Last week senior Rachel Skoza achieved a personal victory, scoring her 1,000th career point. She became just the fifth female Illinek to join that elite club. Next year, without Skoza, the girls basketball team won't have to look far to find its next great player. She's Jamie Blue, who's already making a name for herself in the varsity ranks. Just a freshman, the 5-foot-9 Blue has scored 295 points going into tonight's game against Decatur Lutheran. She is ranked seventh in the area in scoring, with an average of 16.4 points per game — by far the best numbers for an area freshman this season. To top it off, she's recorded three triple-doubles (points-rebounds-assists), showing that she's not a one-dimensional player. She ranks 13th in the area in rebounds (9.0 per game), eighth in assists (4.3 per game), and seventh in steals (3.8 per game).

Two weeks ago, The News-Gazette named Blue a runner-up for female athlete of the week, an honor that Skoza won this week. In fact, Skoza isn't surprised by the accolades that the ninth-grader has received. "Jamie Blue and I, we are a pretty good team," says the senior, who is averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.4 rpg herself. "She is a fantastic player for a freshman, lots of basic skills and knowledge." Though a tenacious athlete, Blue is amiable and can make others feel good about themselves. Her cheerful and determined attitude wins her points both on and off the court. Gargoyle reporter Brittany Scheid recently spoke with No. 32 to find out more about this star in the making.

Questions & Answers with Jamie Blue

Jamie Blue moves past Judah Christian defenders during Uni's 68-49 conference victory on Dec. 15. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

What first got you interested in basketball and when did you start playing?

When I lived in Minnesota, I first played in second to third grade on a basketball team that my dad coached, and it was with all of my friends, so I really liked it. My dad [Uni JV girls coach Jeff Blue] was really interested in basketball when he was young, so it kind of runs in the family I guess.

What is it like to have a basketball coach as a dad? Do you feel pressured to do well?

I like that he's there because if I don't understand what I'm doing wrong then he can help me. But there are certain things that come along with your dad being your coach; he expects a lot more from you and gets angry when you don't perform to your fullest. But overall it's really cool because he is there to support you.

Do you play with a club during off-season?

Yeah, I play with the Central Illinois Predators, based out of Springfield, and I played with the Illini Swish, in Champaign. We went to Colorado and we won the State Games of America, and we won the Prairie State Games, and we play in the AAU. It's fun.

What is it like to be the only freshman on varsity?

I like it, and it's really nice to get to know the upperclassmen through sports, and they're nice. It's really different because the chemistry between someone with four years on the team compared to one is really hard to get used to. But after I got used to it, I had a lot of fun.

They are nice to you?

Yeah.

OK, that's what we hope for! What is the greatest number of points you've scored in one varsity game?

I think 24, but I'm not positive. [Blue scored a career-high 24 points against Decatur Christian on Jan. 8 in a 51-35 Uni victory.]

Are there any stories or outstanding moments from this season so far?

Well, I had two triple-doubles back to back, so yeah, that was pretty cool. And then I was named runner-up player of the week by The News Gazette — that was sweet. [Blue recorded her third triple-double of the season on Jan. 16 in Uni's 61-28 win over DeLand-Weldon. Her other triple-doubles came against Judah Christian on Dec. 15 and against LeRoy on Dec. 20.]

Do you feel extra pressure when you get attention from media and people outside of Uni?

I guess it adds another dimension of expectations because then not only does your team expect you to do well but also others expect you to do well.

Sophia Neely is currently the record holder for the most points scored in a Uni basketball career (1,967 career points). Are you trying to compete for her place?

I think that would be a really good thing to strive for. I know that everybody always talks about how she was the best player ever. I know I can top her, and it would be a big step in my basketball career if I could do that. [Sophia Neely, Class of 1986, was an all-state player for Uni and had an all-Ivy League career at Dartmouth, where she was the 1989-90 Ivy League Player of the Year.]

What is your favorite basketball team?

I really like the Utah Jazz because Deron Williams is on the team, and I was always an Illinois fan, even when I lived in Minnesota, and on top of that I moved back to Illinois when he was really popular.

Wait, you take Deron Williams over Dee Brown??

Yeah, I don't know, I really liked Dee Brown, but Deron Williams was really able to control the team.

And now for a random question regarding personal choice, what colors would your ideal uniform exhibit?

Probably red, black, and white. Those are my current Predator colors — they look good together.

Do you have any outside activities or hobbies other than basketball?

I play volleyball, and I'm going to play soccer for Uni. And over the summer, since my family owns a portion of a lake, I like to go tubing and water skiing.

Water skiing! Is that hard?

I learned it at a really young age, and the smaller you are the easier it is to learn. So it's easy now, but it was hard to learn.

Wow, that's unique: a water skier and a basketball, volleyball, and soccer player! Do you have any role models right now?

Probably my dad because when he was little he practiced so hard. And he always helped me and teaches me things that will hopefully some day help me to play college basketball.

Do you have any words that you live by?

Well, you shouldn't take things for granted and should always play as hard as you can because you don't know when you could be injured and taken away from the season.

Blue shows her defensive skills against LeRoy. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

The freshman isn't shy about mixing it up in heavy traffic, as she did against Normal Calvary Baptist in Uni's 64-44 win on Jan. 12.

Blue looks for an open teammate while protecting the ball from Judah Christian defenders. She ranks eighth in the area in assists (4.3 per game).

Despite defensive pressure like this, most teams have been unable to stop Blue (16.4 points per game). The freshman has teamed up with senior Rachel Skoza (15.9 ppg) to form a powerful one-two scoring punch. The duo also averages a combined 18.4 rebounds per game.