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Ellsworth scoring star Schilling stays near home, picks Augustana

By JOHN MILLEA, Star Tribune

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 11:20 PM

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Why should a kid have to go to the BIG school just because is could help them. What is wrong with treating sports as a part of the college … read more experience rather than THE reason to attend a college. This kid sounds smart beyond his years.

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When Cody Schilling made his college decision, it was no surprise that being close to home played a major role.

Only 50 miles separate the Schilling farm outside Ellsworth and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and the Minnesota boys' basketball career scoring leader plans to travel back and forth a lot during his college years.

He signed a letter of intent with the Division II Vikings on Friday in the Ellsworth gym, joined by his basketball teammates and senior classmates. He chose Augustana over Division II national champion Winona State and Northwestern College, an NAIA school in Orange City, Iowa.

Schilling, the second of three boys in his family, said he wants to be able to watch his brother Casey, an eighth-grader, play basketball in Ellsworth. His older brother, Curt, is a senior at Northwestern who led the Red Raiders in scoring this season.

Cody Schilling got offers to walk on at several Division I schools, including Minnesota, Iowa State, Drake, Northern Iowa and Creighton.

"When I went on visits to a few of the D-I colleges, I was talking to some of their guys and they're like, 'We went home once during basketball season,' " Schilling said. "With my brother playing, I want to see him play more than that. To tell you the truth, level was never really the big thing for me. I wanted to find the right college, and I wanted to stay close to home."

Augustana was 22-9 last season, reaching the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since the 1988-89 season. The Vikings lost to Northern State in the semifinals of the North Central Regional at Winona State.

• Crosby-Ironton's Bryce Tesdahl, who helped the Rangers to a second-place finish in Class 2A, has signed with Division II Bemidji State.