By Matt Gade

605 Sports

VERMILLION — Four years ago, Josie Hill just wanted to play Division I basketball. That dream took the Rapid City Central alum to Illinois, where she joined the Chicago State University Cougars.

While at Chicago State, Hill showcased the same skills she displayed in high school as a defender who can block shots, grab rebounds and score.

In high school, Hill set the single-season records for rebounds and blocked shots for the Cobblers.

At Chicago State, Hill was a repeat presence on the floor. 

The 6’1” center set the Cougars’ single-season block record and single-game record for blocked shots.

In total, Hill appeared in 82 games for CSU, averaging 10.1 points and just under 6.8 rebounds in her career, while averaging 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds her junior year. Hill was also named to the Northeast Conference all-defensive team as a junior.

Following her junior year, Hill decided to enter the transfer portal for her senior year. 

The first phone call she received turned out to be the only one she needed. From the University of South Dakota.

“This was my first visit, and I had other visits planned and other offers, but once USD called me, I came on a visit, I got to like, feel the environment and like how everyone was welcoming. … I just knew this was the place for me,” Hill said. “Then also, of course, it being home. I just felt like it was perfect, and I was just ready.”

Hill said once she entered the portal, it was nearly overwhelming the number of people and schools that reached out to her.

She said her phone was constantly going off, and once she committed to the Coyotes it was a big relief knowing she had made a decision that felt right to her. Not that she didn’t like knowing a lot of teams were interested in her potentially joining her team.

“During my high school days, I didn't get offered from them (USD) or anything,” Hill said. “Also, I started basketball late, too, so just picking up a Division I offer, being able to go somewhere meant a lot to me. But now, like coming back and being a Yote, it means much more.

“It feels like a full circle moment, like it feels so surreal, just being back.”

Hill, who is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, said another reason she came to USD was that she wants to inspire other kids that they can play at the Division I level.

“Personally, this means a lot to me, just because my tribe is close. I want the youth from the rez to see someone from their reservation playing at the Division I level. Just trying to be a role model in that sense,” Hill said. “And just for my people, here to be able to watch my games for my last year and all that means a lot.”

Hill is among a big group of new faces on the USD roster, as the Coyotes return only two players from last year’s squad, Olivia Kieffer and Coral Mason. 

“I'm so happy that she's here,” Kieffer said of Hill. “She's an awesome leader. She's extremely vocal, extremely positive, a very fun person to be around, a great teammate, and she's extremely skilled. I'm really, really excited to see how she does this year, and very thankful that we get to be teammates.”

Even though it’s a lot of new faces, four of those new members of the team are seniors, having played at other Division I schools, including Hill.

“I feel like we have the pieces from the point guard to wings to the post, and we all, collectively, want it. We just want to make an impact here at USD, and the four seniors who came in, we want to leave our mark,” Hill said. “We want to look back and know, we really did something here.”

The other senior transfers include Angelina Robles, Patience Williams and Elise Turrubiates.

Since coming to USD, Hill has noticed a big difference in the style of play between USD and Chicago State.

Previously, Hill said the offense was a quicker pace with more shot attempts, while now at USD, they run a more structured offense with more playcalling and utilizing more time on the shot clock.

Hill said she likes coach Carrie Eighmey’s style of offense and said she even expects to shoot more 3-point baskets than she ever had before.

While Hill said she enjoys scoring, on defense, getting to block her opponents’ shots is her favorite aspect of her game.

“I just like to play ball, but I love shot blocking,” Hill said. “Just that feeling of blocking someone, that just makes me happy. But other than that, I just like to play ball. I just want to do what I can on both sides of the court. I don't want to just be a set offensive player or a set defensive player. I want to do it all.”

On Monday, Nov. 3, the Coyotes open up their season against York University, a member of the NAIA. 

In another full-circle moment for Hill will be on Friday, Nov. 7, when the Coyotes play host to Air Force Academy, which includes a friend and former rival in Jayda McNabb. McNabb, a Rapid City Stevens alum, met Hill several times in their high school days during multiple Central-Stevens crosstown rivalry games, including the first round of the Class AA girls state tournament in 2022, Hill’s senior year. 

“I'm so excited. … Jayda is one of my friends,” Hill said. “We already talked about it before, and when I first committed. She talked about how we're gonna play each other. It's all friendly competition, but at the end of the day, only one person can win. So we're really excited about that. I'm really excited to see Jayda. Haven't seen her in a while, but just like a full-circle moment. Central-Stevens and then me and Jayda, playing against each other, and also her school being blue and my school being red again. It's just crazy.”

Hill, who is studying exercise science at USD, said she hopes to play professionally overseas after college.