Otahkians land a big one from JUCO pool

Southeast coach says 6-foot-3 Chandra Brown should be an impact player in OVC.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith didn't try to hide his glee Friday.

Smith was all smiles after landing his program's second recruit of the spring signing period, 6-foot-3 center Chandra Brown from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Ill. Brown will have two seasons of eligibility at Southeast.

Brown was a second-team junior-college All-American this year as she averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks per game for a team that went 21-8 and lost in the regional finals. Brown shot 60 percent from the field and better than 80 percent from the free-throw line.

"She's a very athletic post player. She's a very versatile player who excels both offensively and defensively," Smith said. "We expect her to be an impact player and help us make the step to the next level and help us compete with the bigger programs."

What particularly pleased Smith about landing Brown is that Southeast beat out some major programs from many of the nation's elite conferences, including Kansas State, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Marquette and Louisville.

"It's huge for us as a program, to sign a player like Chandra and beat out some major programs," Smith said.

Southeastern Illinois College coach Greg Franklin, who played for Austin Peay's men in the early 1990s, knows Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball fairly well and expects Brown to be one of the league's top players immediately.

"I'd say she'll probably be one of the top two or three players in the conference," Franklin said. "She was one of the best junior college players in the country. She can shoot from the inside and outside, and she has great footwork. She's a really smooth player."

Franklin lauded the recruiting work done by Smith and assistant Rick Karr.

"Chandra had some big schools after her, but I think comfort was the big thing with her deciding to sign with Southeast," Franklin said. "B.J. and Rick did a good job with her."

Southeast has now signed two players during the spring period -- the other being junior-college guard Brandi Russia -- to go along with three who signed in November during the early period. Smith said he plans to sign two more players this spring.

Smith led the Otahkians to a 19-11 record and a second-place OVC finish in his first season at Southeast. The Otahkians lost to Austin Peay in the OVC Tournament championship game, marking their first-ever appearance in the finals.