Multitalented Filipe has done it all for U.

Over the past three years, Joh-Teena Filipe has seen it all.

From her days as a multisport star at Skyline High to a role-playing freshman on the Utah women's basketball team, she has seen her responsibilities change and her playing time wax and wane. By now, playing the clarinet in the marching band for the sake of her team is just about the only thing that she hasn't done.

"One of the things that I've learned is that you've got to be ready for anything," says Filipe. "You just never know what kind of challenges you'll have to deal with once you get into a game situation."

In less than two seasons at Utah, Filipe has proven her versatility time and time again. She appeared in 32 of the Utes' 34 games as a freshman, tallying eight starts along the way. She has been asked to do everything from controlling the ball to banging around on the low post.

But the one role that she hadn't played for the Utes as a freshman was that of scoring threat. It was understood that talented seniors Shona Thorburn and Kim Smith would provide the majority of the offensive firepower. The other players' primary function was to get them the ball.

"Last year we had our two scorers," recalls Filipe. "We were usually looking to go to one of them whenever we had the ball. But now we have a lot of people who can score. Getting used to that has been a big transition for me."

All things considered, the 19-year-old Filipe has responded remarkably well to being thrust into the limelight by the graduations of Smith and Thorburn.

She averages nearly a double-double every game, and has become one of the team's top rebounders in spite of her less-than-ideal height.

Generously listed at 6-foot-1, Filipe has made a habit of embarrassing much taller women as she fights for position at the low post. Although her diminutive frame doesn't lend itself to playing in the paint very well, Filipe has a way of somehow making it work.

"Girls are monsters these days," says Filipe with a laugh. "I'm not that tall, so a lot of the taller girls think that they can do what they want against me. I have to use my strength and quickness to try and get around them."

Unfortunately for the Utes, Filipe hasn't been at 100 percent since spraining her ankle in a win over BYU on Jan. 27. Her injury has affected the team as a whole, as evidenced by Utah's recent losing skid.

"It doesn't hurt that bad," says Filipe of her injury. "I just find myself being a lot more careful than usual. I haven't been able to play my game."

Anyone who knows Filipe has little doubt that she'll be right as rain in no time. After all, "walking wounded" is not one of the roles she was planning on playing at Utah.

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E-mail: tquinn@desnews.com