Kellie Harper received high praise from the second she set foot in Springfield.
In fact, the praise couldn't have come from someone more highly thought of in women's basketball history. It came from her former head coach — legendary Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Pat Summitt.
"As a player at the University of Tennessee, Kellie showed great leadership, poise and dedication," the late Summitt said in a statement in April 2013. "She knows the game of basketball. She is an excellent teacher, and her passion for the game is infectious. She will bring all this to Missouri State.