Lc’s Herbert Says She’ll Attend Utah

The best high school girls basketball player in Idaho - and one of the top players in the Inland Northwest - plans to attend college out of state next year.

Lake City High standout Lindsay Herbert gave the University of Utah an oral commitment Wednesday.

Herbert, a 5-foot-11 guard/wing, chose the school in Salt Lake City over Colorado and Montana.

Other schools she visited were Oregon State, Idaho and San Francisco.

Although Colorado was at the top of her list from the start, Herbert said Utah came on strong at the end.

“They wanted me the most,” she said. “It’s a very good program and it’s an opportunity for me to help them improve a lot in the next four years.”

Herbert said Utah is considering her at three positions: point guard, off guard and wing.

Traditional Big Sky Conference power Montana recruited Herbert at point guard. She visited the school in Missoula with her stepfather, North Idaho College women’s basketball coach Greg Crimp.

“I’d like to play point guard or shooting guard,” Herbert said. “I’d like to handle the ball as much as possible.”

She said one of the reasons she chose Utah is the distance from home.

“I didn’t want to go to a school that was close to home,” she said. “When I visited (Utah), the thing I remember is I could picture myself there. There’s a lot of nice things about Salt Lake City and the area.”

Herbert averaged 14.8 points and six rebounds on LC’s state runner-up team last year.

Two weeks ago, Herbert’s teammate, Alison Asher (6-4-1/2 post), orally committed to Portland. Both players will sign letters of intent when the early signing period begins Nov. 12.

Until a letter of intent is signed, college coaches are prohibited from talking about their recruits.

LC opens its season two days after their star players sign. The T-Wolves will be favored to win the state title.

Herbert said the pressure should be off her and Asher heading into the season.

“There won’t be as much tension between Ali and me because we’re both signed,” Herbert said. “We should play together a lot better now.”

Crimp was pleased with Herbert’s decision for an admitted selfish reason. NIC’s conference schedule takes Crimp’s team through Salt Lake City.

, DataTimes