IDAHO FALLS -- For Skyline's Shay Shippen, playing basketball is not only a passion of hers but it's something she credits for helping shape her into who she is today.
Shippen is a three-time, first-team All-State selection, who committed to Columbia University in September. On Dec. 11, 2024, Shippen -- a captain on both the woman's varsity basketball and volleyball teams -- reached another milestone in her high school basketball career. She hit 2,000 career varsity points while playing against Bonneville High School.
"Every time I think about this being my senior year, I look back at my little self in my sweat bands and (think about) how excited I would be to be in this spot I am," Shippen said.
Shippen started playing varsity basketball as a freshman. Head coach Tyrell Keck said a teammate that was suppose to be playing during Shippen's freshman year ended up tearing her ACL.
"We had to put a lot of the weight of a young team on Shay's shoulders as a freshman, and she carried it really well," Keck mentioned. "She never looked back."
Shippen said as a freshman she knew she had to step into a role of being solid on defense but also someone that's able to score.
"(My coaches) made it so much easier to go into that role. I had coaches who believed in me," she explained. "It's hard to be a freshman and know your place on a team but my coaches had full faith in me and trusted me. ... You don't get that at every school you go to, that you have that freedom and that voice as a freshman."
From her freshman year to her final year of high school ball, Keck has watched Shippen become an "integral part" of the team's success. He said, she knows the game inside and out, and goes out and delivers in a "quiet, confident way."
"She is one of the most humble and attentive people that I've ever had the opportunity to see grow through a program," Keck stated. "Her growth and her maturity over the four years has been phenomenal. It's really taking display as she's wrapping up her senior year here and getting ready to go to college. From a coaching standpoint, it's been one of the coolest experiences I've ever been able to be a part of."
Shippen said she received about 30 offers from various colleges across the country but committed to Columbia University. She mentioned a big part of what attracted her to them was the people.
"Columbia has this culture there that I really wanted to be a part of. They coach a lot like Skyline. They have a lot of the same ideas," Shippen said. "They have constantly been in my recruiting process -- since going into my freshman year -- but they never pressured me to make a decision. ... That meant a lot."
Although Shippen is looking forward to the future she remains focused on giving her all the remainder of her time with Skyline. She is grateful for the relationships she's made through the sport and all those who have helped her along the way.
"Sixth-grade me wrote down three goals that I had which was -- play varsity as a freshman, get all A's and play D-I basketball," Shippen said. "The fact that I'm accomplishing those goals I set at a young age is so fun."