It didn't take long for former Oregon high school basketball star Shoni Schimmel to become a star at the collegiate level. She was named First Team Freshman All-American in her first year playing for the University of Louisville and helped lead her team to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. Now Schimmel is a star on the big screen thanks to a film that tells her story from growing up on the Umatilla Indian Reservation to starring on the basketball court.

The documentary, "Off the Rez" directed by Johnathan Hock, premiered last night at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film offers an inside look at the life of the former Franklin high school star:

"Shoni Schimmel, a Umatilla Indian and one of the best high school basketball players in the country, dreams of being the first from her tribe to get a college scholarship. Shoni and her mother/coach Ceci battle together to redeem generations of struggle for their family and their people, but her hoop dreams are threatened after her family leaves the Umatilla Indian Reservation." [Tribecafilm.com]

Hock, who also directed the sports documentary "Through the Fire," explains that 'Off the Rez' is more than just a film about Shoni Schimmel ...

"In 'Off The Rez,' basketball star Shoni Schimmel is the person around whom the narrative revolves, but the real igniter to the story is her mom Ceci, who has it in her head that she is going to show her 7 children—which became 8 while we were filming—the limitations of staying on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon where they live. It's a very closed-off world, and people there are forced to accept a very limited life as it relates to fulfilling their talents, whether they are academically, artistically or athletically gifted. There is a great deal of basketball talent on Indian reservations, and very rarely do you see somebody make it out. So Shoni's mom took her family off the reservation to become a coach and show them that you can succeed in what they call "the outside world": you don't have to be afraid of it, and you can take it on in your terms without compromising your values or dignity." [Tribecafilm.com]

The film is set to air three times during the Tribeca Film Festival. Dates for premieres in other cities have yet to be established, but it is set to air on TLC in 2011. You can watch a preview of the film below.

