louisville play in Gonzaga. Other than that..no."

Jeff Walz swishes another three pointer with the seemingly iron-clad commitment from Jude Schimmel. The true point guard can drill deep range threes and also drive and penetrate the lane, using her quickness to blow by defending guards. Like Shoni, she's also proficient in passing..willing to give up the orb to set a teammate up for a score.

Her LOI isn't in the Louisville recruits folder yet, but her words give credence to what we've been saying since the start of the basketball season...that Jude would follow Shoni to Louisville when her high school days were over. Her addition to the Louisville roster gives the Lady Cards one of the strongest and deepest back courts in women's college basketball. Many Cardinal fans have expected this move for quite some time 

The Cards have had several sibling combinations in basketball over the years but this would be the first time sisters have competed on the same team that we can remember for the Lady Cards. Men's hoops followers will remember Scooter and Rodney McCray and Charlie and Kent Jones.

The Lady Cards currently return Tia Gibbs, Becky Burke, Shelby Harper, Charmaine Tay, Rachel Story and Nikki Burton at guards...along with Shoni. Whether Burton will be able to come off a groin and hip injury that sidelined her this season and compete remains to be seen.

WE'VE learned over the years that it's never official until the fax is sent and signed...but for right now, it looks like Louisville public address announcer Sean Moth will have another new name to intone after made baskets and dished out assists. Schimmel would join All-American Sara Hammond on campus as a freshman and the Cards fans are still hoping that All-American guard Bria Smith will turn their way as well, after receiving a release from her letter of  intent to Virginia. .

This acknowledgement of her desire to be a Lady Cards hoopster verifies what Jude said shortly after Shoni committed to Louisville last June...that she'd like to play college ball with her older sister. On court, the two have almost a psychic, fifth dimension awareness and recognition of where and what the other up to. Plus, Jude is quite capable and knowledgable of the fact that Shoni will potentially attempt any move, shot or pass  at any time...an aspect of her game that this current bunch of Lady Cards learned as the season progressed. The "surprise" factor is a non-entity when the two are on the court together. We're not automatically handing her the point guard spot, mind you. Chances are she'll be developed, progress and be groomed for playing time much in the way Charmaine Tay was this season...without the melodrama.  And, Tay probably isn't ready to turn over the keys to the Cardinal offense without a bit of "come take it from me" competition.

The "get" is huge for the Cards in terms of Walz establishing his mark as a top flight recruiter. We have no doubt that Jude could have shown up on any major campus in women's college basketball and become an impact player as a freshman...but, as she said, she liked the coaches at Louisville. Liking your coaches. That would seem to be a pretty important part in making a college basketball decision...

We'll go with one of Sonja's infamous poems here to celebrate the event...(to the tune of The Beatles' HEY, JUDE.)

Hey Jude.
You make us glad
That you're going to be a Cardinal
Remember...to listen to coach Walz
You'll love "Walz Ball"..
and the brand new YUM Center.

Hey Jude
We love your game
Take your sister 's lead on how to win here.
The minute you step onto Crum Court
You will exhort
"There is nothing better!"

Ringo, Paul, George and John might have written a song about Jude Schimmel if they were
still recording as the Beatles. Of course, John and George would need to be alive...
The original "Hey, Jude" was written by Paul McCartney about
John Lennon's son Julian...

And any time you touch the ball
Shots fall, fans call
Your name along with all of your teammates'
So, pass it out and work it in
Hey Jude, begin
To help the Cards advance past the GREAT EIGHT.

NA na na na na...na na na...

Hey Jude, don't be afraid..
You were born to make teammates better
Remember the team is always the key
With them, you'll be
A bottom of netter...

Na na na na na na na
Na na na na...Hey Jude

You can hear Jude's comments and see a video of her highlights against the Washington All-Star team at Oregonlive.com or on the CARDINAL COUPLE Facebook page. Our buddy Charlie "the observer" has it linked up over at the UofL Card Game site... http://www.uoflcardgame.com/ as well.