Most aspiring high school hoopsters look to play as much basketball as possible, not only in school, but in AAU and other programs and camps.

After averaging 16 points per game as a freshman, Erika Arriaran, a 5-10 guard from Norco (Calif.) High School, decided to take a different approach. She not only sat out her sophomore season, she decided to leave Norco to pursue home schooling for the year.

"I sacrificed my sophomore year for education. I wanted to get ahead and decided for home schooling," Arriaran told USA Today during the 2003 Nike Camp. During that year, she took eight NCAA core classes, including college-level chemistry at Riverside Community College, according to USA Today. But she didnšt abandon the game entirely -- she played in a menšs league to stay in shape.

The year off didnšt seem to hurt her game. As a junior, Arriaran average 17.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 5.5 assists while leading Norco to its first section title game. Her court sense, passing ability and all-around game led one opposing coach to compare her to Diana Taurasi.

For her efforts, Arriaran racked up a host of honors: the Los Angeles Times Girls All-Star Team, second team Parade All-American, USA Todayšs 2004 Top Underclassman list. She was also named a finalist for the 2004 Naismith Prep Basketball Player of the Year Award. Heading into this summer, shešs ranked the top player in the class of 2005 by Full Court Press and All-Star Girls Report. And in mid-June, Arriaran was one of 48 top high school players invited to compete in the 2004 USA Youth Development Festival, held in Colorado Springs

Arriaran is modest about such accolades. "Honestly, that whole No. 1 thing is pretty bogus," she said in an interview during the USA festival. "I've always thought that. I just want to win every game, and that's all I want to do. I don't compare myself to any other players, I just play the game the way I know how to play."

In the same interview, she said that she was considering four schools: Texas, Georgia, Connecticut and Oklahoma. (You can read the rest of the Q&A by clicking here.) Luckily for Norco, though, she still has one more season of high school hoops to play.

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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