Skylar Wallace is a freshman at Etowah High in Woodstock, Ga. just four weeks into her high school career.

For many kids, they’re just trying to adjust to the intimidating world of new classes, teachers and older students patrolling the hallways.

Skylar, though, has a lot of other things on her mind including, “Where am I going to be this weekend?” And she’ll be thinking that for the rest of this year.

The talented 5-foot-9 shortstop/centerfielder, you see, is a very fast left-handed hitter who plays club ball with the Georgia Impact-Lewis team and has opened eyes to the point that she has, or will be, taking unofficial campus visits this fall to the following major universities (and she’s good enough that at least one of them has offered a scholarship):

• South Carolina (two weekends ago)
• Oklahoma (Sept. 13-14… this weekend)
• Kentucky (Sept. 26-27… two weekends later)
• Florida (Oct. 4-5)
• Ohio State (Oct. 18-19)
• Tennessee (Oct. 25-26)
• Missouri (Nov. TBD)
• Alabama (Nov. TBD)

Mix in the fact she’s playing high school softball—her team is currently 6-6 with a game being played tonight— and some club tournaments sprinkled in when possible and the freshman will have one very busy fall.

Is she nervous about everything on her plate?

“No,” she says candidly. “I’m excited about taking all the trips to the schools, I haven’t been to any of these universities yet. There are certain things I’ll look for, but I have to keep my options open. I don’t want to rush it, but know I’ll probably have to commit my freshman year.”

The key, she knows, will be balancing school, softball and the trips but so far so good. She admits she’s really liking high school so far.

“It’s been fun and I enjoy it a lot more,” she said. “There’s a lot more freedom—you don’t have to walk in a line everywhere you go, when transitioning classes you can have your phone out, you can listen to music at lunch and the teachers are much nicer.”

A self-admitted “A’s and B’s student,” Skylar has a plan on what she needs to do to manage the seven remaining campus visits coming up before Christmas.

“You can’t be all worried and need to have fun,” the freshman says. “It could be stressful to handle school work when I’ve got all theses trips so the key is I have to figure out how to study and do work ahead of time so I know the subject when I come back.”

The Georgia native comes from an incredibly athletic family.

Her father, Lynn, played football in high school and had a scholarship to Auburn as a linebacker before a knee injury derailed his career. He ‘s still involved in football, though, coaching Skylar’s 10-year-old brother Cullen.

Elsewhere, the family tree reveals more athletic DNA.

Skylar’s mother, Kim, was an accomplished mile and half miler in track. Aunt Kelly played softball at Florida State while her Uncle Brock played football and baseball at the Air Force Academy.Another aunt, Brandi, played softball at North Carolina-Greensboro.

And then there’s her grandfather, Greg Schnute, who played on the Florida State NCAA runner-up baseball team that lost to Southern Cal 2-1 in 15 innings in 1970.

He now oversees the East Cobb Bullets softball program—one of the most reputable in the South if not the whole country.

So why isn’t Skylar playing for her grandfather? Her answer reveals a maturity beyond her years.

“Because he’s the Director of the Bullets organization,” she beings, “I don’t want people to think I play because he’s my grandfather. I want them to know I play because of my talent and work ethic. He helps me every once in a while, but ultimately I have to decide myself because I have to be happy with my decision and not base it on what others want for me.”

Grandpa Schnute, though, doesn’t hide his cards when he admits he’d love to coach his granddaughter.

“Yes,” he laughs, “I would love for her to play with our EC Bullet 18 Gold team. It would be an honor and privilege to coach my oldest grandchild, but all I have ever told her is to just enjoy the game.”

So what makes Skylar so coveted by schools all over the country?

She was first noticed on a big scale, she says a year ago when she shined at the Atlanta Legacy tournament. More and more programs jumped on board as they saw her play JV ball last fall and continue to impress through the spring.

This summer, though, prior to PGF Nationals she broke a finger. You’d think that would have derailed her playing time and effectiveness against top players and teams on such a prestigious national stage.

But no.

The lefty speedster simply switched to the right side—where she hadn’t hit for three years—and promptly led the Georgia Impact-Lewis team with a .545 average along with four steals in the tournament.

That definitely caught the attention of more coaches.

Skylar says those recruiting her like “not only how I hit the ball, but also how I get the bunt down and get down the baseline. I feel I know how to play the game and they like how I’m a competitor.”

Surprisingly, with the baseball and softball background in the young athlete’s family, she was into another sport early on.

“I was seven years old and in gymnastics,” she recalls, “and one day I remember looking out at the softball team and thinking I wanted to do that.”

The rest, as they say, is history and it’s led to her amazing fall college tour, which, if everything goes to plan will decide where the latest great athlete in the family plays college ball four years from now.