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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > November > 02 > Entry
High praise for Tamika — but is she Dayton’s best?
I just got a copy of “GENO: In Pursuit of Perfection,” the book University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma has done with Jackie MacMullen..
In it he makes several mentions of Tamika Williams, the Chaminade Julienne High School All American, who was one of the fixtures on two of the six national titles UConn has won with him.
Auriemma tells about getting her out of Dayton to be part of one of the most celebrated recruiting classes in women’s basketball history. He recounts various games she played and the way she often was the glue that held the various personalities of the team together.
He talks especially glowingly of the impact she made at UConn before heading off to her pro career and then — after marrying former college athlete Ben Raymond — becoming an assistant hoops coach at the University of Kansas.
Here’s Auriemma on Tamika:
“Tamika Williams was — and still is today — maybe the most popular player among the coaches of anybody that came here. I just think her personality is so terrific. Her father was a Vietnam vet and he came back and was a DJ, among other things, and he is absolutely the most outgoing guy. He is funny and embracing and Tamika takes after him. She’s a lot of fun and very nurturing, always bringing people together.
“If you talk to Tamika and you’re not laughing, you don’t have a sense of humor Tamika and Meghan Pattyson, to me, epitomize the spirit of UConn basketball.”
That got me thinking. Tamika had a great prep and college career — she remains UConn’s all-time leader in field goal percentage — and then played several years in the WNBA.
Is she the most celebrated woman’s athlete ever to come out of the Greater Dayton area prep scene?
I’m not sure. Here are five other women I’d put in the mix:
LaVonna Martin (Floreal) — The Trotwood Madison High track star became a University of Tennessee All American and then ran the 100 meter hurdles at two Olympics, Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992, where she won a silver medal. Her husband Edrick Floreal is the Stanford track coach.
Tonja Buford (Bailey) — The Meadowdale High sensation went on to star at Illinois, where today — married to former pro football player Victor Bailey — she’s the head women’s track coach. She competed in three Olympics, Barcelona, then Atlanta in 1996, where she won a bronze medal in the 400 meter hurdles and finally the Sydney Games in 2000. She also won a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg
Megan Duffy — After starring in hoops at Chaminade Julienne and then Notre Dame — where she was an Academic All American and won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as the best senior player under 5-foot-8 — she played for Minnesota and New York in the WNBA, played overseas in Wales, Italy Slovakia and Romania and now is an assistant women’s basketball coach at St. John’s University.
Alison Bales — A high school All American at Beavercreek High, she starred at Duke University — where, at 6-feet-7, she became the third all-time shot blocker in women’s college basketball history — then played for three WNBA teams as well as playing pro in Moscow and Turkey.
Brandi Hoskins — Another CJ hoops star, she became a cornerstone player for Ohio State — where she was the MVP of the Big Ten Tournament in 2005 — then went on to the WNBA and plays overseas.
I’m not sure who I’d rate as the best of that group and likely I’ve forgotten someone who is deserving, but I do agree with Auriemma on his assessment of Tamika.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment |
Comments
By golflover
November 3, 2009 10:31 PM | Link to this
womensbballfan, is it really necessary to come with names. Proves my point of how insignificant and pointless your comments are. Figures you would be a fan of a team she DOMINATED! If you were a REAL bball fan, you would appreciate the talent, and save your disdain for people who deserve it.
By Reuben
November 3, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this
I am a 1997 graduate of CJ who played hoops. Yes, I am bias toward CJ alums. Tamika is the best FEMALE athlete that has come out of Dayton.
By correction
November 3, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this
Buford-Bailey actually competed in 3 consecutive Olympics including the Sydney Games in 2000.
By correction
November 3, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this
Buford-Bailey actually competed in 3 consecutive Olympics including the Sydney Games in 2000.
By jeff
November 3, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
Kelly Lyons from Bethel was dominant on so many levels. Great collegiate career and went overseas to play before WNBA …. Ann Myers from Dayton, Kristi Orre, Jessica Kirkland - won the US Open Juniors title and is on the pro tour (Miamisburg native), Forster from Centerville in swimming - been to the Olympic trials… Someone brought up Maria Getty - nice pick but fails in comparison to the career of Erica Allenspach at Marist.
By BethelBee
November 3, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
Kelly Lyons from Bethel in the early 80s dominated at Basketball and Volleyball.
By old timer
November 3, 2009 9:52 AM | Link to this
Yes, Tamika is one of the best from Dayton. But there are far too many as deserving in other sports, and other eras. Ann Meyers was an outstanding athlete whom I have known since her high school years. An injury limited her pro career, but she has spent many subsequent years teaching and coaching right here in Dayton. Watching her score 50 plus points in the NAIA National Championship game while at UD, was a sight to behold. It’s impossible to compare players from different eras. They were all spectacular, each in their own way, and in their own time.
By amazed
November 3, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
Golflover, You may have Ann Meyers confused with the UCLA one. Meyers is from Dayton. She went to CJ and had at least one brother who played there as well.
By JL
November 3, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this
I have two in mind in the Beavercreek school system, Alison Bales and Amanda Reese. I always enjoyed watching them.
By WomensBBallfan
November 3, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this
golflover-“I’ve long wondered if UD’s Ann Meyers ever felt somewhat under-appreciated because the only Ann Meyers anyone ever thinks of is the UCLA Meyers and the confusion always runs uphill in her regard. Both won the Broderick Cup, however I believe UD was in a lower division at the time.”
By WomensBBallfan
November 3, 2009 8:28 AM | Link to this
golflover-Read much? I said “Don’t like Williams either.” Because I’m a Tennessee Lady Vols fan dork.
