The Front Row with MARK NELKE Nov. 10, 2011

Former Post Falls High basketball standout Katelyn Loper has known for nearly a year that she was going to be able to come back to this area and play in front of friends and family.

But now that the trip is getting near for the 5-foot-11 sophomore shooting guard at Hofstra University ...

"I'm getting a little nervous, actually," Loper said in a phone interview earlier this week from Hempstead, N.Y.

"When I played in that all-state game (at North Idaho College in March 2010), I said this is the last time I get to play in front of friends and family, but my coach has made it possible for us to come back here and play."

Loper and Hofstra will fly west on Thursday, open its season Friday at 4 p.m. at Gonzaga, then play Sunday at 1 p.m. at Eastern Washington.

LOPER WILL play against former teammates in both games.

She played AAU ball with Gonzaga guard Jazmine Redmon, forward Shaniqua Nilles and center Shelby Cheslek, and played high school ball against wing Katelan Redman.

"It's kind of exciting to see how different we've become as players," Loper said. "Some of us have had to change our games completely ... it's definitely exciting to see how each player has developed."

And, of course on Sunday she will play against Jordan Schoening, who she also played with at Post Falls, and is now a junior at Eastern.

They've played on the same team since fourth grade.

"When we play against each other we're competitors, but ... (on Sunday) I think we're going to soak up this moment," Loper said. "The moment is going to be great that we're both on the court at the same time."

As a freshman at Hofstra last year, Loper averaged 11.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, and was named to the Colonial Athletic Association all-rookie team. She made a team-high 75 3-pointers and shot 38.5 percent from behind the arc. Her season high of 26 points came at William and Mary.

"It was one of the most eye-opening experiences," Loper said of her freshman year, having to adjust her game from high school. "It kind of slapped me in the face a little bit."

Loper, Post Falls' all-time leading scorer, has been pushed at Hofstra to improve the other parts of her game, and is taking, well, pride in getting better at defense, rebounding, etc.

"My (freshman) season, I felt it went well, but I can only get better," Loper said. "Not having to carry the (scoring) load ... is kind of like a breath of fresh air."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at [email protected].