Keith Noll can't help but wonder where the University of Wisconsin women's basketball program would be now if only Janel McCarville and Mistie Bass had decided to stay home.

As the founder of AAU basketball in Wisconsin, Noll understands that elite players make for elite programs. That's why it hurt his state pride to see two of the best players to come through his Team Wisconsin program head elsewhere for college - McCarville to Minnesota and Bass to Duke.

"I used to talk to Mistie all the time," said Noll. "I'd say, 'If we want to be like Duke, Tennessee or UConn, we need you guys to stay at home and play. That's how you get to the next level.' "How are you going to get better if the best players don't stay at home to play?"

That's why Noll knows that the most important person in the immediate future of the University of Wisconsin program is Nicole Griffin. The 6-foot-6 junior from Milwaukee Vincent is ranked among the very best players in the country and is the subject of a vigorous recruiting battle involving Wisconsin and many of the nation's top programs.

He knows exactly how much a commitment from Griffin would mean to coach Lisa Stone's program.

The Badgers (16-12, 6-11 Big Ten) are destined for their fifth second-division Big Ten finish in Stone's six seasons at UW. This comes on the heels of a disappointing 2007-08 campaign, after which Stone's contract was not extended - the second time in three years the Athletic Board had taken that step.

"There's no question that Nicole Griffin would be a monster get for Wisconsin," said Noll. "If she stays home and plays for Wisconsin, that can change a program overnight. She'll make that much of an impact just with her athleticism and her drive.

"She's a great kid and a great player. She's a big-time player. If you want to be a top three program in the Big Ten, you have to have athletic post players, and that's what she is. Personally, I hope the kid goes there.

"If you want to compare players, the best big girl ever to come out of the state was Janel McCarville. Mistie Bass would be right up there with her, and they're both in the WNBA now. The future for Nicole is no different - probably even better because she's taller and definitely more athletic. Coming out of high school, I've had all the best ones since 1988, and I guarantee you she will have a great college career and will go on to the next level, too."

Last summer, Griffin led Noll's Team Wisconsin Select squad to the National Junior Olympic championship, winning tournament MVP honors in the process.

At Milwaukee Vincent, she has won two WIAA state championships in her first two years. Vincent enters tournament play with a 19-1 record, with its only loss coming to fellow Milwaukee powerhouse Rufus King. The teams split their two games this season. The loss dropped the Vikings from No. 1 to No. 3 in the most recent state coaches' poll, and they are the No. 2 seed in their sectional behind top-ranked and undefeated Mukwonago.

To complete the package, she's also an A student.

"I wish all my girls could be like her," said Vincent coach Marquis Hines. "She's just a joy to be around. Everybody says she's so quiet, but she's not quiet when she gets around us. She's boisterous; she lives the high school life."

Griffin's game has become more well-rounded this season, Hines said. Known primarily as a defensive player her first two years, she's become more of an offensive threat, averaging about 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots per game.

"Her first year, it was like, 'Wow, she's tall,' " Hines said. "She had a good freshman year because she blocked a lot of shots. Her sophomore year, everybody was like, 'Wow, she's really good.' And now her junior year, she's just exploded. Nicole is having a fabulous season."

Hines said Wisconsin and Stanford are the top two schools on Griffin's list. That list also includes programs like Duke, Georgia, Michigan and Marquette. "Just about everybody in the country except Tennessee and Connecticut," he said.

Griffin is ranked among the top 60 players nationally by both ESPN HoopGurlz, which lists her as the No. 4 post player, and Dan Olson of Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, one of the most prominent national scouting services.

"A lot of that is based on potential," said Olson. "I think her chance of development is vast. I just watched her briefly last summer, but the summer before, she was off the charts. You have a kid 6-6 in your state who has the coordination to get up and down the floor like that kid can, and be a shot-blocking presence, you've got to go after her."

T he only thing Griffin is missing, it seems, is her dad. Chris Griffin was the coach at Vincent for 11 years and was looking forward to coaching her daughter at his alma mater when he died in January 2006 of a heart attack at age 42. Nicole was an eighth-grader at the time.

Hines, who was coaching the Vincent junior varsity boys at the time, took over the girls program at the urging of Nicole's mother. Since then, it's been a true combination of tragedy and triumph, as Vincent has dominated the state.

"Nicole loves her dad," said Hines. "For a person to overcome what she's overcome is just incredible. To lose her dad when she did was very tough. He was very instrumental in her life."

Hines, who played at UW-Green Bay for Dick Bennett from 1985-89, knows the kind of impact Griffin could make on the Wisconsin program. But he doesn't expect her to make a commitment until her senior year. He doesn't think the Badgers' recent struggles will negatively impact their chances of landing Griffin.

"Everybody goes through their woes, and that's a beautiful program over there," he said. "Nicole is really high on Wisconsin, and I know she had a really good time on her (unofficial) visit over there.

"I think Nicole could be one of the all-time players to ever come out of Wisconsin. What she's accomplished thus far in her life, I just know she's going to have a phenomenal college career."

The way Noll sees it, Griffin can boost the Badgers' fortunes before she even enrolls.

"If she comes to Wisconsin, you know what that's going to do for Lisa's recruiting," said Noll. "These kids around the country all know each other, and there are going to be a lot of girls who will say they want to go and play with Nicole. If I'm Lisa and her staff, if I get Nicole, boy, is that going to help me go out and recruit all the other positions. She's a real difference-maker."

dpunzel@madison.com

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