WILLMAR - It doesn't seem that long ago that Willmar's Laura Nielsen burst on the varsity scene as an eighth-grader. For someone so young, she showed poise, strength and a sense for the game.
Four years and 87 wins later, the 6-foot-2 senior post has officially cast her lot with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, a second-year NCAA Division I basketball program.
The 1,000-point scorer and straight-A student signed a full-ride scholarship Wednesday morning in the high school cafeteria. The national letter of intent was immediately faxed to Brookings with the official document to follow in the mail. Her plan is make a career in pharmacy.
Nielsen is a three-time Central Lakes All-Conference selection and received all-state recognition as a sophomore and again last year.
"I'm very pleased with my decision," she told the Tribune Tuesday night. "South Dakota State just felt right."
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She said she won't be redshirted but will "have a chance to play right away." Her teammates will include former CLC rival Stacie Oistad, a 6-foot sophomore forward from Sartell.
The Cardinal senior said SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston and assistant coach Laurie Melum offered a tender in March. She verbally committed in August.
She received her first college letter in eighth grade (from Concordia, Moorhead). She would hear from dozens more from major universities to junior colleges.
The University of Minnesota showed interest for a time but later backed off, Laura said.
She narrowed her choices to the University of Northern Iowa, Drake, North Dakota State and SDSU. The Bison and Jackrabbits, both formerly of the Northern Collegiate Conference, were her two finalists. Both went NCAA Division I in 2004.
The Jackrabbits finished 21-7 playing an independent schedule that included several major universities: The Jackrabbits posted wins over Kentucky, Oklahoma State and Alabama with seven-point losses to both Southern California and Purdue. SDSU opens Nov. 19 at Nebraska.
A three-sport athlete, Nielsen was the team's offensive MVP each of the last two seasons and also one of the squad's captains.
Nielsen, who averaged 16 ppg as a junior, has played on three conference champions and a runner-up with a combined record against other CLC teams of 54-8.
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Her sophomore year the Cardinals reached the Class AAA championship game before losing to Minneapolis North. That year, she led the team in scoring (14.0 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg) and blocked shots (62). She shot 60 percent from the field.
As an eighth-grader, she scored 17 points and grabbed 23 rebounds as head coach Brad Atchison introduced her gradually to the varsity level. The next year, her first as a starter, Willmar won 26 straight before losing in the section final.
Johnston has coached the Jackrabbits since 2000, winning a NCAA Division II championship in 2003.
Nielsen isn't the first Cardinal from a state tournament team to sign with SDSU. Leah Klassen won all-NCC honors in both 1997 and '98 after playing in the state tournament in both 1992 and again in '94.
