Mallory Schaffer is the type of athlete who can make a coach's job easier.

You hear that a lot, but usually it's when a coach is talking about someone, say, with great skill or talent, or a player who understands the game enough that he or she doesn't need much coaching.

And, yes, Schaffer, a recent Hampton High School graduate, was all those things for the Talbots' soccer and basketball teams. But to hear Hampton girls' basketball coach Mary Bukovac tell it, Schaffer was a player she could lean on in more ways than the conventional.

"She's just so committed to everything she does," Bukovac said. "There are times when kids need help with their academics, and I'd say, 'Why don't you just go ask Mallory?'

"If they needed help and I couldn't help -- for whatever reason -- you know Mallory understands it, and she's the type of kid who is there for her teammates, no matter what."

Schaffer is an excellent student and will attend the College of William & Mary on a soccer scholarship this fall. She has been chosen as the PG North Female High School Athlete of the Year for 2008-09.

Schaffer also was the PG's girls' soccer player of the year for the WPIAL and City League after she scored 18 goals last season. That gave her a school-record 70 for her career, a career in which she was a four-year starter, three-time all-state honoree and achieved All-America status as a senior.

"Her field vision and strength on the ball and movement of the ball is so good," Hampton soccer coach Frank Christy said. "And as gifted as she is offensively, she's probably the best defender I have ever coached.

"We have her playing midfield so she can stay offensively oriented, but at the highest level, I think she can be one of the best center [defenders] in America -- and I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it."

Christy said although Schaffer likely will play midfield for William & Mary, she has played fullback for national and regional teams as part of the U.S. Olympic Development Program and with her prestigious Beadlng soccer club team.

Her long-term goals could realistically include playing soccer at an elite level -- even her basketball coach sees that.

"I would not be surprised to see her playing in the Olympics someday for women's soccer," Bukovac said. "She's that type of quality kid. She will do -- whatever it is -- she will do it to the best of her ability.

"There are too many kids who want to get something out of what they do without putting in the time and commitment. She will put in whatever it takes to accomplish whatever it is she wants to accomplish -- academically, athletically, just everything she does."

Schaffer was a two-year starter as a 5-foot-9 shooting guard for the Talbots in basketball, a key member of the team that won the 2008 WPIAL Class AAA championship.

"Just being a starter on that team and winning the title was such a thrill," Schaffer said.

It was a thrill Schaffer earned by playing the sport when she easily could have simply concentrated solely on soccer the past few years.

"She's a good example for anyone who might be trying to play two sports," Bukovac said. "If someone says they can't play soccer and basketball, I tell them, 'Look at Mallory,' and now I don't lose all those kids to soccer."

"I really liked it because it's just a different type of competition, and I just love sports in general and the girls were really welcoming and a lot of my friends played basketball," Schaffer said.

"It allowed me to stay in shape in the winter, and there was a little less pressure in basketball because I think the talent was pretty evenly distributed. It was a nice outlet for me to play another competitive sport."

Still, it is soccer with which she is most identified. Schaffer led the Talbots to a combined 72-15-5 record over the past four seasons, Hampton advancing at least to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals each time and to the PIAA playoffs three out of the four seasons.

The Talbots lost only seven regular-season games in that time and were 17-0-1 heading into the playoffs this season. They very well could have been favorites to win the WPIAL and PIAA titles this season after allowing only three goals through 20 games into the WPIAL semifinals, but Schaffer was kicked in the ankle and injured in a 2-0 victory against Belle Vernon Area in the quarterfinals.

"That was a bummer, ending a career like that," Schaffer said. "But whatever. There still were plenty of good memories."