Altenburg commits to Aggies: EHS hoops standout verbally commits to New Mexico State

By MARTIN HARRIS — Sports Editor
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 11:07 AM PDT

Elko’s Taylor Altenburg (20) goes up for a layup against three Reed defenders last winter. Altenburg commited to New Mexico State this weekend. (Martin Harris/Elko Daily Free Press file)

ELKO — From Day 1 of her freshman career, little doubt existed that Elko standout Taylor Altenburg was going to move on to the next level in four years.

After three stellar seasons and one still remaining, the senior has decided where she will spend the next four years after high school. Altenburg is heading to Las Cruces, N.M., to play for New Mexico State. She gave the school a verbal commitment Saturday and will sign a letter of intent when the fall signing period starts in November.

“It’s a relief to have it over,” she said. “I know where I’m going and now I can focus on the team and try to make it to state.”

Altenburg chose the Aggies over Colorado, Utah State and Texas Christian. She said the decision came down to an unofficial visit she took to the school in June.

“I liked what I saw,” she said. “The coaching staff does a really good job. I like their style. I met the team and I felt really comfortable around the girls I met.”

When Altenburg arrived at Elko’s Centennial Gym for her first high school game, the Lady Indians were coming off a 5-22 overall, 0-10 High Desert League season. The responsibility of rebuilding the program was quickly placed on the freshman’s shoulders.

The freshman quickly responded. In her first prep game against Lowry on Nov. 30, 2004, Altenburg scored 13 points. In the next two contests, she tossed in 21 against Douglas and 27 versus Battle Mountain.

She went on to lead the team with 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

“Many times, everything was on her,” Tribe coach Karen Hoem said. “I’m grateful and appreciative for everything she’s done.”

The team won four league games that season and missed out on the playoffs, but a ray of hope was right around the corner.

During her sophomore and junior seasons, Altenburg led Elko back to the playoffs. In both seasons, she led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. The Tribe lost in the first round of the postseason both years to the Reno Huskies.

“It’s been really rewarding,” Altenburg said of her role in the program’s rebuilding process. “Hopefully, now we can take the next step.”

Coach Hoem has watched Altenburg’s progression through her high school years.

“She’s put in the long, hard hours,” Hoem said. “From a coaching aspect, I can only hope I’ve done my part to prepare her for the next level.”

The coach said defense and rebounding has been Altenburg’s greatest areas of improvement since her freshman year.

“Her understanding where she needs to be and what she needs to do on defense,” Hoem said.

Altenburg’s decision to go to a Western Athletic Conference school means she will once again face off with former Spring Creek star Johnna Ward, who will play for Nevada this winter.

Altenburg gave a lot of credit to her father for her success in the sport. Mike Altenburg, the Elko High principal, spends a lot of time working with his daughter developing her game.

It has paid off with an opportunity to continue her playing days.

With 91 percent of the team’s scoring back for the upcoming season, Altenburg and the Lady Indians have high expectations. Altenburg hopes to push the Tribe deep into the playoffs.

She also has the opportunity to rewrite the Elko record books. Altenburg’s 1,316 career points places her fifth on the all-time Elko list and trails No. 1 Dyann Rogers by 355 points. Altenburg appears likely to also set the career rebounding mark. Her 800 boards are third and only 187 fewer than leader Lauren Beckman.

The senior’s 272 steals place her sixth in the program’s history and 127 assists are 10th best.

Altenburg is a three-sport athlete at Elko. In addition to basketball, Altenburg is one of the top hitters on the volleyball team and she qualified for the state track meet last year in the triple jump.

Beckman, who went on to the University of Utah in 1998, was the last Elko basketball player to move on to Division I hoops.