Each season, a new crop of unknowns is introduced to collegiate women's basketball and its fans. And each year we eagerly watch to see who will rise to the greatest heights during their four years on the court. In this year's recruiting class, one newcomer to watch closely is certainly 5'10" guard Caity Matter of Ohio State University.

Matter is coming off a successful high school career at Bluffton (Ohio) High School. As a freshman starter on a Bluffton varsity team of seniors, Matter was already a stand-out athlete. By the end of her sophomore year, Caity had set school records for points in a season (582) and scoring average (23.3). She also became MVP of the '98 Junior Olympics AAUs, helping her Team Ohio to the AAU championship.

During her junior season (1999), Matter led Bluffton to its first state tournament appearance. That same season she was named Division III Ohio Player of the Year, averaging 25.2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals per game.

A torn ACL the summer before her senior season threatened to slow her momentum, but months dedicated to rehabilitation saw her ready to start when the 1999-00 season began. Her fourth and final year culminated with another tournament appearance, a single-game scoring-high of 45 points, a Bluffton High School all-time career scoring record of 2,274 points, and team high averages of 24.8 ppg., 6 rpg., 4.5 apg., and 3.5 spg. The first Division III player to be named Ms. Ohio Basketball by the Ohio High School Coaches' Association, and a Street & Smith's All-America honorable mention recipient for a third straight year, Matter also scored big on the academic front. The three-year National Honor Society member wrapped up her educational career by being named to the D-III Academic All-Ohio Team with a 3.68 g.p.a.

As a freshman at Ohio State, Matter is poised to test her skills at the next level. Praised by OSU Head Coach Beth Burns for her strength and versatility, the two-time state shot put and discus champion can execute 60-foot passes, long shots, and rebounds with ease. So far this season, she has started all three games, helping the Buckeyes to a 3-0 record.

In this interview, Matter discusses her hopes for her collegiate basketball career, the importance of academics in athletics, and the advantages of being a two-sport athlete.

On the Ohio State roster you're listed as guard, but in high school your physical strength allowed you to play a variety of positions. Which position do you prefer to play and why?
I prefer the guard position most. In high school I played all five spots but I played guard a lot. I like that spot because I can shoot and I can create off the dribble. There's just so many things you can do at the guard position.

You set a number of offensive records at your high school. Were those records goals of yours or by-products of your natural game?
They were by-products. I never really aimed for the records. They came as they came, but I never thought to myself, "Oh, I need to get this many points."

How and when did you get interested in basketball?
Well, my uncle and my grandpa both played, so I was always around the game. I started playing when I was in second grade, and it's been an everyday thing ever since.

During your high school career, there were a lot of high points--being named Ms. Ohio Basketball, D-III player of the year twice, two championship runs, MVP at the Junior Olympics AAU. What moment do you look back on most fondly?
Making it to state finals my senior year. We'd made it my junior year, and our goal was to come back again. However, I tore my ACL the summer before my senior year, which made it that much sweeter to be able to come back for the season and still make it back to state.

As a high school junior, you made an oral commitment to Ohio State. Why did you choose Ohio State?
I've always been a fan, and the people here--the coaches and the team--they really made the decision easy. Everybody says that when you're at a school you get a feeling of whether you should be there or not, and I just had that feeling here. Ohio State is where I wanted to come, and I didn't want to go through the recruiting process.

What has been the biggest difference so far between high school and college?
Coming from a small town, for me it's different because Columbus is such a big city. Basketball-wise it's a little bit more intense, but I like that. You practice a little bit longer, but I think the transition has gone pretty smoothly, I haven't had many problems, so it's all been good.

On a team that has matured since last season and grown in physical strength over the past year, where do you think your biggest contribution will be?
I think shooting-wise I'm going to be able to contribute. But I hope to do whatever I can to help the team out, not to just come in for shooting. Whatever I can do to help out, I'll do.

As a National Honor Society student in high school, why were your grades so important to you?
Because, obviously, basketball is not always going to be here for me. I have to have something to fall back on. Education always comes first. That's just how I was raised, and I think that's how it should be.

Is academic success as an athlete all about intelligence, or do you think organization and attitude play roles?
Definitely organization, time management, and attitude all play a big role in being a successful student. And at the college level, no one's telling you what to do. You're supposed to attend classes, but you have more freedom, so you need good time-management skills to be able to schedule in practices, classes, and study time. Being on my own for the first time, having that control was a little bit of a challenge for the first few weeks. But I think I made the transition pretty quickly, and I'm doing okay right now.

What's been your favorite course so far at Ohio State and why?
I would have to say the mass communications course I took this past summer. I'm an undecided major right now, but I like communications. It was interesting to learn about how the media works.

In addition to being a stellar basketballer, you're also the reigning Ohio state champ in shot put and discus two years running. How and when did you get involved in those events?
I always used my strength on the basketball court, and one day the track coaches saw that, and asked if I wanted to try track and field-- and it was fun to me.

Do those events bring you a different satisfaction than you experience playing basketball?
Yeah, definitely. Basketball is a team sport. You can't win anything without your team. But track, especially shot and discus, is an individual sport. You have to work hard for your success as an individual, and you have to work hard as an individual to accomplish your goals. It's very gratifying.

Many players are so focused on making it in basketball that it's their only pursuit. Has it benefited you, at all, being a multi-sport athlete?
I think so. I think it gave me a little bit of a break, even though I did play basketball during track season. It just gave me that little bit of time off to concentrate on things other than basketball. Plus, I think competing in shot put and discus made me stronger, too, because you definitely have to hit the weights if you're going to be successful in those events.

Of your track and field events or basketball, which do you enjoy most?
Oh, basketball is first and foremost. Ever since I've been little I've loved the game. I can't even explain how much I enjoy it. It's my heart and soul, I guess.

Some are touting you as one of the top guards in the nation. How does that make you feel as a freshman? Pressured?
I don't really think it adds pressure. I just go out and play my game. I don't even look at the ratings because that's just how I am. I let my game speak for itself.

With such a solid high school career behind you, visualize yourself four years from now at college graduation and look back on your college career; what do you hope to have achieved?
More than anything, I hope to graduate. Basketball-wise, I want to become a complete player and hopefully have a couple of conference championships--or at least one. That's what I want to look back on. And then I hope to continue my career after college.

What do you hope to work on and improve about your game this season?
I'm working on my overall game. Mainly, I want my defense to get a little bit stronger, but I need to work on everything because I know it's going to be a big adjustment going from high school ball to college. But I've really enjoyed it all so far--getting to know the team, practices, college life. It's been really fun, and I'm ready for the games to start.

Interview conducted by Gball Assistant Editor Shelly Wilson.


Check out last year's q&a's by clicking here