Photo by: Allison Rodriguez
Sumpter Set To Go
10/19/2017 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Lee Barker III
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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.
"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."
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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