THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY
JENNIFER SMITH-TOPPING
August 10, 2023
By Chuck Krafft
Jennifer Smith-Topping was a first team All-State basketball payer at DeWitt High School. She went on to play at the University of Michigan, in the WNBA and in a professional Slovakian league.
She set the University of Michigan single-season scoring record in 2004 with 659 points. She was also first team All Big Ten and won the "M" Zone leadership award as well.
She thanked her family who supported her in basketball, which she started in fifth grade. Her father built a pole barn so she would have a regular place to play and practice. She had a lot of tall brothers and cousins who were able to give her great competition for practices and pickup games. This helped her develop her game.
She thanked long-time DeWitt basketball Coach Bill McCullen and all the other coaches that supported her as she developed her skills. They helped to shape her both as an athlete and as a person.
She was not able to make the WNBA the first time she tried, so she went to the Euro League to build her skills and was able to play in the WNBA for the New York Liberty.
She took a break from basketball to find a purpose and discovered that coaching was fulfilling. She has really enjoyed coaching her son.
Jennifer said she learned the most from the "daily grind" necessary to build her skills so she could compete at the top levels.
Her advice to young people is to surround yourself with positive people who are able to give encouragement. She hopes her players will remember her for a positive impact on their games and lives.
For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!
https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html
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