Photo by: Allison Rodriguez
Sumpter Set To Go
10/19/2017 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lee Barker III
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Wright State women's basketball team added a three-time All-Region high school first-team talent during the off-season with freshman forward Nia Sumpter from Myrtle Beach, SC.Â
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When Raiders head coach Katrina Merriweather called during the recruitment process, Nia admitted she had no clue of the location of Wright State. The University was also recruiting a teammate of Nia's, Kiana Adderton, and after visiting the campus and discussing the future, both decided to come to WSU.
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"I felt like the coaching staff, and the team were different than any other school. It was like a family environment so that drew me in," Nia said. "It means a lot (to have Kiana at WSU). I would have come here knowing nobody, but we've grown through the years, and now she's like my sister."
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Sumpter, a business management major, grew up in a sports household and began playing soccer, basketball and volleyball as a child. She realized she was talented in basketball around the age of 12 and set a goal for herself to play in the Carolina All-Star Classic.
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She accomplished her goal in 2016 as she was selected as the regions' and the Toast of the Coast's Player of the Year while earning a chance to represent South Carolina in the Carolina All-Star Classic. North Carolina dominated the Classic 95-67, but Sumpter scored 14 points and received MVP honors for the South.Â
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"It was bitter sweet, but it's also a blessing," she said. "I had been working to play in the All-Star game since my eighth-grade year. For me to actually get an opportunity, I feel like it was a big blessing and then getting MVP was an even bigger blessing."
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In a rivalry game with a very competitive Wilson High School in the 2015 Class 3A lower-state final, Nia caught fire early in the game by scoring 10 straight points to start the game.Â
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"Their coach was talking in the newspapers about how our big three wasn't a match for her big three. She was talking junk, but we just let it go," Sumpter said. "It (criticism) makes me laugh honestly."
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Nia finished with a game-high 22 points while Myrtle Beach won 47-38. In the next game, Nia led the Seahawks with 11 points, but Myrtle Beach lost a close contest 45-41 in the state championship to the Dreher Blue Devils.
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"I was very upset after that game. We all played our hardest, and we actually should have won," Sumpter said. "It builds a lot of character. That sits in the back in my mind that we could have been a state championship team and made school history."
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Sumpter and the Raiders begin their season at the Nutter Center on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with an exhibition against Indianapolis. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
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Wright State women's basketball team added a three-time All-Region high school first-team talent during the off-season with freshman forward Nia Sumpter from Myrtle Beach, SC.Â
Â
When Raiders head coach Katrina Merriweather called during the recruitment process, Nia admitted she had no clue of the location of Wright State. The University was also recruiting a teammate of Nia's, Kiana Adderton, and after visiting the campus and discussing the future, both decided to come to WSU.
Â
"I felt like the coaching staff, and the team were different than any other school. It was like a family environment so that drew me in," Nia said. "It means a lot (to have Kiana at WSU). I would have come here knowing nobody, but we've grown through the years, and now she's like my sister."
Â
Sumpter, a business management major, grew up in a sports household and began playing soccer, basketball and volleyball as a child. She realized she was talented in basketball around the age of 12 and set a goal for herself to play in the Carolina All-Star Classic.
Â
She accomplished her goal in 2016 as she was selected as the regions' and the Toast of the Coast's Player of the Year while earning a chance to represent South Carolina in the Carolina All-Star Classic. North Carolina dominated the Classic 95-67, but Sumpter scored 14 points and received MVP honors for the South.Â
Â
"It was bitter sweet, but it's also a blessing," she said. "I had been working to play in the All-Star game since my eighth-grade year. For me to actually get an opportunity, I feel like it was a big blessing and then getting MVP was an even bigger blessing."
Â
In a rivalry game with a very competitive Wilson High School in the 2015 Class 3A lower-state final, Nia caught fire early in the game by scoring 10 straight points to start the game.Â
Â
"Their coach was talking in the newspapers about how our big three wasn't a match for her big three. She was talking junk, but we just let it go," Sumpter said. "It (criticism) makes me laugh honestly."
Â
Nia finished with a game-high 22 points while Myrtle Beach won 47-38. In the next game, Nia led the Seahawks with 11 points, but Myrtle Beach lost a close contest 45-41 in the state championship to the Dreher Blue Devils.
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"I was very upset after that game. We all played our hardest, and we actually should have won," Sumpter said. "It builds a lot of character. That sits in the back in my mind that we could have been a state championship team and made school history."
Â
Sumpter and the Raiders begin their season at the Nutter Center on Wednesday, Nov. 1 with an exhibition against Indianapolis. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
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