Net gain: Tinkle has played her way onto recruiting lists nationwide
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian
Highly-recruited Big Sky basketball player Joslyn Tinkle can't count the number of letters she's already received from college recruiters, but there are enough to fill three binders.
Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
At the rate that media guides and recruiting letters keep coming in, the Tinkles are going to need a bigger house.
Joslyn Tinkle, the 6-foot-3 daughter of Wayne and Lisa, is a popular girl. Dozens of games in high school and at AAU tournaments, which have honed some serious basketball skills, have made it that way for the junior from Big Sky High School.
The byproduct of that is a recruiting battle that has heated up well before college coaches can even speak directly to Tinkle, who averages 19.8 points a game for the 4-2 Big Sky Eagles. As evidence, Joslyn produces some 40 media guides, all from Division I schools. Then there are the three, three-ringed binders filled with personal letters and notes from all over the country.
Maryland. Georgia. Rutgers. Stanford. Oklahoma. California. All six of those schools want Joslyn Tinkle to play for them. All six are rated in the Top 10 in the NCAA.
“I was in shock for awhile,” said Tinkle, who'd been warned that once coaches could send out letters to juniors on Sept. 1 that the mail box would be full. “It was a little overwhelming. But this whole process has been fun and exciting. It's just an honor to go through this.”
The process began years ago, when Joslyn Tinkle became a self-described gym rat. You can make an argument for genetics - Wayne, the Montana Grizzlies' head basketball coach, and Lisa stand 6-10 and 6-3, and scored 2,970 points between them for UM - but Joslyn's blue-chip status is just as clearly a product of her own hard work in the gym.
“She's a very good player, very refined,” said Karen Deden, the Sentinel coach who saw her Spartans drop a 66-50 decision to Tinkle and Big Sky last week. “She can play the three, four or five (either forwards or center) depending on which school she goes to.”
For the record, that work in the gym was voluntary.
“People were like, ‘Do they make you go in there?' ” Joslyn said. “No, they let me do whatever. Just be a kid and have fun. But I'm in the gym a lot.”
She's been on the road a lot as well. The past couple summers she's suited up for the Big Sky All-Stars, a collection of top-flight players from around Montana that Anaconda parent Bill Hill has taken up against excellent competition from around the nation.
That's where many college coaches take notice. In Joslyn's case it has been at a mind-boggling rate, especially to her mom.
“The only place I took a visit to was the University of Colorado,” the Great Falls High product said. She played at UM from 1985-89 and ended up the No. 3 scorer in program history. “I took a trip down there and knew right away I was going to be at Montana.
“I never even went to a Lady Griz camp,” she added. “They just have so many things available to them now. It's like a business. I mean, it's crazy. That's kind of sad to say.”
But if it's daunting, Joslyn Tinkle has handled it well. The personalized cards can be a riot - “Tinkle, Tinkle, little star” reads one from Oklahoma - and mother and daughter marvel at the penmanship of a Stanford assistant, and the overall time coaches put into writing their recruits.
The pluses are there are no phone calls allowed until spring and text-messaging is not allowed at all, though the NCAA could reverse a recent ban on texting at its convention this week.
The minuses? Well there is the little matter of narrowing down all these choices to five official visits, and then those down to a final one. Joslyn leans toward making a decision ahead of her senior season at Big Sky High. Whether she'll head to the Pac-10 or Big 12 or stay home and play for her parents' alma mater remains to be seen.
“There's not so much pressure, but I kind of have that feeling in the pit of my stomach,” she said. “I respect Rob (Robin Selvig, the venerable Lady Griz head coach) and everything he's done. I've known him for a long time. My family's here, but my options are open right now.”
So she checks her e-mail once or twice a week (recruiters can e-mail) and keeps filling binders. Tinkle recalls being at one AAU tournament and turning to see a parade of coaches from every major women's basketball program file past: Tennessee, Rutgers, and on and on. She fought the impulse to grab a camera.
Now many of those same coaches are sending her letters, and coming to watch her play. They'll talk to Big Sky coach Marti Leibenguth, another former Lady Griz, and then head out.
It is exciting, and perhaps a sign of things to come. Younger sister Elle is a year away from high school, and younger brother Tres is another prospect in waiting. They have something else to shoot for. Forty-five media guides instead of 40, maybe.
“I'm sure they're going, ‘Go as far away as possible,' ” Joslyn joked.
She's ranked as the 13th-best prospect by the Web site Hoopgurlz.com, but can look to her parents to keep her grounded.
“My coach is pretty good at it, too,” she said. “I've got a lot to work on.”
Like the Glacier Wolfpack, who travel down from Kalispell Thursday.
“I know that my team will be out there, and as long as I'm out there helping the team, and we all play well that's all I really care about,” she said.
