CEDAR PARK, Texas — She has a name which is difficult for some to pronounce at first.
"If I see her in the hallway, I'm like, 'Yo, Poh-juh-tuh,'" said Cedar Park guard, Hanna Wheeler.
"Poh-jit-tah is how you're supposed to say it," said Cedar Park forward, Pujita Shukla.
Poh-jee-tah is what her teammates and the Cedar Park High School community call her, but she takes pride in her name by performing at a high level on the court.
Still, academics shares the lead in her interests.
"Academics and basketball are the two main pillars of my life," said Shukla.
Shukla has already been accepted into UT and is waiting to hear back from other schools, including some from the Ivy League.
"If it wasn't for a little glitch, she'd probably be the valedictorian," said Cedar Park Lady Wolves head coach Donny Ott.
Instead, Shukla is the salutatorian due to having to take an athletics class.
This well-rounded Timberwolf is what Coach Ott said is a model for his program.
"It's humbling because there's some amazing people in this program," said Shukla
"She's not about herself, she's about team, she's really the type of person who's going to be doing that the rest of her life," said Cedar Park High School Principal John Sloan.
From the principal to her teammates, she receives high accolades.
"No matter what grade you're in, she treats you with the same respect," said Cedar Park Lady Wolves guard Alisa Knight.
Fellow teammate Takara Holsta said Shukla's leadership and influence is almost daily.
"Not every day is a good day, but she makes sure everyone leaves practice with a good attitude," said Holsta.
But Shukla's love for basketball is on the same level as her academics.
"My dad played basketball when he was in India. He's more in love with basketball than I am, that's saying something," said Shukla.
Her love for basketball is evident in how aggressive she is.
"If you ever watch, if there's a ball on the floor, Pujita's on the floor going to go after that ball," said Wheeler.
"Pujita usually guards their best post player," said Knight.
A defensive specialist who cares more about team goals opposed to individual statistics.
"She did a spin move on a fast break, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, Pujita,'" said Wheeler.
The Pujita Shukla effect trickles down to all of her teammates, which is one reason why Cedar Park has won back-to-back district titles for the first time in school history.
Cedar Park currently owns a 30-3 overall record and will face Bryan Rudder High School in an area round playoff game Friday night. This 5A round two playoff game tips off at 7 p.m. at Cameron Yoe High School.