Wisconsin freshman Smith made big impression on Stringer

Published in the Home News Tribune 11/25/99

While coaching at the University of Iowa, C. Vivian Stringer wanted to get an early jump on a potential women's basketball recruit.

So, Stringer sent fifth-grader Nina Smith a letter expressing hope that she would one day consider becoming a Hawkeye.

Smith framed the letter and hung it on her bedroom wall. But by the end of Smith's freshman year of high school, Stringer had left Iowa for Rutgers. With her departure went Iowa's hopes of landing Smith.

The 1999 USA Today and Parade national high school Player of the Year instead accepted a scholarship from Big Ten Conference rival Wisconsin, which plays eighth-ranked Rutgers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Coca-Cola Classic at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.

Smith averaged 28.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks last season while leading West High School to the Iowa Class 4A state final. Nearly 200 college coaches telephoned Smith the day the recruiting period began in 1998. She narrowed return calls to Tennessee, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Too far from home, Rutgers was never in the mix. But Stringer would have signed Smith had she remained at Iowa.

"Nina really likes coach Stringer," said Smith's mom, Bev. "She has always had great respect for her and admired her through the years. She was really kind of shocked when Vivian left. When Nina was younger, it was always her goal to be a Hawkeye."

Iowa's loss was Wisconsin's gain.

"We were obviously elated when we signed her," said Wisconsin coach Jane Albright. "Most people had her as the top recruit in the country. So far, she's done nothing to make me think she was not. She's made an immediate impact."

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound freshman shot 77 percent (10 of 13) from the field in the 25th-ranked Badgers' first two games, victories over Nebraska and Southern Illinois.

"Nina continues to get better," said Stringer, who first met Smith while she was a student at Hoover Middle School in Waterloo, Iowa. "I thought she was a college graduate back then. I'm not kidding."

As a fifth grader, Smith, then 6-feet tall, had precociously developed impressive low post moves and a deft touch with both hands. Smith's classmates didn't believe Stringer had written her a letter.

"They were all like, 'Yeah, right!,' " said Mrs. Smith. "Nobody believed it. Vivian Stringer was a household name in Iowa. She took the letter to school for a while and showed it off. They were all very impressed."

Bret McCormick, a national scout for the All-Star Girls Report, understood Stringer's premature interest.

"Nina was just so big and so good, it was easy to see she was destined to be a star," said McCormick. "Vivian made a decision early that she wanted her."

Other college coaches followed suit when Smith's high school coach, Tony Pappas, brought her to the Blue Star national camp in Indiana seven years ago. Smith was just 13, but already 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.

So many incredulous spectators inquired about Smith's age that Pappas joked, "I should have had a T-shirt printed up that said, 'Yes, she is only in the seventh grade!' They couldn't believe how young she was. That's where she probably got her first national recognition."

Smith was showcased again last April in the WBCA national scholastic All-Star Game at the Hartford Civic Center. Playing with Rutgers freshmen Kourtney Walton and Mauri Horton, Smith collected 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Now, Smith is expected to become the third straight Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Wisconsin, where she joins previous winners Jessie Stomski and LaTonya Sims, both 6-3, to form the conference's tallest frontcourt.

The trio, averaging 43.5 ppg, could pose problems for Rutgers, which may play without starting center Tammy Sutton-Brown (left ankle sprain) and reserve Jen Clemente (strained right heel).

The only player on both teams not returning from last year's first-ever meeting between the schools is Rutgers guard Tomora Young. The Scarlet Knights posted a 78-62 victory at Wisconsin, where the Badgers went 15-3 last year.

Wisconsin is already just one win shy of the three road victories it posted all of last season. The Badgers return 94 percent of their scoring and 87 percent of their rebounding from an 18-14 team that advanced to the WNIT final.

They had trouble working the ball into the low post against Rutgers last season, committing 24 turnovers, four shy of a season-high.

"It doesn't matter how talented your big people are if you can't get them the ball," said Albright. "We'd like to get Nina a lot of shots, but Rutgers' perimeter defense is exceptional."

The Scarlet Knights must stop Smith, who, if there can be a knock on her, is considered a gentle giant.

"She's competitive, but nice," said Pappas of Smith. "I think she's too nice."

Little else can be expected from one of the country's biggest players whose most prized possession is a teddy bear named Murray.

Smith may have a soft heart to go with soft hands, but Albright expects her to be a monster in the paint on Saturday.