A heads-up for those attending Friday's home opener for the College of Southern Idaho women's basketball team: Be prepared to smile. Not just a mild Mona Lisa grin, mind you, but a full blown, teeth-bearing smile.

It's simply the fate of those who spend time around CSI freshman Shauneice Samms.

Self-described as "crazy," "goofy," and "fun," Samms is ever ready to deliver her infectious smile.

"You ask for a smile, and you're always gonna get a smile out of Shauneice," said CSI head coach Randy Rogers.

True to form, when Samms overheard Rogers' comment from a few feet away, a wide smile immediately flashed across her face.

But Samms has been far more than a pleasant personality for the 3-3 Golden Eagles. When the team lost All-American sophomore post Maddy Plunkett to a season-ending knee injury, Rogers turned Samms to fill the void in the starting lineup.

"We're asking her to do a lot as a freshman and so far she's holding up her end pretty well. She does a great job on the glass, runs the floor hard," said Rogers.

The 6-foot post player came to CSI out of Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash. A multiple year starter, she owns numerous school records, including the top spot for career points and blocks. Those numbers earned her interest from Pepperdine University in California and Radford University in Virginia. But when issues with a high school class led to problems with the NCAA clearinghouse, she wound up in Twin Falls as one of the finaladditions for the 2008-09 Golden Eagles.

Rogers calls her "a late blessing."

As for being thrust into the starting five, Samms said, "I was nervous at first, but then I just got over it."

Unlike the majority of players, the statistic of most interest to Samms isn't her points. When she finds a stat sheet, her eyes scan directly to the rebound column. When she reaches double figures, you're sure to see that smile.

"In the game when I had 18 (rebounds), I was so happy I didn't even care about scoring. I was celebrating and dancing around," said Samms.

While she doesn't consider shooting one of her primary strengths on the court, she's certainly a straight shooter off of it.

"If anyone asks me for my opinion, and a lot of people do, I keep it real," she said. "I give them a straight answer whether it's rude or not."

And while her face exhibits an almost constant state of happiness, Samms she'd she isn't happy with her current performance on the court.

"I want to do more. I'm not satisfied with myself," she said.

It's that attitude that will lead to success on the court and in the classroom and likely land Samms at the NCAA Division I level in the near future.

When that recruiting decision comes, one factor will take precedence. Asked where she'd like to play ball after CSI, Samms replies, "Somewhere hot, because it's cold here."

Once again, there's that smile.

Coca-Cola Classic notes

The College of Southern Idaho hosts Yakima Valley (Wash.) Community College and Casper (Wyo.) College this weekend for the Coca-Cola Classic. The tournament begins with one game today as Yakima Valley and No. 16 Casper square off at 7 p.m.

The Idaho All-Stars, a team of former CSI and Division I college players, complete the four-team field, but will not face the Golden Eagles, who open play at 6 p.m., Friday against Yakima Valley.

CSI may be short-handed this week after freshman forward MeChel Hunt "tweaked" her knee in practice Monday, according to Rogers. It's the same knee Hunt had an ACL tear in during her senior season at Utah's Fremont High School. Sophomore guard Cassie Wood sprained her ankle on Tuesday, but is expected to play this weekend.

This is the fourth straight season that CSI, which fell out of the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Top 25 this week, and Yakima Valley have met. Rogers knows what to expect from coach Cody Butler's 3-0 squad, which is coming off a championship in the High Hopes Crossover Tournament.

"One thing about his kids, they play extremely hard," said Rogers. "They're usually undersized, but they run the floor really well and can really shoot it."

Yakima Valley is led offensively by 5-8 sophomore guard Chelsey Nill.

On Saturday, CSI will get a tough test from 8-2 Casper, which is off to a strong start under new head coach Dwight Gunnare, who previously coached at Miles (Mont.) Community College.

"They can flat-out shoot the ball," said Rogers, whose team played a tight scrimmage against Casper in Salt Lake City last month. "They're good. One of the better shooting teams will face all year."

Casper has three players averaging double-figure scoring, led by 6-foot sophomore Juliana Paunovic.

Coca-Cola Classic Today's game No. 16 Casper College vs. Yakima Valley , 7 p.m. Friday's games Idaho All Stars vs. No. 16 Casper College, 2 p.m. CSI vs. Yakima Valley CC, 6 p.m. Saturday's games Idaho All Stars vs. Yakima Valley CC, 2 p.m. CSI vs. No. 16 Casper College, 6 p.m. NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Top 25 Records through Nov. 25 Team (1st. pl.) Rec. Pts. Pvs. 1. Jefferson (Mo.) College (8) 8-0 200 1 2. Central Arizona College 7-0 192 2 3. Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC 8-0 184 3 4. Midland (Texas) College 11-0 175 4 5. Arkansas Fort-Smith 9-0 169 5 6. Chipola (Fla.) College 9-1 159 8 7. Pensacola (Fla.) JC 10-0 149 9 8. Cloud County (Kan.) CC 8-1 140 6 9. South Plains (Texas) College 10-1 137 7 10. Walters State (Tenn.) CC 9-0 122 11 11. Trinity Valley (Texas) CC 5-3 121 10 12. Connors (Okla.) State 11-0 112 12 13. Northwest Florida State 7-0 97 17 14. Northeastern (Colo.) JC 8-0 74 - 15. Moberly Area (Mo.) CC 9-1 73 19 16. Casper (Wyo.) College 8-2 55 16 17. Monroe (N.Y.) CC 4-3 51 24 18. Rend Lake (Ill.) College 7-0 45 - 19. Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) CC 5-0 41 - 20. Volunteer State (Tenn.) CC 8-1 33 18 21. Salt Lake CC 5-3 32 22 22. Bevill State (Ala.) CC 7-0 30 25 23. Sheridan (Wyo.) College 8-1 29 13 24. Coffeyville (Kan.) CC 7-1 25 - 25. North Idaho College 4-1 24 - Others receiving votes: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 13, CSI 12, State Fair (Mo.) CC 11, Southern Union (Ala.) State CC 9, Middle Georgia College 8, Shelton State (Ala.) CC 1.