"I'd rather you not (write) anything about it until basketball (season)," Planert said. "I'd rather stay kinda low."

Judging by the way she sounded on the telephone Tuesday night, Planert seemed reluctant to publicly discuss her decision to change colleges because it might be viewed negatively.

On the contrary.

Throughout her athletic career at Altoona and North, the one constant has been Planert's remarkable ability to overcome frustrations and disappointments, ultimately finding success and happiness.

She's always been an inspiring story.

In the three years I've interviewed and written about Planert, she's been unfailingly courteous, patient, respectful and well-spoken beyond her years.

In sportswriter lingo, she is a younger, female version of LeRoy Butler. Or Eugene Robinson. Or Mark Grace. Or Charles Barkley. Aside from being an excellent athlete, Planert is a killer quote. Win or lose, she tells it like it is -- often with flair.

Which is why it's a bummer Planert won't say much about her decision to leave Kent and a team that's had a 47-13 record over the past two seasons and won Mid-America Conference titles four of the past five seasons.

"I spent three weeks there, and it wasn't for me, so my parents came and got me a week ago Sunday," was all she'd say, along with confirming she plans to play basketball for the Blugolds and is considering playing softball.

Chances are better than excellent Planert will succeed, considering her talent, history and new coach.

"It will be easy for me to relate to Emilee because her situation is extremely similar to mine," said Tonja Englund, in her first year as Blugolds women's basketball coach.

In her playing days, Englund, a native of Roseville, Minn., accepted an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship from Wyoming and played there for two seasons.

"I had a good basketball experience in Wyoming, but that's really all it was -- a basketball experience," Englund said. "My parents never got to see me play. I lost the connection I had with my family and my friends, who mean a great deal to me."

So she gave up her scholarship to attend the University of St. Thomas, an NCAA Division III school near her hometown. She helped the Tommies win a national championship in 1991 and was named All-America in '92.

"I had the best of both worlds at St. Thomas," Englund said. "I had success in basketball and a life outside basketball. I think Emilee can find the same things here at Eau Claire."

Planert also might find herself doing something no student-athlete has done at UW-Eau Claire in at least seven years: Play basketball and softball.

"It's not out of the question that it could be done," said Deb Steward, the Blugolds' second-year head softball coach. "Tonja brought Emilee into my office last week, and we talked.

"Emilee's first priority is basketball. It would be hard for someone to do both sports, with the overlap in offseason expectations and the fact that the basketball team usually makes it deep into the playoffs.

"But we're certainly not closing any doors to her."