Mark Morrow: One-on-One with Heritage Christian's Kelly Faris

Kelly Faris' high school basketball career is one for the ages, not to mention the archives of Indiana and Heritage Christian history. The slender, 5-foot-11 dynamo owns at least three records that will never be broken, not to mention likely ever even matched. Consider: - She played on four straight Class 2A state championships. - She led her team to those championships all in the same class. - She's one of three girls to play on all four championship teams. Faris' personal recognition includes being named a member of the 2009 Indiana All-Stars girls team. She finished second to Skylar Diggins, of Class 4A South Bend Washington, in balloting for Miss Basketball. And the University of Connecticut-bound Faris recently was honored as the top player in the Indianapolis area. And there's more. Faris, who averaged 14.1 points on a well-balanced team, as well as 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game, has three more opportunities to showcase her talents and possibly add to her high school resume this season. That includes two games against Kentucky in the annual Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game series in June, as well as the McDonald's All-American Game, which is Wednesday in Miami. Faris, who joins the Notre Dame-bound Diggins as the only Indiana girls named McDonald's All-American this season, took time from her busy schedule to discuss her high school career and her future before embarking on her trip to Miami. MM: Have you ever been to Miami? Kelly: Yes, I was there to see the Colts win the Super Bowl! MM: How does it feel to be one of only two Indiana girls named a McDonald's All-American? Kelly: First of all, it is a great honor to be selected to the McDonald's team. I cannot wait to get to Miami because it is an experience that very few get to have. I just want to go and do the best I can and enjoy it all. MM: You and Diggins have received so much publicity this year. Have you met her? Kelly: I have met Skylar before. We played on the USA U18 team together last summer. She is a great player and I am looking forward to playing with her as well as all of the other girls. MM: How are your games different? Kelly: Skylar is more a 1-2 position-wise (backcourt), and I'm more of a 2-3 (inside and swing player). MM: You have won four state championships; Skylar has won one. Would you trade any of those titles for more accolades this year? Kelly: As far as trading any of our state titles for more accolades, I definitely would not trade any of those to get more awards for myself. Before the State Finals game, I was asked if I would rather have a fourth state title or be named Miss Basketball. I said that I would most definitely rather have a fourth state title. Personally, I think it is more satisfying when you have an entire team receiving honor for what we did together rather than one individual being recognized. I would have never been in the running for Miss Basketball if it wasn't for my teammates. I'm not saying I did not want it (Miss Basketball); it is a great honor, but when putting it up against a team accomplishment, I would rather have that. I think Skylar was very deserving of the award, and I congratulate her for that. Again it is a great honor to be a part of the All-Star team. MM: Any other thoughts on your high school career? Kelly: My high school career has been a blast. It honestly is one of those things that is hard to put into words. I have been so blessed with the opportunities that have been put before me. We have had a great group of girls every year and a wonderful coaching staff. You could practically say that we have all become one big family over the past four years. We all wanted to go out and have as much fun as we could, and I glorify God in doing so. As for us seniors, we wanted to go out with a bang. We didn't play as well as we would have liked that last game, but we fought hard and came out with the win, and it was a fun way to end our high school career. I am very thankful to have had the four years that I have. I honestly don't think there are many, if any, girls out there that could say they have had the experience that I have. I don't just mean that relating to the state championships, but also just the good times we have had together and how much we all get along. I cannot believe it is over. It went by so fast, and I will miss all my friends and coaches. MM: What made you decide to leave the state and go to Connecticut. Kelly: Deciding a school for myself was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I eventually got it narrowed down to Notre Dame and UConn. They are both great programs with great coaches and girls on the team. I really enjoyed getting to know both programs. It was hard to say no to Notre Dame, but when I saw UConn practice it was like I saw the team I would fit into best. The coaching staff, I know, will push me to my limits and work hard to improve my game. All of the girls work so hard and they play like I want to play. They are so fun to watch, and I can't believe I get the opportunity to play with a team of girls like that. Notre Dame was a great school and program, but it just was not the right fit for me. I know I will have to work hard this summer to improve my game before I get to UConn. MM: You said you felt you were at your best, most help to your team when you are on the point, with the ball in your hands. What must you work on at the next level of your basketball career? Kelly: The college level of play is completely different than high school ball. I will have to work on my shot, creating my own shot and shots for teammates. I'll have to get stronger, and smarter, and the fact that I see how much Coach (Geno Auriemma) has relied on his freshmen and younger players just as much as the older players gives me more confidence going into it. I just know I am going to have to go in there and do whatever I can to help the team out. MM: What about life after college, do you have aspirations to play in the WNBA? Kelly: If the WNBA is still around, and if I was given the opportunity to play, then I would love to have that experience.