By Aaron M Smith
**** Welcome to the Pickin’ Splinter’s Who am I for A-10 women’s basketball. Each week we will highlight an A-10 player or coach past or present. Your mission should you choose to accept will be to take the set of clues and figure out who the player/coach is. Now let’s lay the ground rules for this exercise. First and foremost try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question. Good luck!
Wow, I get to be the first Who am I at Pickin’ Splinters!! Now that is an honor, but then again I am used to receiving honors. If we start listing the honors I received in college – well we could be here awhile. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that my journey to college basketball stardom has hints of a great tale. I came to the United States, having learned most of what I knew about the United States by watching television. I speak several languages fluently including the language of basketball. During my college career, I led the A-10 in scoring all 4 years. I am the first and only basketball player in my school’s history (male or female) to score over 2,000 points in my career, but when it comes to the all-time scoring record in the A-10 – I am not the leader. I still hold the career record for my school in four different categories. Recently I was passed by a current member of my alma mater’s team in the category of 3-pointers made. I was named the conference’s Player of the Year twice. In the 1998 WNBA draft, I wouldn’t say it was a “shock” that I was picked in the first round. I went on to have a professional basketball career for 10 years in the WNBA and European League before having a brief stint as an assistant coach in the WNBA and A-10. I was the first female student-athlete at my alma mater to have her jersey retired. Who am I?
“Shock” has to be the Detroit Shock, but I didn’t think they had a team in the inaugural season, thus no draft pick in the inaugural draft.
Gotta be Korie Hlede who played at Duquense
Kori Hlede Duq
Kori Hlede is the correct answer!!
Kori is a Duquesne graduate that finished her collegiate career with 2,631 points, good for second on all-time scoring list in A-10 women’s basketball.
Kori not only was a player for the Detroit Shock, but also an assistant coach in 2003. She was later an assistant coach with the Rhode Island women’s basketball team.
Thanks for participating and tune in next Wednesday for another Who am I !!