By Ken Denlinger
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 7, 2003; Page D03
Two straight possessions near the end of a brief intra-squad scrimmage yesterday at MCI Center reinforced why the Washington Mystics are excited about first-round draft choice Aiysha Smith. Instead of clogging the area near the basket during a baseline drive by a teammate, she slipped outside for a pass and drained an open 15-foot jumper. From about the free throw line next time downcourt, she assisted on a layup.
“How versatile can you get?” said Coach Marianne Stanley. “She’s everything. She has great instincts, gets things quickly…. We’re the beneficiary of other (coaches’) hard work.”
Smith was chosen with the seventh pick of the WNBA draft because, at 6 feet 2, she should help solve a front-court problem evident last season against more physical opponents and heightened with the retirement of Vicky Bullett. But power is just part of Smith’s game.
Her touch from the outside and rebounding flair suggests possibilities at both forward positions. She might be able to shoot over and drive around a power player and be effective down low against someone more comfortable on the wing. Her quickness will be a weapon against centers as well.
“I call her a thoroughbred,” said front-court veteran Murriel Page. “She’ll be a great addition.”
Smith already knows what Stanley expects, saying: “She told me to rebound and play defense, a whole batch of defense. Play like I’ve been playing forever, even though I’m a rookie.”
Smith, about two months shy of 23, is a native of Detroit who wears No. 31 because that was her mother’s age when she died. Smith was 13 at the time, and spent most of the rest of her youth with her mother’s parents.
Smith started her college career at St. John’s and redshirted as a freshman. The coach who recruited her left during that time and Smith transferred to Tyler (Tex.) Junior College and won all-American honors. She then went to Louisiana State and blossomed under Women’s Hall of Fame coach Sue Gunter.
As a starter for all 64 games during her two seasons at LSU, Smith averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds and had 57 blocked shots. Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt, who also serves as the Mystics’ player personnel consultant, was both frustrated by and impressed with Smith in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference tournament about two months ago. Smith had 18 points as LSU scored a 16-point victory.
Smith and the Mystics said her transition has gone as well as expected.
“She’s got big eyes right now,” said guard-forward Stacey Dales-Schuman. “It’s great when players come in and have big eyes, because that means they’re ready to learn. She has a great attitude, very positive.”
If Smith is overwhelmed by stepping up to the next level, she would appear to already have a strong support system with her new teammates.
“I might be frustrated at missing a shot, but they’ll say, ‘It’s okay, keep your head up. Keep your confidence,’ ” Smith said.
Smith hardly is glib in public so far, but apparently has long-distance chatathons with friends.
“The only reason she doesn’t take a phone on the court,” said a smiling Jenny Mowe, acquired in the recent dispersal draft, “is because Coach Stanley doesn’t allow it.”
Mowe then went into a mock conversation between Smith and her boyfriend, complete with soft coos, and Smith fled in embarrassment.
Smith has been impressed with the size and speed of the pro game — and went down hard late in practice yesterday after accidentally being struck near the eye by an elbow from the 6-5, 236-pound Mowe. She recovered after several seconds on the floor and continued with the scrimmage.
“She’s been busted in the chops before,” Stanley said. “No big deal. I like those kinds of players.”
Yesterday afternoon she had an ice pack on her knee and sat out the evening scrimmage against the Marymount men’s team. But Stanley and Smith both seemed to brush off the injury.
“I’ll be back practicing [today],” Smith said.
Mystics Notes: Summitt signed a two-year contract extension on Monday. . . . The Mystics released Tatum Brown, Teresa Geter, Reetta Pippari and Felicity Willis yesterday. They also decided to withdraw their qualifying offer to center Tausha Mills, Washington’s first round (second overall) pick in the 2000 draft. . . . Guard Helen Luz, who has been playing in Brazil, is expected to join the Mystics today. . . . Chamique Holdsclaw had a strong scrimmage last night against the Marymount men, scoring at will, blocking two shots and taking an offensive charge. No score was kept.