SOUTH BEND — Reflecting back on her high school career, Skylar Diggins can't help but smile.

"It's been the best experience of my life," Diggins freely admits.

Quite simply, Diggins is the best girls basketball player the area has ever seen. Her accomplishments this year alone offer a glimpse of her talent, and potential.

She is Parade All-American, Indiana Miss Basketball, McDonald's All-American, Gatorade State and National Player of the Year, Naismith National Player of the Year, and that's just to name a few.

"I'm very blessed. Looking back at it, it humbles me," she said. "But at the same time it keeps me from becoming complacent. It makes me want to move on to the next thing."

With four state title game appearances in four years, and a championship to go along with it, Diggins is one of the most successful players in Indiana history, male or female.

The only thing more impressive than Skylar's accomplishments on the court is her attitude.

"I love those awards, but I would give them all up for (another) state championship with my teammates," she said.

It's that unselfishness and humility that makes Skylar Diggins the once-in-a-lifetime player that she is.

And she's every bit as diligent in the classroom as she has been on the basketball court.

Skylar graduated 6th out of 292 in her class at Washington, and will attend Notre Dame on a full scholarship in the fall.

"I'm looking forward to moving on to bigger and better things," she said. "Hopefully winning a national championship [at Notre Dame] ... I'm very excited to get started."

We've come to expect nothing less from her, which is why Skylar Diggins is the WSBT/Burger King Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year!

Skylar's Awards/Accomplishments during the 2008-09 year:

National Honor Society
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Volleyball Team Captain/Sportsmanship Award/ Kiwanis Award/Scholar Athlete
Sporting News Magazine 1st Team All-American
Hoosier Basketball Magazine 1st Team All-State
Currently ranked 3rd all time in Indiana State scoring history with 2,790 career points
Region Roundball Rumble MVP
Indiana Fever Player of the Week 1/12/09
Northern Indiana Conference 1st Team/MVP
IHSAA Class 4A Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award
ICSGA 1st Team All-State
Indiana Basketball Coaches Association All-State Team
MaxPreps Player of the Year
Associated Press 1st Team All-State
Indiana Miss Basketball
Gatorade Indiana & National Player of the Year
Naismith National Player of the Year
McDonald’s All-American & Co-MVP/Powerade Jamfest 3 point shoot-out winner
WBCA All-American & Co-MVP
ESPN HoopGurlz National POY
ESPNRise.com National POY
Parade Magazine 1st Team All-American
SBCSC Distinguished Student Scholar/President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence/WHS American Citizenship Award
USA Basketball U19 Team Finalist