A dead-on shooting touch and all-around court savvy has this Massachusetts standout bound for a top Division I program after her senior season.

When your father is an NCAA Division I basketball head coach, the spotlight is bound to shine brighter on any up-and-coming hoopster. But Nicole Wolff, of Walpole (Mass.) High School, has risen to the challenge‹and then some.

The daughter of Boston University men's head coach Dennis Wolff, Nicole has blossomed into one of the country's top players. Last year, the 6-0 guard averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals per game as she led Walpole to the Eastern Mass. Division 1 girls' semifinals. She's considered by many experts to be the best shooter among current high school players, and was ranked the second best guard in her class by the All-Star Girls Report.

This summer, Wolff was selected as an alternate for the 2001 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Team (she was the youngest player invited to try out), adding to a string of honors that includes: the 2000 Parade All-America Third Team, USA Today Junior All-America, Bay State League MVP, and the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team.

Wolff's favorite player is former UConn standout Svetlana Abrosimova, whose all-around game and scoring ability are similar to Wolff's. But in an interview with RivalHoops.com, Wolff called her father the biggest influence on her game. "When I needed someone to rebound my shots, he has taken the time to do that," she said. "When I needed help on working on my game, my dad has always been there. I wouldn't know half of the stuff I know on basketball if it were not for my dad."

Wolff is an excellent student, reportedly scoring almost 1400 on her SATs last year. She's still weighing her collegiate choice, with Duke, Connecticut, Vanderbilt and Notre Dame considered the front-runners. Her father played at UConn in the late 1970s, and her mother also attended UConn. But Wolff says her choice won't be influenced by the family legacy, but based on her visits with the team and coaches. "Once I have a good feel for all the schools on my list I should be able to make a decision," she says.

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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