By Brian Hungarter Columnist
It does not take rocket science to figure out building a program or a franchise in any sport is difficult, but while professional sports use salary caps and free agency to their advantage, college coaches must rely on coaching, teaching and recruiting in their efforts to gain wins and prestige.
The "coaching effect" cannot be understated; this is the initial step towards gaining new recruits and solid programs. But the reality of college sports is that the most talented teams -- those with the best recruiters at the helm -- typically win games regardless of how good an instructor the coach is. Joe Logan, the head coach of the women's basketball team, is taking that leap to savvy recruiter. He brought in star point guard Candice Walker last season and watched her earn All-MAAC Rookie honors. This year he found her a compliment: Miriam McKenzie.
Four seasons ago, Miriam McKenzie walked into her Oakland Mills varsity basketball gym and met a 5-15 team lacking the necessary talent to compete at even a mediocre level. McKenzie, who hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., knows about tough situations. She played all day and night against the boys in her neighborhood, who taught her about physical play and how to create her own shot.
As a result, McKenzie's freshman season for the Scorpions hardly resembled one of a typical rookie learning her way. McKenzie averaged 16 points per game, showing flashes of the player she is today.
The recently-signed Greyhound finished off her senior campaign at Oakland Mills with an 18-5 record and a No. 15 ranking in the state of Maryland. McKenzie led her team with 634 points (28 per game) while averaging 14 rebounds, 4.4 steals and four assists a night. McKenzie posted an amazing 21 double-doubles in 23 games to go alongside four triple-doubles.
Oh, did I mention she stands only 5-foot-8?
McKenzie now embarks on a new challenge at Loyola under Logan. Logan took over the team in 2005 and has posted a 38-22 record in his two seasons with the Greyhounds. More impressively, Loyola has begun to climb the ladder in MAAC play with a 25-11 record over that time.
"We are excited and happy for Miriam and Oakland Mills," Logan said. "This is a great recognition of the success she had this season. Coach Willingham has done an outstanding job working with her, and we are looking forward to her becoming a part of our program and continuing her accomplishments as a Greyhound."
McKenzie's signing is the latest in Logan's fine recruiting classes, featuring the top recruits from the Baltimore area, McKenzie and Walker. They will combine with a roster filled with seven Logan recruits, freshman sensation Mallory Lawes from Elmira, N.Y., and only two rising seniors.
As Loyola does battle with top women's programs like Marist, who earned a No.7 seven seed in this year's NCAA tournament and knocked off DePaul in the first round, the talent in Baltimore needs to continue to improve for the Greyhounds to take the next step.
According to McKenzie's high school coach Seth Willingham, McKenzie is exactly the player Loyola needs in their quest for an NCAA bid.
"Miriam was clearly our best player, leading the team in points and rebounds," Willingham said. "She is unbelievable at getting to the basket and now that she improved her outside shot - she shot 40 percent from three her senior season -- she is very tough to defend.
"It will be very interesting to see how much better of a player she is when surrounded by four other great players who can open her up in space. I think she is already ready for the Division-I level, and will be a great asset to Loyola in her four seasons."
McKenzie refuses to accept failure and losing, which adds to her leadership qualities.
"Miriam is not always vocal in practice," Willingham said, "but you can tell she is all business all of the time. She was the hardest worker in our entire school, male or female. She was constantly carrying a basketball around and working on her game, not to mention helping the girls around her become better players. She completely turned around our program and now we expect to win."
Signing another star-caliber Baltimore player shows that Logan and his program are gaining credibility around college basketball; Loyola is being pawned as a good place to develop talent and an education for four years.
While McKenzie is only one player, her immediate impact on the court will definitely lead to more wins. Off the court, her impact on recruits might be the biggest advantage to Loyola's future.
With one big name in Baltimore following another to stay at home and represent a Baltimore school, who knows where the future lies for Loyola basketball? Parker started the trend, McKenzie is the next line. Who's next?
It's an exciting time to be a Greyhounds fans, and the one thing for certain is that McKenzie and Parker will form quite a tandem next season and for years to come.
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