PINE RIDGE — Ashlan Carlow-Blount was offered her first college basketball scholarship on May 28, and then the emotions set in. 

The Mahpiya Luta High School junior-to-be recently received her first college basketball scholarship offer from Division I North Dakota, culminating years of hard work for the rising prospect. 

“They offered me on the phone, and oh my God, I was so happy,” Carlow-Blount said. “I started crying tears of joy just because it showed that my hard work had started to pay off.”

Prior to the scholarship offer, Carlow-Blount had previous contact with the UND coaching staff. But her next scholarship offer was unexpected. 

Division I Sacramento State, of the Big Sky Conference, offered Carlow-Blount on June 1 and that one took her by surprise. 

“I wasn’t expecting it, if I am being honest,” Carlow-Blount said. “This is my first phone call with them. I was just expecting to get to know them and they offered me, and oh my God, I was so shook. After the call, I immediately called my mom and started freaking out.”

The scholarship opportunities will likely continue to pile up for Carlow-Blount, a 6-foot guard who plays for South Dakota Network on the AAU basketball circuit. Carlow-Blount has been in contact with other colleges, while she will attend elite camps at UND, Drake University and South Dakota State University this summer.   

“It’s just super exciting,” Carlow-Blount added about the recruiting process. “It just really shows that all my hard work is paying off. Because I want to play college basketball and go on even after that and continue playing. So getting these offers is really setting it in stone.”

Mahpiya Luta's Ashlan Carlow-Blount, right, recently received a pair of Division I college basketball scholarship offers. (Boston Morehart / 605 Sports)

This season, Carlow-Blount and Mahpiya Luta placed sixth at the Class A girls basketball tournament. Carlow-Blount was a second-team all-stater, averaging 17.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. 

In the spring, the multi-sport athlete placed third in the Class A 300-meter hurdles at the state track and field meet. She also shined for the South Dakota Network, playing in tournaments in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Phoenix, Arizona. 

“It gives me exposure traveling to these different places,” Carlow-Blount said. “I am playing girls I have never played before at all these tournaments. So it’s super exciting to get to play against all the other amazing athletes.”

Carlow-Blount plays both guard spots for the South Dakota Network 16U team, which played teams from New Mexico, Washington and Colorado at the Spring Classic in Phoenix. 

“I feel like I have been playing well,” Carlow-Blount said. “I have been super proud of how I have been playing. Every tournament I find something more I can work on. I always find something I can improve.” 

South Dakota Network will also play at tournaments in Chicago and Minneapolis (twice) this summer as Carlow-Blount’s hard work continues to pay off. 

“It’s very exciting,” she said. “A little nerve racking sometimes. But I think if I just continue to be myself, that’s all I can do.”

Mahpiya Luta's Ashlan Carlow-Blount, right, recently received a pair of Division I college basketball scholarship offers. (Boston Morehart / 605 Sports)