Friday, November 23, 2001
Fairfield's Smith bigger, smarter
Amazing freshman strives to be better
By Carey Hoffman
Enquirer contributor
Wanisha Smith averaged 21 points and eight rebounds as a freshman last year.
(Steven M. Herppich photo)
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Al McGuire once famously said, “The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.” Al's rule didn't apply last year to then-freshman Wanisha Smith at Fairfield, but it may foreshadow what lies ahead this winter.
Constant improvement is a constant topic with Smith, who after one year already has some impressive laurels to rest on. Last year, she averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game in leading Fairfield to a 16-8 season and berth in the district finals. She was a first-team all-district Division I choice in southwest Ohio and a special mention all-state choice.
The numbers may not necessarily go much higher, but she expects to be a better player as a sophomore. “I think over the summer I've gotten smarter as a point guard, gotten smarter about making good passes and cutting down on turnovers,” Smith says.
Smith is clearly driven to improve, and this year, she wants to play a more refined game.
“If I can get better mentally, the physical part will just flow into that,” Smith says. “Last year, I played off of instinct - - total instinct. This year, it's totally mental.”
For the record, the physical part is improved over a year ago, as well. She's grown an inch and a half and is nearly 6-feet tall now, the tallest player on the Fairfield roster. She got stronger and physically tougher by playing against grown men every morning over the summer at the YMCA in Hamilton.
Fairfield's undersized team will again run whenever possible this year. Catch them on a night they've opened it up and you'll see a show -- Smith is a wonder to watch in the open court.
In almost any matchup in the area, she is going to be stronger and quicker than players in the
opposing backcourt. It almost seems unfair that there's a good chance she'll also have a better inate understanding of the game than any other player in the gym.
She makes a regular habit of throwing remarkable passes in transition.
That kind of awareness develops because the game is so often on her mind. “I get mad when there's not a game on TV,” Smith says. “If there's a basketball game on, I am watching it, whether it's a boys or girls' (game).”
She likes watching the Connecticut women on TV, because of the way the Huskies utilize their guards. She was also captivated last year by the all-around brilliance of Jackie Stiles at Southwest Missouri State.
Fairfield will move her all around the floor, but it's hard to ignore how she combines skill, speed and strength with the ball at the point guard spot. She seems destined to play the position in the future.
“She doesn't seem to be feeling any pressure or playing like she feels pressure,” Fairfield coach Steve Termeer says. “She is just very motivated to be an outstanding player, and is working extremely hard in practice, trying to set the tone for the other girls
on the team.
“There's no question she wants to have a better year this year, but last year is going to be hard to top. People are going to be keying on her.”
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