By golflover
November 3, 2009 7:20 AM | Link to this
To womensbballfan, to claim you hate Tamika is an ignorant remark. You really don’t know her to hate her. She is DEFINITELY the MOST celebrated woman athlete to come out of Dayton. To be the TOP high school player, AAU titles, then win 2 titles at UCONN, a stellar WNBA career (top level league) and continued success coaching. All that and an AWARD winning personality. Rhonda Price and the others are good, but they can’t hold a candle to Tamika!! BTW, Ann Meyers is NOT from Dayton.
By Max
November 3, 2009 1:16 AM | Link to this
you might want to add the name of Marie Getty. She lead CJ to a state championhip. and was the MVP of that tounement. She was Ohio’s basketball player of the year her Senior year, She is now playing her senior year at Villanova University
By Dewberry
November 2, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this
Okay Bubba! You highlighted the Dayton women who impacted basketball locally, what about the men! I can name one and that is Ivan Patterson.
By jimmie
November 2, 2009 10:35 PM | Link to this
JM- That was the “other” Ann Meyers. This one at one time was the leading scorer in Ohio college history - more than the Big “O” and more than Katie Smith. And that was her second best sport. She was also named the top woman college volleyball player in the country.
By LaDawn Bryant
November 2, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this
For those of you who dont know who Rhonda Price is she played basketball for Dunbar High School 94-98. Tameka and Rhonda both played for the Dayton Lady Hoopstars and won 2 national championships. Rhonda went on to attend the number on Junior College in the nation, Trinity Valley Junior College,in Texas. Where there the record was 36-0 which her and the team won a national championship title. Rhonda was the first female to dunk in a game in junior college history. She played fo the WBNL Sydney Flames in Australia last season.She is currently playing in Switzerland….these are the spoken words of Rhonda Price…the coommunity may have forgotten about her, but her family has not. I hope this helps you Bubba.
By Paul
November 2, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this
Hey wallyp when it was posted this morning it didn’t say WOMAN athlete did it Arch? It was corrected after my post. Bring on the next know-it-all…..
By Bubba
November 2, 2009 7:07 PM | Link to this
People throw out Rhonda Price’s name. Where’d she go to high school and college? If you can’t name those schools right off, she wasn’t that impressive around here even if she’s playin’ what passes for pro ball. Sorry Price family. Not in the top five.
By Dee
November 2, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this
Hands down Rhonda Price is one of the best female basketball players to come out of Dayton. She is the true definition of determination, she never gave up on her dream and is living it today. Trust and believe the people from the city knows this….all the athletes above have succeeded and deserve recognition also. They are all down to earth women who I have enjoyed playing with and against on the court. much love and respect to all of them.
By JM
November 2, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
Ann Meyers is from Southern Ca and went to UCLA
By K C
November 2, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this
Margaret “Chuzz” Armpriester. Somehow people can’t/don’t look beyond the end of their noses. The article mentions only “recent” female athletes. Lavonna Martin is probably the oldest one mentioned in the article, and she’s only about 40 years old. Armpriester was a multi-sport phenom in Dayton high school sports and in the late 30’s or early 40’s and in DIAA amateur sports for years. Had there been professional leagues available to women she would have excelled. Had sports not been a man’s world and had the news media played up the accomplishments of local women like Chuzz, she and her performance level would have etched indelible impressions.
By LaDawn Bryant
November 2, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
I believe all the young ladies mentioned above have the ability to be one of the best women athletes to come out of Dayton, but there was one name not mentioned, Rhonda Price. Rhonda Price has been playing basketball overseas for five years now. She has played in Australia and she is now playing in Switzerland. Rhonda Price has exemplified what it means to be dedicated and having love for the game of basketball.
By Creek Mom
November 2, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this
Allison Bales. I watched nearly every one of her HS and college games, it was a joy to see her grow. Allison was smart and learned, and fought what appeared to be a very shy personality to come out and dominate. Kudos to Beavercreek’s finest!
By WomensBBallfan
November 2, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
Hate Auriemma. Hate UConn. Don’t like Williams either. Ann Meyers gets my vote!
By Jack
November 2, 2009 3:04 PM | Link to this
Was going to go with Lavonna Martin until somone mentioned Ann Meyers. She would be hands down number one. Great basketball AND volleyball player.
By troyboy73
November 2, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
How about the Lyons girl from Bethel 25 years ago. And Kirkham from Centerville was a great track standout or Kristy Orre from Northmont in distant races.
By UrbanDweller
November 2, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this
What about tennis player Beth Herr from Centerville?!?! She became the number 1 junior tennis player in the world at age 16. She was the #1 college recruit in 1985 and went on to play for the University of Southern California where she won the NCAA singles title and team title in her freshman year. She cut college short to play professionally for 11 years.
By jimmie
November 2, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this
If you don’t have Ann Meyers on this list, the list is a sham.
By Jacqueline Price.
November 2, 2009 12:49 PM | Link to this
I love Tamika but think Rhonda Price is the best woman athlete from Dayton and I’m very surprised she wasn’t mentioned in this story. Rhonda is still playing Pro Basketball overseas and has been doing so for the last 5 years. She just finished 2 seasons in Australia and is in Switzerland now playing for a team there. Rhonda’s work ethic is impeccable. She travels the world while representing her home town of Dayton Ohio. Rhonda is a force to be reckoned with.
By wallyp
November 2, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
Paul, that would be a pretty safe assumption since the article says “Is she the most celebrated WOMAN’S athlete ever to come out of the Greater Dayton area prep scene?”
By Paul
November 2, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this
I assume you meant FEMALE athlete given the 5 you put up there. My vote for all-time athlete would go to Edwin Moses.