Juco recruits making impact

By WILLIAM KALEC
Collegian Staff Writer

Susan Robinson has a gift.

Unlike most talents however, Robinson's is neither unique or that uncommon among recruiters in women's college basketball.

During the recruiting period last season, Robinson, a former Penn State women's basketball assistant, sat in gym that rivaled the lowliest of high school facilities. But in the midst of watching a junior college contest in the obscure location of Seminole, Okla., Robinson conjured up visions of college basketball's promise land.

In essence, Robinson saw what could not be seen.

She also saw an outstanding find in Junior College Kodak All-American Shawnta Vanzant.

"Susan (Robinson) did a great job of finding Shawnta," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "A lot of times the good players are hidden and you have to find them."

Each season college recruiters head down the frequently traveled path leading to the country's premier high school talent. And while Penn State recruiters have not steered clear of this path completely, they have also taken the path less traveled -- leading them to junior college players who have reshaped the Lady Lion program.

In the past two years the Lions have found three players from the junior college ranks that have each immediately contributed. The recently graduated Em Clements from Central Florida Community College gave Penn State added leadership and maturity to last year's Women's National Invitation Tournament championship squad. Clements, a co-captain and only the second-ever junior college transfer to play for Penn State, ended her career with 11 points in the Lions' 66-61 WNIT championship win over Baylor.

This season Vanzant and senior forward Clara Carter, both starters, have been instrumental to a Lion squad that is starting to erase the bitter memories of the past two mediocre seasons.

Joining Penn State as the only other Big Ten squad with junior college players present on its roster is Minnesota, a team that was in need of experienced and mature players following a 4-23 season. The Golden Gophers' solution was to bring in three top junior college players in guards Antoinetta Blevins, Brandi Harris, and Moneeke Bowden.

So far Minnesota's gamble has paid off by surpassing last season's victory total with six wins already this year.

"I want ball players that can play, I don't care where you come from," Minnesota coach Cheryl Littlejohn said during Big Ten women's basketball media day. "If you can play, you can play at Minnesota. My team lacked experience last season and I think some of our new kids bring that to the table."

The question that presents itself is why haven't more Big Ten schools started to recruit from the junior college level, and why such a strong women's basketball conference like the Big Ten has only five junior college players?

Geography has something to do with that.

The majority of top junior college women's basketball schools are located below the Mason-Dixon line, giving schools from the Southeastern Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12 Conference the ability to get their feet in the recruiting door before most Northern schools get an opportunity.

"I think that more schools from the North and Big Ten are starting to realize the talent that exists down here," said Brad Walck, coach of Seminole (Okla.) State College, Vanzant's junior college. "With people like Shawnta going to the Big Ten, that has helped our recruiting. Kids want to play in the Big Ten, they just never really looked down here before."

But geography only tells part of the story.

An example of the ugly side of junior college recruiting is exhibited in Penn State's pursuit of Carter.

Coming out of Kilgore (Tex.) Junior College, Syracuse was almost certain that Carter, a Utica, N.Y. native, would be playing her basketball in the Carrier Dome. Once word got out that Carter was talking to other schools, Syracuse quickly called coaches in hot pursuit of Carter, who averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds per contest at Kilgore, claiming that Carter was already "tagged" to sign with Syracuse.

Portland was one of those coaches who received a call.

"There was a big ruckus when Clara started talking to other schools, so much that Syracuse's coach called me and said, ‘I placed her,' " Portland said. "I called the JC coach and asked if she was placed and she said, ‘No that is not right at all.' A lot of times the JC coaches won't let you talk to the kid and won't let certain schools come close to their kids."

When recruiting season comes around every year, dreams collide.

The fate of junior college coaches' future recruiting success and job security lie in the hands of their star recruit landing a scholarship at a top Div. I program.

Junior college kids see the dreams of playing in obscurity in junior college turn to the bright lights and media attention that comes with playing big-time Div. I women's basketball.

And many times, lost in this shuffling of dreams is the best interest of the recruited player.

"There are situations where a Div. I school and junior college school will have an arrangement and sometimes the kids are left out of that decision," Walck said. "I would never do that, but unfortunately there are situations where that type of thing happens.

"I try to stay out of the decision-making process as much as I can and try to let it be the kid's decision, but some coaches just don't do that."