Brazilian could have major impact

With 11 of his 15 players being newcomers -- and with just one returning starter -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball coach B.J. Smith is counting on many of those first-year performers to assume key roles.

Topping that list is 6-foot-2 center Tatiana Conceicao, a junior college transfer who Smith believes is as talented as any player he's had -- including some of those from his days at Northeastern A&M College who went on to play professionally.

"Almost anybody in the country would take her," Smith said during Southeast's media day activities Tuesday afternoon at the Show Me Center. "She's one of the most talented players I've had and, if she continues to improve, I really think she's got a chance to be drafted."

Smith said Conceicao's versatility -- even though she's a strong post player she also operates well on the perimeter -- is what makes her such a solid prospect.

Conceicao, a native of Brazil who speaks somewhat halting yet completely understandable English, smiled at Smith's assessment.

"I'm a post player, but I can play both," she said.

Smith, whose third season at Southeast begins Friday with a game at 21st-ranked Oklahoma, considers landing Conceicao a real coup for his program.

Smith had several Brazilian players during his tenure at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M -- one of the nation's premier junior college programs -- and was in the process of trying to recruit Conceicao to that school before accepting the job at Southeast.

Smith and then-assistant coach Rick Karr -- who helped Smith begin his Brazilian pipeline both at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Southeast -- kept tabs on Conceicao after she enrolled at Western Nebraska Community College. After averaging 18 points per game as a freshman, she signed with Southeast during the early period last November prior to her sophomore season.

"We knew about her before she even came to America and followed her junior college career," Smith said. "It was a long process, but we're really glad she's here."

So apparently is Conceicao, even though she probably could have had her pick of major Division I offers following a sophomore season that saw her average 25 points during the national tournament and was a first-team junior college All-American.

"She was the No. 1 vote-getter in all of junior college basketball for the All-American team," Smith said. "There's no level she couldn't play at. We're fortunate to have her."

Said Conceicao: "This was my first visit. I was really comfortable with the coaching staff. I'm glad I signed. I really like it here."

Conceicao's public debut in a Southeast uniform came on Nov. 8 when she scored 15 points -- tying for team-high honors with senior Chandra Brown, the only returning starter from last year -- during an exhibition victory. She also grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.

Conceicao suffered a concussion late in that contest against Christian Brothers and was held out of Southeast's final exhibition game against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday as a precautionary measure.

"I hit my head, but I'm fine," said Conceicao, who will be ready to go in Friday's season opener at Oklahoma.

Smith doesn't want to put too much early pressure on his prize recruit or any of his other newcomers as they try to settle into the world of Division I basketball. He figures Brown, a 6-foot-3 senior who averaged 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last year, will be Southeast's go-to player early in the season.

"But I think Tatiana can eventually develop into that kind of player for us," Smith said. "With only four players back, and not any big numbers besides Chandra, we'll be counting on Tatiana and a lot of the new players.

"Tatiana is a special talent, and also a great person. We're really glad she's playing for us."