Marchele Campbell is confident. And not just in her ability.

She’s also confident that her Syracuse women’s basketball classmates comprise a better recruiting class than the No. 15 national ranking All-Star Girls Report gave them.

“I always say, ‘I’m the best,’ “ Campbell said. “I don’t feel pressure from our ranking. I have a lot of confidence in myself, and I feel we’re better than No. 15. I feel like we’re No. 1.”

Campbell, center Jill Norton and forward Tierra Jackson are the three freshmen in a recruiting class unmatched in Marianna Freeman’s 10 years as SU’s head coach.

While Campbell considers herself the best, at 5 feet 4 inches, she’s also the shortest. Even shorter than junior Julie McBride, who’s also listed at 5 feet 4 inches.

“I’m the shortest one on the team by like an inch, but it doesn’t matter,” Campbell said. “Good things come in small packages.”

Campbell will have to wait to prove that. The Kansas City, Kan., native — who shot 53.6 percent from three-point range during her high school career — was ruled ineligible after falling one point short on her ACT exam. She will be allowed to practice with the team.

Campbell knows she must distinguish herself.

“I look at practice as a challenge,” said Campbell, who said she committed to SU partially because she liked the idea of watching football in the Carrier Dome. “In scrimmages, I’m going to try to be one of those players that the opponent looks at as one of the best players they have to face.”

Norton has showcased that same demeanor. The New Jersey State All-Star — who averaged 16.5 points and nine rebounds as a senior — hired a personal trainer in the offseason after Freeman told her to show up in top shape. Freeman already calls Norton one of the hardest workers she’s coached.

“College basketball is a lot more intense, but I like the fact that I have a bunch of girls on the court who want it just as bad as I do,” Norton said. “It’s a lot different than high school. Everyone works really hard. It’s much more of a push.”

Jackson, a 6-foot forward, believes this year will be about getting stronger physically and mentally. Her 13.4 points per game led Frederick Douglass (Md.) High to a 23-2 record. TJ — as she likes to be called — doesn’t hold the honors that Campbell and Norton do, but Freeman said Jackson’s talent is undeniable.

“Tierra Jackson is a tremendous athlete, basketball player and person,” Freeman said. “She didn’t get the type of accolades that other young people in the (Washington D.C.) area got because there were just a lot of great players. She was one that was overlooked, and their overlooking is our gain. We’ll probably see a big contribution from Tierra very early.”

Freeman is satisfied with the development of each freshman so far. Without discussing specific roles, she implied that they must contribute for the Orangewomen to repeat last year’s 18-13 season in which they reached the NCAA Tournament.

The freshmen seem ready for the challenge.

“I’m excited,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait for the season to start. I’m ready to go out there and play and win some games.”

Published on November 13, 2002 at 12:00 pm