Jackie Stiles is a legend in Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams’ eyes.
“John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Jackie Stiles … what can ya say? That’s a pretty good combination,” Williams said, putting Claflin native Stiles in the same category as his Western movie heroes.
Stiles, a 5-foot-8 native of Claflin, averages 30.6 points a game for Final Four-bound Southwest Missouri State.
“On Monday, members of the NABC board voted for player of the year, coach of the year. I nominated her for best player in America under 6-feet. They told me it had to be a man,” Williams said of his fellow board members.
“I watched the last six minutes of the Southwest Missouri-Duke game Saturday night. I was stunned,” he said of Stiles’ 41-point effort.
“You talk about a girl who can flat out play … On every play, Duke knew the ball was going to her. Every play the ball went to her and every play she scored. It’s a simple frickin’ game for that girl.
“She says, ‘I don’t care what you do, I’m coming there, I’m gonna get the ball and when I get the ball I’m gonna score and you ain’t gonna guard me.’ I could have watched that game for 24 hours,” Williams added.
“She’s sort of like Tiger (Woods). (She says) ‘I’m here and I’m gonna beat your rear and there’s nothin’ you can do about it.'”
