Former South Bend Washington and Notre Dame star guard Skylar Diggins is accompanied by her mother Renee Scott and stepfather Maurice Scott Saturday at Notre Dame. Diggins was inducted into the ND Ring of Honor (Photos by Scott Davidson)

SOUTH BEND – Blessed.

That’s the word that Skylar Diggins chose to use on numerous occasions as she was honored at Notre Dame on Saturday.

It’s also an appropriate word that everyone who is fortunate to know the classy young lady with the million dollar smile and immense hoops skill set   could use too.

Diggins spent eight years thrilling area basketball fans first at South Bend Washington High School and then at Notre Dame.

On Saturday, the former All-American guard was inducted into the Notre Dame Ring of Honor in the Purcell Pavilion.

The well-earned honor for Diggins, just the fifth player in Irish basketball history (and only the second female) inducted, came just some eight months after she played her final game in the building.

“This is a very special day for so many reasons,” said Diggins in a press conference prior to the unveiling of her No. 4 in the rafters of her former home court. “It takes me back to when I was younger and came to games here.

“To join such an elite group of players is amazing. There’s been so many great players here. It’s just humbling to go in such a short time after playing here. It was not a goal, but something I dreamed about.”

Diggins, who was offered a scholarship by Irish coach Muffet McGraw before she ever played a high school game, is some kind of hometown hero in this city. The National Player of the Year in high school and a four-time All-American at Notre Dame, Diggins is one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of South Bend.

“My experience here was so special,” Diggins said. “To be part of a university that I hold in such high esteem was all I could ever hope for. To be part of this great school and its’ tradition was amazing.”

Skylar Diggins watches as her No. 4 is unveiled in the ND Ring of Honor Saturday in the rafters of Purcel Pavilion.

Diggins led the Irish to three straight Final Four appearances in her Irish career. She helped the team to runner-up finishes in the NCAA Tournament her sophomore and junior seasons and the Irish were 35-2 last season and won the program’s first Big East Tournament championship.

Diggins final game in the Purcell Pavilion was one for the ages. She helped the Irish beat archival UConn in a thrilling, triple-overtime, nationally-televised contest that put the final touch on a 16-0 run in the Big East regular season.

“There’s so many memories for me, but that UConn game is right there at the top,” Diggins remarked. “The fans were so loud that night and everyone stayed after the game. It was amazing to go out like that.”

Diggins, who was the third overall pick in the WNBA draft and played her rookie season with the Tulsa Shock this past summer, holds school records for points (2,357), steals (381), games started (144) and double-figure scoring games (121) among other categories at ND. She led Washington High School to a 102-7 mark in her prep career with four straight appearances in the Class 4-A state championship game.

The importance of family though is what kept Diggins right at home for her collegiate career. The star chose the Irish over Stanford and Penn State in the end.  Her mother Renee Scott and stepfather Maurice Scott, who coached her during part of her high school career at Washington, have had a huge impact.

“My family is the reason I sit up here,” said an emotional Diggins. “I dedicate this to them. I wanted my family to see me play and that’s why I stayed home. I never wanted to leave this place. It’s great to have a tight-knit family like I do that supports you and keeps you grounded.

“I just want to be known as a person who valued family and who cared so deeply for South Bend and Notre Dame and who carried that with her everywhere she went.

“I’ve been blessed.”

So have we Skylar.

So have we.

The banner honoring Skylar Diggins is proudly on display in the Purcel Pavilion at Notre Dame.