Deden can relate to Joslyn. She was a top prospect for Sentinel who made all the top recruiting lists, and excelled at the University of Washington from 1988-91.
“I think it's always a tough decision,” said Deden. “It's also a true testament to the amount of time and effort that Joslyn has put into basketball. Basically every school in the country is after her.
“And it is a tough decision for Jos, because her dad is a Griz coach and her mom is a Lady Griz. But she's still a home town hero no matter what she decides. She's from Missoula, Mont. That's where she made her name.”
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To me it is obvious that Wayne and Lisa have done an excellent job with their kids. I was home for Christmas and was wandering around the mall. As a junior in high school Joselyn is a celebrity and watched her wander the mall and deal with all the people who came up and talked to her. She seemed to handle it quite well.
I imagine over the next year it is going to become increasingly difficult for her because of the expections involved. Believe me, I would love for her to play for the lady griz, but as maybe the best basketball player to come out of montana in some time, I would completely understand if she wants to explore other places.
I get excited thinking about her and Ali Hurley playing at the UofM together, because of what it could do for our program in the future. Not that Robin hasn't had great recruiting years the past few years, this is the type of deal that could move the UofM in to the national spotlight again.
As I said before, she'll make the decision to go to whatever school she wants for all the right reasons. Best of luck to her. Sure seems like she is a class kid. Class family too.
Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teaches our children”
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Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Berkeley. Hands-down.
All joking aside, I think this young lady would be doing herself a disservice by remaining in Missoula to play college basketball. And my reasoning has nothing to do with basketball. The University of Montana is a fine school, indeed, but how could one turn down a full athletic scholarship to Stanford? She would exit Palo Alto with a degree that opens innumerable doors; doors she may need opened given the current state of professional women's basketball.
Also, I am positive that other Pacific 10 institutions will follow Stanford and Berkeley's suit. Washington would be another difficult SCHOOL to turn down. How about UCLA or USC? Academic prestige is not generally a concern for the men since they have many professional leagues. Women, however, should always keep it at the forefront.
It would be an absolute honor to attend a school like Stanford. Especially when the average 4.0; 1400 gets rejected if he/she cannot shoot a jumpshot.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
Last edited by bizzel on Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
All joking aside, I think this young lady would be doing herself a disservice by remaining in Missoula to play college basketball. And my reasoning has nothing to do with basketball. The University of Montana is a fine school, indeed, but how could one turn down a full athletic scholarship to Stanford? She would exit Palo Alto with a degree that opens innumerable doors; doors she may need opened given the current state of professional women's basketball.
The Tinkle family is really a close knit family so it wouldn't surprise me if Joslyn stays close to home. I agree on the academics, but we all have reasons for the choices we make in life. I will support Joslyn's choice no matter what. A Stanford education comes with no guarantee attached either. I have seen many UM Grads do amazing things in life as well. It is wonderful she has so many options.
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Grizbacker1 wrote:
bizzel wrote:
Berkeley. Hands-down.
All joking aside, I think this young lady would be doing herself a disservice by remaining in Missoula to play college basketball. And my reasoning has nothing to do with basketball. The University of Montana is a fine school, indeed, but how could one turn down a full athletic scholarship to Stanford? She would exit Palo Alto with a degree that opens innumerable doors; doors she may need opened given the current state of professional women's basketball.
The Tinkle family is really a close knit family so it wouldn't surprise me if Joslyn stays close to home. I agree on the academics, but we all have reasons for the choices we make in life. I will support Joslyn's choice no matter what. A Stanford education comes with no guarantee attached either. I have seen many UM Grads do amazing things in life as well. It is wonderful she has so many options.
Oh, it was not my intention to suggest that a degree from Montana is a sentence to manual labour. I just wanted to express that in the real world, a degree from Stanford, although no guarantee of success, trumps any other institution on the west coast. The other institutions I mentioned follow close behind (some closer than others).
She could do much worse than Montana.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
'68griz wrote:
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
It may indeed happen. Although it is awfully difficult for a young person to turn down Stanford after entering the campus along Palm Drive. That view is truly majestic. You have more will power than I, '68 Griz.
I will say, that in recent generations, colleges and universities have become much more stratified than yesteryear. This means that, now more than ever, college degrees are not all created equal. I think the recruiting staffs at highly ranked schools really sell this point.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Of course it could. You saw what her Mom said about visiting CO on a recruiting trip. For purely selfish reasons I hope she is a Lady Griz, but will stand behind whatever decision she makes. I just hope as much as she loves the game of basketball she gets to play wherever she goes. The big schools like Tennessee get nothing but blue chip recruits, and the last time I checked, you can only play 5 at a time.
