Jackie Stiles made herself a great scorer because of her willingness to put in the hours in the gym.

Numerous basketball experts, including Southwest Missouri State coach Cheryl Burnett, credit her work ethic for helping her produce an SMS women's scoring record in less than three seasons.

"We've always known from the time Jackie was a sixth-grader that she was a very special player and very special person," Burnett said. "She's a kid who is much harder on herself than anybody else could be, because her expectations are so high."

"I don't think anyone could ask more of Jackie than Jackie asks of herself and that's very unique in a basketball player."

It's that attidude, said Evangel University women's coach Leon Neal, who has coaching experience on the international level, which will carry her to success in the professional ranks.

"I've seen some good players, but I've never seen a kid who can break a team down like she can," Neal said, "...now that she's gained consistency from the 3-point line, I don't think too many teams are going to be able to stop her. She's by far one of the premier players I've seen; she just takes over segments of games, and when it's that time they need her, she just takes off. She has bursts that just kill a (Lady Bears opponent)."

"I just don't really think you can guard her one-on-one. She has the speed, the strength, that a lot of kids don't have. She's playing a level above everybody she plays against."

Neal said Stiles' transition to the professional level after she ends her career at SMS will be easy, especially because he considers her more than a great shooter.

"One thing that not many can do that she can do very well is play defense," Neal said. "And she sees her teammates, she gets shots for her teammates. Those are things that are hard to coach in a player who has a scorer's mentality, and she has all of that."

"Seldom do you find a leading scorer in the nation who has the whole package," Neal said.

"I've coached at that level (for a professional team in Europe) and I know what it's like. Whoever gets her is going to land a gold mine. She's a coach's dream and she carries herself well, not only on the court, but off of it."

"She's in the public eye, she knows and understands that people and young girls look up to her and she handles herself really well."

'Hardest worker I've seen'

Larry Atwood, former high school coach and SMS faculty member, has watched Stiles from the Hammons Student Center scorer's table.

"She the hardest worker I've ever seen them have in the years I have been watching the Lady Bears progress," Atwood said. "Fortunately, here in the last two or three semesters, I've gotten to know her pretty well (Stiles has taken three classes taught by Atwood). She's a dandy student and a quality person."

"She's so dedicated. She always has things in the right priority. She's a tremendous creator of her shot on the floor, she can put (the ball) on the floor and almost get away from a double- and triple-team defense."

"For her size, she might be as good as they get. She jumps well, she can create, she can play point guard or the off-guard spot and she works like the devil on defense. And, a credit to both her and coach (Cheryl) Burnett, she's a team player. She's averaging (big numbers) but it doesn't look like she takes advantage of anything (from her teammates)."

"I just think she's a tremendous kid and player."

'She's paid her dues'

The real reason for Stiles' success, Drake University women's coach Lisa Bluder said, "is her inner desire."

"She goes the extra mile and that's what makes her a winner. She's spent so much time in the gym, she has the confidence and she wants the ball in her hands in pressure situations. She's paid her dues."

Bluder said she's noticed Stiles' ability to score in many ways: "She can shoot the 3, she can penetrate, she has that spin-dribble that she's perfected. All that makes her a great scorer."

Work and more work

Former Illinois State women's coach Jill Hutchison, now a media commentator, agrees that Stiles' work ethic is the most impressive thing about her.

"It's the time she spends in the gym," Hutchison said. "I think shooting is a repitition skill and she has paid the price."

"I'll never forget when she was a first-semester freshamn, the first time we played the Bears, she was on the floor an hour-and-a-half before game time. I thought to myself, "That's why she's so successful."

"I think she has really worked to become the player that she is and she has a confidence about her, a shooter's mentality. I think you only develop that through repitition. And she's not devastated when she misses a shot. You only develop that confidence by being successful, so that gives you that mentality."

'Love for the game'

"What I see out of her from sitting back from afar and watching is her enthusiasm and love for the game," Marshfield High girls' coach Gary Murphy said. "She just oozes passion when she talks about basketball and no matter how well she does, she always gives her teammates and coaches credit. She's such a humble individual that you just can't help but really like the girl and I could see how so many young kids would want to cheer for her the way they cheered for Melody (Howard) when she was in the program."