(Argo Athletics Media Release)
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A fourth member has been added to the 2018 Recruiting Class for the University of Providence women’s basketball program. This one brings a local relevancy to the class and provides a connection to the school’s past with Great Falls High School product Molly Schmitz, daughter of Argo Hall of Famer Jerry Schmitz, committing to UP.
“I have known Molly for a long time and had her at most our camps when she was growing up. She’s someone that I’ve always wanted to coach,” Head Coach Bill Himmelberg said. “I think she has a chance to be a great Lady Argo. I am super excited that she picked us.”
Schmitz comes from a deep tradition of great Montana basketball. Her father, Jerry Schmitz played for the then University of Great Falls in the early 80s, ranks fourth in program history in total points and was inducted into the Argo Hall of Fame in 2013. Her older sister Michele played basketball at the
University of Montana and her other sister Megan played for University of Montana Western.
Despite the connections to multiple schools in the stat, Schmitz chose her parents’ alma mater.
“I’ve known Coach Bill for my entire life and I really like him. I can tell he has good relationships with his team and his players,” Schmitz said. “I’m really excited to be on this team, because even from getting to know the girls a little bit, I can already tell they’re great girls and we’re going to get along.”
While at Great Falls, the 5-10 guard averaged 6.5 points per game as a sophomore and 9 points per game as a junior. She has missed her senior year when recovering from a knee injury that should be fully healed by the time to joins the Lady Argos.
Schmitz brings a good combination of athleticism and basketball IQ. As a coach’s daughter, Jerry Schmitz coaches the GFHS girls’ team, Molly Schmitz is a smart player with good instincts. She also played softball and volleyball for the Bison hitting .369 from the plate in her career and totaled 63 kills on the volleyball court.
“We’ve seen her play since the eighth grade. She can really get to the rim, she can finish, and she’s a smart player,” Himmelberg said. “We love coach’s kids. I know she knows what she’s doing on a basketball court and she knows how the game works.”
She joins Montana guard Marca Herron, Oregon guard Reed Hazard, and Idaho forward Cameron Cady as incoming freshmen for the Lady Argos in the fall of 2018.