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Grizbacker1 wrote:
'68griz wrote:
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Of course it could. You saw what her Mom said about visiting CO on a recruiting trip. For purely selfish reasons I hope she is a Lady Griz, but will stand behind whatever decision she makes. I just hope as much as she loves the game of basketball she gets to play wherever she goes. The big schools like Tennessee get nothing but blue chip recruits, and the last time I checked, you can only play 5 at a time.
I do not know, Grizbacker1, the Lady Vols have a freshman from Spokane averaging about 25 minutes per game thus far. If Ms. Tinkle is as good as everyone is saying she is, she may be able to do the same. Although, playing in the Greater Spokane League is a bit different from playing in Montana. Also, Ms. Tinkle going to Tennessee would completely undermine the point I was trying to make about academics.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Of course it could. You saw what her Mom said about visiting CO on a recruiting trip. For purely selfish reasons I hope she is a Lady Griz, but will stand behind whatever decision she makes. I just hope as much as she loves the game of basketball she gets to play wherever she goes. The big schools like Tennessee get nothing but blue chip recruits, and the last time I checked, you can only play 5 at a time.
I do not know, Grizbacker1, the Lady Vols have a freshman from Spokane averageing about 25 minutes per game thus far. If Ms. Tinkle is as good as everyone is saying she is, she may be able to do the same. Although, playing in the Greater Spokane League is a bit different from playing in Montana. Also, Ms. Tinkle going to Tennessee would completely undermine the point I was trying to make about academics.
I don't think a diploma from TN is a bad thing. There is a young lady from my neighborhood that is at TN now, and was one of the best in the country, and she is coming off the bench. Anyway, I am not arguing about the academic part because no question Stanford is the crown jewel out west. She would fit into the style of play Tara uses at Stanford. I just hope she does what she wants, period, as I am sure you do as well.
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Grizbacker1 wrote:
bizzel wrote:
Grizbacker1 wrote:
'68griz wrote:
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Of course it could. You saw what her Mom said about visiting CO on a recruiting trip. For purely selfish reasons I hope she is a Lady Griz, but will stand behind whatever decision she makes. I just hope as much as she loves the game of basketball she gets to play wherever she goes. The big schools like Tennessee get nothing but blue chip recruits, and the last time I checked, you can only play 5 at a time.
I do not know, Grizbacker1, the Lady Vols have a freshman from Spokane averageing about 25 minutes per game thus far. If Ms. Tinkle is as good as everyone is saying she is, she may be able to do the same. Although, playing in the Greater Spokane League is a bit different from playing in Montana. Also, Ms. Tinkle going to Tennessee would completely undermine the point I was trying to make about academics.
I don't think a diploma from TN is a bad thing. There is a young lady from my neighborhood that is at TN now, and was one of the best in the country, and she is coming off the bench. Anyway, I am not arguing about the academic part because no question Stanford is the crown jewel out west. She would fit into the style of play Tara uses at Stanford. I just hope she does what she wants, period, as I am sure you do as well.
Oh, yes sir, I do. Also, I was simply saying the same thing about Tennessee as I was about Montana: A great institution, but not a Stanford/UCLA/Berkeley/Washington. Did you know that Montana has more Rhodes Scholars than any of the above besides Stanford? Obviously, it is a great university.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Red Lodge, MT 54 eGriz Bucks
There is no point in attending Berkeley if one is not eligible to become a Bowlesman. Since women are not allowed, I beleive the young lady in question would be best served elsewhere. I also trust that people know I speak in jest.
We're the men of Bowles Association,
Coming here from over all the nation.
Drinking here together one and all,
We lift our voices loud for Bowles Hall!
I was accepted at Stanford ... and my daughter at Cal Tech, with scholarship offers. We didn't go, because California was not, after visiting, where we wanted to be. Could that happen with Ms. Tinkle too?
Of course it could. You saw what her Mom said about visiting CO on a recruiting trip. For purely selfish reasons I hope she is a Lady Griz, but will stand behind whatever decision she makes. I just hope as much as she loves the game of basketball she gets to play wherever she goes. The big schools like Tennessee get nothing but blue chip recruits, and the last time I checked, you can only play 5 at a time.
I do not know, Grizbacker1, the Lady Vols have a freshman from Spokane averageing about 25 minutes per game thus far. If Ms. Tinkle is as good as everyone is saying she is, she may be able to do the same. Although, playing in the Greater Spokane League is a bit different from playing in Montana. Also, Ms. Tinkle going to Tennessee would completely undermine the point I was trying to make about academics.
I don't think a diploma from TN is a bad thing. There is a young lady from my neighborhood that is at TN now, and was one of the best in the country, and she is coming off the bench. Anyway, I am not arguing about the academic part because no question Stanford is the crown jewel out west. She would fit into the style of play Tara uses at Stanford. I just hope she does what she wants, period, as I am sure you do as well.
