Mason's Kristin Haynie achieved basketball dreams

Kristin Haynie dreamed big at an early age.

And while she may have not quite achieved her biggest dream of becoming the first female to play in the NBA, Haynie accomplished much of what she set out to do on the basketball court.

Haynie’s success at Mason High School, Michigan State and in the WNBA has led to her being part of the latest class of inductees heading into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame on July 28 at the Lansing Center.

“It’s a tremendous honor just to be recognized among the all-time greats in the Lansing area is very humbling,” Haynie said. “As a little kid growing up, you never imagine something like this to happen.

“I always had a dream to play at Michigan State. And my second dream was to be the first female to play in the NBA.  My parents would always tell that story. I don’t necessarily remember saying that. I believe my parents obviously. The WNBA happened and I was ecstatic when the league formed in 1997 and it was good that players didn’t have to go overseas to play professionally.”

Haynie, who was also a soccer standout at Mason, had a passion for basketball at an early age. And her basketball dreams and desire to make the NBA were fueled by her love of the Detroit Pistons. Haynie was inspired by Joe Dumars and wore the number four when possible because of the former Pistons guard.

Haynie was a difference maker on the court during her varsity career and was a significant contributor for successful Mason teams during a time when there were several strong programs and players in the Lansing area.

She followed that success by making her mark at Michigan State and helping to elevate the program to a level of success that it is still sustaining today. As a senior, Haynie was a key contributor to the Spartans’ memorable run to the 2005 national championship game.

“That’s one of the best memories in basketball that I have,” Haynie said. “Every year at Michigan State we got better. My senior year we were ranked in the top 25. Coach (Joanne P. McCallie) was like ‘Rankings don’t matter,’ which they don’t. It was just a great honor to see where Michigan State was at when I first got to campus to how it ended when I ended my career.

“I’ll just never forget my senior year when we just kept winning and winning and winning and everybody kept saying as far as the media that it was a fluke and we’re not that good. When we got the number one seed in the NCAA tournament we’re still hearing people thinking we were overrated. It was just awesome and it was a great feeling to prove people wrong and make it to the Final Four and the national championship game.”

Following the successful run and a career that Haynie ended as one of the best players in MSU history, she was a first-round draft pick in the WNBA. She won a title with the Sacramento Monarchs as a rookie.

Haynie learned much over during her successful basketball career. And now she’s giving back and trying to groom the future generation of players as an assistant coach at Central Michigan.

“It is surreal,” Haynie said. “I never would have dreamt that this is where I would be when I was in high school or middle school. I love the game and I love to give back. One thing that I wished I did was work harder at a younger age. I always tell kids that. There’s a lot of kids that like to talk about it and like to dream about stuff, but you have to put in the work. You have to fall in the process of becoming great or otherwise you’re not going to reach your potential.”

Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame

What: 41st Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony

When/Where: July 28 at the Lansing Center; dinner is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6:45. 

Admission: $35 (Reserved seating only, no ticket sales at door). Go to lansingsportshalloffame.org or call Bob Every at 484-0677.

Sponsors: Magic Johnson Enterprises, Dean Transportation, Auto Owner Insurance , Applegate Home Comfort, Dan Henry Distributing and Two Men And A Truck.

Race fundraiser: The Run for Fame 5K/10K Run/Walk will be July 31 in Lansing. Entry details at playmakers.com.

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.