Stanley County High School Class of 2009 graduate Sam Ostarello will be the newest addition to the Buffalo Hall of Fame when she’s inducted during a ceremony tonight (Jan. 27, 2024).
Ostarello’s induction will be held during the Stanley County vs. Cheyenne-Eagle Butte doubleheader girls and boys basketball games at Parkview Auditorium in Fort Pierre. She still holds school records in scoring with 1581 points, and rebounding with 1075 boards.
Ostarello was a member of the All-Tournament Team at the 2008 State A girls basketball tournament and made 2nd Team All-State that year, followed by a 1st Team All-State selection in 2009. She was the 2009 Class A Player of the Year, 2009 SD Miss Basketball, 2009 SD Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and a 2009 McDonald’s All-American nominee. In 2009 she was one of 20 high school athletes selected from across the country to play in the WBCA Nike All-American game before the NCAA Final Four, and was also selected to the 2009 Parade All-American 3rd Team. Her high school jersey is hanging in the Ring of Honor at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Ostarello is also a 3-time state champion in the high jump. She also broke a 32-year-old high jump record at the Howard Wood Relays, where her 5’9 ¾” jump is still the record. She was on the honor roll all four years of high school and was also an accomplished clarinetist in the band.
Ostarello attended Purdue University on a full scholarship, where as a starter she helped her team claim Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, she earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, and in 2013 made the All-Big Ten 2nd Team. She was also the 2013 leading rebounder in the Big Ten.
In her Purdue basketball career, she holds the record for most rebounds in a single season (341) and is second in career rebounds (901). She holds the NCAA record for most rebounds in a single tournament game (17). She is also 3rd in double-double games in a season (12) and 6th in double-double games in a career (17). She holds the record for minutes played in a game (51) and is 11th for career games played (132). She graduated from Purdue in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Kinesiology– Movement & Sports Science and a minor in anthropology.
After graduating from Purdue, Ostarello played for Team USA in China, and then played professional basketball overseas for ten years, during which she achieved her lifelong dream of playing for the Italian National Team.
Throughout her long career on the hardwood, Sam Ostarello demonstrated qualities that extend far beyond the basketball court. Her determination and commitment to hard work inspired countless others to improve their game and better themselves on and off the court. Her leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline made her a role model that will continue to inspire future generations of Stanley County athletes.
The Buffalo Hall of Fame was established to formally honor the memory and contributions of outstanding student-athletes, coaches and supporters of Fort Pierre High and Stanley County High School co-curricular programs. It serves as a symbol of the community’s appreciation for the excellence, honor, and devotion displayed by the inductees.
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