Oh, yes sir, I do. Also, I was simply saying the same thing about Tennessee that I was about Montana: A great institution, but not a Stanford/UCLA/Berkeley/Washington. Did you know that Montana has more Rhodes Scholars than any of the above besides Stanford? Obviously, it is a great university.
Yes, I am aware that UM ranks 17th in the nation and fifth among public universities in producing Rhodes Scholars, with 28. UM has had 10 Truman Scholars, 14 Goldwater Scholars and 28 Udall Scholars as well. However, UT is no slouch academically either. The College of Business Administration's program in supply chain management and logistics is ranked eighth in the nation, ahead of the same program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and its overall undergraduate program is 36th among national public universities. The College of Engineering's overall undergraduate program is ranked 34th among national public universities, gaining momentum with the construction of the $37.5 million Min Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building funded in part by a gift from Kao, one of the college's most successful alumni. Forbes Inc. ranked UT's MBA program in the College of Business Administration 9th among public programs. UT was ahead of programs at universities such as Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Indiana and Wake Forest. Kaplan Publishing ranked UT as one of the nation's top 25 "cutting edge schools" in a recent guide to colleges.
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Doubtless that Tennessee is not a slouch academically or athletically. Also doubtless, is the fact that I envy Miss Tinkle's options. I am sure she will make a wise decision.
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 96 Location: Should be the White House 75 eGriz Bucks
Bowlesman wrote:
There is no point in attending Berkeley if one is not eligible to become a Bowlesman. Since women are not allowed, I beleive the young lady in question would be best served elsewhere. I also trust that people know I speak in jest.
Ah. I had not considered the fact that Berkeley loses some of its appeal sans Bowlesman status. An inqusition: Bowlesman, where did you pursue graduate studies?
We've defeated Jim Crow. Now we have to deal with his son: James Crow Jr. Esquire.
Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Red Lodge, MT 54 eGriz Bucks
bizzel wrote:
Bowlesman wrote:
There is no point in attending Berkeley if one is not eligible to become a Bowlesman. Since women are not allowed, I beleive the young lady in question would be best served elsewhere. I also trust that people know I speak in jest.
Ah. I had not considered the fact that Berkeley loses some of its appeal sans Bowlesman status. An inqusition: Bowlesman, where did you pursue graduate studies?
Berkeley was my graduate destination. I attended Swarthmore for undergraduate studies majoring in comparative literature before coming to Berkeley to pursue a PhD in Economics. I am retired now, and delighted to say that I will never move back east.
We're the men of Bowles Association,
Coming here from over all the nation.
Drinking here together one and all,
We lift our voices loud for Bowles Hall!
1st of all, I know Joslyn is thankful for all the opportunities coming her way. Regardless of her decision she will do well. She has a great head on her shoulders. I honestly feel Montana will be among her final 5. Unless Wayne moves away from Montana, I think Joslyn will stay close to home. I will be surprised if she goes anywhere east of the Mississippi River. That really narrows her choices down to Montana and the PAC 10 schools.
I think most Montana teenagers are intrigued by the Glamour of California. I was intrigued and ended up moving out there. My curiosity was satisified in a matter of 6 months there. I seen way too much crime, drugs, and trouble. The pace of life was way to fast for a simple Montana kid. I realized I missed family, friends, wide open spaces, freshair, and clean water. Also I did not like working 60 to 80 hours weekly just to live in an average or better place on the coast. I had no time to enjoy what California had to offer. Other friends also ventured out west, they too have left CA for the same reasons I did.
Granted years later, I am not permanently in Montana, but get back often enough to please me. I am in Colorado which is good medium between CA and Montana lifestyles including better than average fresh air and clean water. However, still not to the extent of Montana.
My thinking is Joslyn will make her decision over the summer. If she can get some other better than average AAU players to come to Montana with her, that may be enough for her to stay home. With her, Hurley, a few of her AAU team mates, and 1 or 2 other good recruits the LG could be a top national contender, consistent Top 25, maybe Top 10. I feel her decision will come down to whoelse can the LG get to come with her? I agree with GB, I will not be surprised if she chooses the LG.
With that said, I wish her the best whatever her decision is. If not the LG, I hope she stays regional. I would go watch her play elsewhere if within a reasonable traveling distance and expense. Good luck to Joslyn in her decision.
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Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 2620 Location: Tracy, CA 1371 eGriz Bucks
I know this sounds cr@zy, but is there any chance that this girl plays for her old man? As good as it sounds that she is, such a move could put butts in the seats.
Yes, I'm serious with this. There is precedent of girls playing male sports at the collegiate level.
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