Get to know Aspen Caldwell

Motivated, dedicated, hardworking and reliable are four words that freshman guard Aspen Caldwell uses to describe herself. Caldwell hails from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is one of only two Idaho natives on the University of Idaho women’s basketball team.  

Growing up, Caldwell enjoyed other sports but focused on basketball mainly because of her dad. 

“Growing up, my dad put me in basketball because he loved sports. I also played many other sports when I was younger, but I liked basketball the best and felt I was the best at it, so I decided to quit all other sports and focus on basketball,” Caldwell said. 

Caldwell committed to Idaho during her junior year and could not wait to get here.  

“I chose Idaho because I loved the culture and the general support I got here.”  

In college basketball today, whenever a coach leaves a program, a recruit tends to follow. However, Caldwell stayed the course after the departure of former Vandals’ Head Coach John Newlee.  

“When Coach Newlee left, that was a hard adjustment for sure, but as the season went on, I had a good feeling to stay and stick with it.”  

Caldwell came to Idaho after a stellar high school career at Thunder Ridge High School. Caldwell, a three-year starter for the Titans, in her sophomore season, earned 11 points per game, helping them to their best record in school history at 21-5 and booked their first-ever state tournament trip.  

In her first state tournament game, she put on a show, posting 26 points against Meridian and leading the Titans to victory. She scored 11 in the next game, and in the State championship, where the Titans fell short 62-55 to Mountain View. In three state tournament games, Caldwell averaged 16 points.  

Caldwell backed her sophomore season with an excellent junior year. In her junior season, Caldwell averaged 18 points, five rebounds and three assists per game, leading the Titans to a 22-4 record and a date with their bitter rival, the Rigby Trojans, in the 5A district championship. Caldwell scored 25 points in the game and led the Titans to the first district championship in school history.  

Caldwell also reached 1,000 points in her junior year. In her senior year, Caldwell had the best season of her career. She posted 21 points, six rebounds and four assists per game in the wake of the Titan’s 21-0 regular season.  

The Titans would fall in the first round of the State tournament 55-52 to state runner-up Rocky Mountain. Caldwell ended her high school career with over 1,500 points. She was voted High Country Conference Player of the Year in 2023, a three-time all-state tournament team and an all-area first team in 2021.  

Caldwell also broke school records for most points in a season, double-doubles, career points, career steals and career three-pointers. Now, Caldwell is a true freshman for the Vandals. She has appeared in all 18 games and averages 2.5 points per game.  

Caldwell has found the adjustment from high school to college to be much different. 

“It’s been a lot different for sure, the speed and the size of all the girls, but I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a lot of learning.”  

There are plenty of meaningful moments in a basketball career, and for Caldwell, that is no different.  

“My favorite basketball memory would have to be my junior year in high school when we won the district championship against Rigby,” Caldwell said. 

Outside of class and basketball, Caldwell enjoys health and fitness. Caldwell wants to continue with health and fitness after her college career. 

“After college I want to be a health and fitness coach and help individuals succeed athletically and physically,” Caldwell said. 

Caldwell is one of the critical pieces of the Vandals’ future and will be a pivotal piece to the Vandals for the most foreseeable future. Her aggressive and determined style of play will make her one of the most exciting guards and players in the future of the Vandals and the Big Sky Conference.  

Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on X @JaydenBarfuss10