Over The Top In Talent National Recruiting Paper Trail Leads To Door Of Sandpoint Two-Sport Star

Unlike most teenagers, Alli Nieman doesn’t run to answer the telephone. Even though the caller is most likely asking for her.

Every day, the Sandpoint High School senior receives long distance calls from collegiate women’s basketball and volleyball coaches across the country.

She has a four-drawer filing cabinet in her bedroom full of college pamphlets and catalogs, form letters and handwritten notes. Hundreds more of such items haven’t made it this far.

Nieman has been playing the role of recruitee since she entered the eighth grade and turned 13 on Aug. 28.

Two years ago, at the age of 15, Nieman played for the Spokane Stars 18-Under girls’ basketball team, which placed fourth at the national AAU tournament.

“I could have easily been a junior (this year),” explained the 6-foot-1 Nieman. “I was always the youngest and the tallest in my class, first through seventh grade. I was always last in line.”

Nieman, however, is among the nation’s first in line for a 1996-97 full athletic scholarship to virtually the college of the 3.9 student’s choice.

Collegiate scout and Stars coach Ron Adams of Spokane ranks Nieman among the nation’s top five girls basketball players.

“She is a franchise player,” Adams said. “She’s a kid who can step right in and make a great difference.”

Nieman looks forward to that opportunity, but volleyball also weighs on her mind.

The Bulldogs (7-0) won the State A-1 volleyball championship last year and were second in 1993 with Nieman at middle blocker. Five starters are back and dominating opponents, disposing of some in as few as 30 minutes.

“I’d like to sign early if I knew what I was doing,” Nieman said with a sigh.

She sought advice from Washington State freshman Jennifer Stinson, one of seven of Nieman’s 1995 Stars teammates who went on to college sports.

Stinson, Washington’s all-time girls’ basketball scoring leader from Davenport, however, opted to play volleyball for the Cougars.

“She said if you know for sure you’re not going to go to a school, tell them you’re not interested,” Nieman said. “Then, they’ll stop calling you.”

Sunday marked the start of home visits for NCAA women’s basketball coaches. Nieman’s first guest, Idaho coach Julie Holt, just happened to bring along Vandals volleyball coach Tom Hilbert. They stayed 5-1/2 hours.

Nieman and her family were hosts to seven volleyball coaches over the summer. She knows what to expect - more pamphlets, talk about academics, coaching strategy and where she’d fit in, then watch a team highlight videotape.

But she’d also welcome coaches from WSU, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, Boise State and Gonzaga University. Each is offering her scholarships to play two sports, and their locations are right.

Nieman will fit five campus visits into her own volleyball and basketball seasons.

The NCAA’s early signing date is Nov. 8-15. “I don’t know if I’ll be ready, but that’s the soonest I would verbally commit,” Nieman said.

“She could go anywhere in the country,” Adams said. Nieman averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Stars at the national tournament this past summer.

“In the Big Sky (Conference) or West Coast (region), she could probably get away with doing both (sports). She’s so talented,” Adams added. “You got an All-American in basketball. One of the top five high school players to date right now.”

Nieman is an admitted gym rat, along with brother, Paul, a 6-1 freshman. Her father, Jim, coaches basketball.

That’s how she’s developed a 3-point shot, as well as low post moves, not to mention ball-handling skills.

“Her biggest improvement has been her offensive rebounding skills,” Adams said. “She really has got a nose for the ball. Her anticipation is incredible. She really has no weakness.”

Nieman will close her high school basketball career in Spokane next July at the national AAU 18-U and 16-U tournaments.

Her volleyball potential is virtually untapped. “She plays for 10 weeks during the season, then plays basketball for nine months,” said Sandpoint coach and former Ohio State volleyball player Jeff Hurst.

“She’s 6-1, strong, athletic, quick, has a good jump, good timing, good hand-eye coordination,” Hurst said. “In volleyball, I look at her and four years of college could be amazing for her.”

Nieman hasn’t played as anything less than a varsity starter for her Bulldogs teams the past four years.

Natural athleticism has gotten her this far, and she has yet to start a formal weight training program.

“When I get into college, there’s going to be millions of people the same size as me,” Nieman predicted. “I want to see what happens if I try to reach my full potential.”