The Scoop On: Edison's Bonnie Samuelson

The Basics: 6-foot-2, Sophomore, Guard

Quick Evaluation: The two-time national free throw champion can shoot from anywhere on the court. Her form appears almost exaggeratedly textbook, as she seems to set arms and stance perfectly, no matter the situation or her place on the floor. It’s the kind of shot that would be easy for an opponent of similar height to block - if only she didn’t get it off so quickly. Despite her height, Samuelson is a true guard.

How she did Thursday night vs. Marina: Samuelson shot 7 of 12 from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul line to lead the Chargers with 19 points. She also added two steals, a block and a rebound in Edison’s 60-45 victory.

When Free Throws Are Truly Free: The Elks Hoop Shoot is a national free-throw shooting competition that holds its championship each year in Springfield, Mass. - home to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Samuelson won the 10-11 year age group in 2004, when she was 10, and in 2005, when she was 11.

After surviving the semifinals (in Vegas), Samuelson then travelled to Massachusetts, where she and the other contestants shot free throws - in dead silence - in front of a packed gymnasium. At age 10, she made 23 of 25. At 11, she made 24.

Samuelson’s sister Karlie, 13, is a past champion, and Katie Lou, 11, is competing this year. Click on this link and you can see what their mother, Karen, told the Elks about the event in 2005: http://www.elks.org/hoopshoot/NewsStory.cfm?StoryID=22145

Why The Sisters Can Shoot (besides freakish talent): Every day when there’s no team practice, the Samuelson girls and their father, Jon, find a gym. Before going home, they each take 250-300 shots.

The form: “It’s always elbow in, follow-through snap, always have back spin, right amount of arc.

“I’ve been told that a bunch in my life.”

Of the workouts, she said: “It can get old; you do it so many times. But you’re just having fun with your sisters. … And you need it, too.”

Genes: Jon and his three brothers played, and won CIF championships, at Sonora, Bonnie said.

“Their pictures are up in that gym, with short shorts and everything,” she said. “He was tall. He was a point guard. He could shoot. He could drive. He would always look for his brothers.”

Carrying on the Tradition: Next season, Karlie and Bonnie will play together for Edison. Bonnie said she expects Karlie to play point guard, because, “She’s a better ballhandler.”

Karlie is about eight inches shorter than Bonnie, but she could catch up fast. Bonnie said she stood about 5-8 or 5-9 when she left middle school. That means she has sprouted at least five inches in less than two years.

Room for Improvement: “I’ve got to work on my post moves a little more, and the offensive boards. But I’m getting stronger at it.”

In a new wrinkle, Chargers coach Dan Wiley sticks Samuelson on the opposing team’s best offensive player - something she did not have to worry about as a freshman.

“She’s having to work doubly hard, and it’s making her tougher and better,” Wiley said.

He added: “She’s young. She’s got a lot to learn. But she’s learning.”

Away from Basketball: “I like to read a lot, and I play the piano. There’s always Disneyland, too.”

Staying Sane: Colleges are ready to snap her up, but Samuelson said that’s far from her mind.

“I’m still young,” she said. “I’m just playing. I’m not worried about it at this point.”

Said Wiley: “The success doesn’t go to her head. She doesn’t know how good she is.”

Contact the writer: jkay@ocregister.com