The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/266935
MARCH 2014 ■ 65 ball that had been coached in rec leagues by William Ware, her godfather. Not satisfied with the competition, or exposure, at Franklin County High, Spen- cer moved to Atlanta with her aunt and played her final three years at Columbia High School in Decatur, helping the team to two 3A state championships, while av- eraging 18.7 points, 5.7 steals and 3.8 as- sists a game. By Spencer's senior year in 2012, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Syracuse, Mississippi State and NC State all came calling — as did a certain coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga. "My high school principal played foot- ball at UT-C, so he and Coach Moore were friends," Spencer explained. "He recruited me hard." "We were following her from sopho- more year on, but the summer before her senior year she really just blew up," Moore recalled. "When the BCS schools started calling, little Chattanooga was pretty much out of the picture." Spencer made just one recruiting visit. "I came to NC State — and commit- ted before I left," she said. "I just con- nected with the players and with Kellie [former coach Kellie Harper] — everyone was real, not putting on a show to recruit me. And everyone in the community was very friendly and helpful — it just felt like home." Spencer admitted she had qualms about her decision when she learned that Harper was not returning. "I didn't want to go through the whole recruiting process again, it had been such a grind," she said. "Then about three weeks after Coach Harper left, I got a call. I saw on my phone it was Coach Moore, and I thought 'Here we go again — he's trying to get me to come to Chattanooga.' When he told me he was the new coach at NC State, I was so happy — it was such a weight off my shoulders." "I told her I was just waiting to see where she decided to play, and I was go- ing to apply for the coaching job there," Moore joked. A shooting guard her entire playing ca- reer, Spencer admits it's been a struggle at times to adjust to her new role as a point guard, playing behind starting junior Len'Nique Brown. "It's a different mindset, setting up teammates to score instead of you being a scorer, but Nique and Myisha have been a huge help," she said. "The physical aspect hasn't been that tough because I played pretty physical competition in high school — plus, my coach, Chantay Frost, really prepared me for this level of play. She and Coach Moore are a lot alike — fundamen- tal coaches who really get on you." With Goodwin-Coleman's season- ending knee injury against Duke Feb. 20, Spencer finds herself starting at her old shooting guard position — and taking to heart the critique she's heard the most often so far. "Coach Moore stresses rebounding and defense to everyone, so I've worked a lot on that," Spencer said. "But he's also told me I need to be more confident in my shot. I haven't been looking to shoot as much here, maybe because as a point guard that's not my main responsibility, and maybe be- cause of all the seniors in the lineup. But if I want to help the team win I have to attack when I see a chance, so that's what I'm try- ing to do more of." "Some players are one-dimensional," Moore said. "The exciting thing about Miah is she can score in a variety of ways, is strong and can play defense. She's go- ing to be a big plus for us down the stretch this year, and a great player in the years to come." Perhaps great enough to attract a certain NBA player to one of her games. You're on the guest list, Mr. James. ■ "She's going to be a big plus for us down the stretch this year, and a great player in the years to come." ■ Head coach Wes Moore on Spencer 64-65.Women's Basketball.indd 65 2/25/14 2:28 PM