EAST LANSING -- It was apparent after rejecting 145 shots as a freshman that Michigan State’s Allyssa DeHaan would challenge the NCAA Division I record for block shots in a career.
After that season, Rick Berkey, MSU women’s basketball radio announcer, felt it was the appropriate time to give DeHaan a nickname that refers to her shot blocking abilities.
“I thought that if she was going to be No. 1, she should be proclaimed the ruler over all in blocks and since I’m big on alliterations -- ‘Ruler of Rejection’ seemed a good fit,” Berkey said. “It did catch on with listeners because I have had people ask me periodically about the ‘Ruler of Rejection.’
“I hope she gets the record -- even if it’s just momentarily. She’s done a lot of good for that program and she’s an even better person than player.”
The 6-foot-9 DeHaan, now a senior, needs just two blocks to become the NCAA all-time career leader.
But on her heels to surpass the mark Sandora Irvin of Texas Christian University set in 2005 is Louella Tomlinson, a 6-4 junior forward at Saint Mary’s College in California. The Melbourne, Australia, native trails DeHaan by just one block.
DeHaan will have the first opportunity to become the all-time leader, though, when the Spartans play at Michigan on Thursday night. Three hours later on the West Coast, Saint Mary’s will host Gonzaga.
That means both players can trade the mantle until the end of the season. But Tomlinson is only a junior, so she has a chance to stand alone season.
In the wings is the University of Baylor’s Brittney Griner, a physical 6-8 freshman center who already has 133 blocks (averaging 6.0 per game) this season.
Michigan State will travel to Waco, Texas next season to face Griner, and Baylor will take on the Spartans in East Lansing during the 2011-12 season.
For DeHaan, height surely has helped her become one of the best shot blockers in NCAA history, but there’s more to it than being tall.
“It’s a gift and a lot of it is natural instinct, knowing the person you’re defending and where they like to go,” DeHaan said, who three times has blocked nine shots in a game, an MSU’s single-game record.
She set the Big Ten single-season mark with 145 blocks as a freshman only to reject a conference record 150 more as a sophomore.
Last season DeHaan turned away 107 shots and has only 77 blocks this season.
“I would of had more blocks if not for the foot injury (a bout with plantar fasciitis) and the fact many teams pulled me away from the basket,” DeHaan said. “The career block record has been in the back of my mind all season and I will appreciate more probably after my career is done, but it’s a pretty big deal for me now.”
MSU coach Suzy Merchant calls DeHaan a defensive weapon who can play one-on-one in the post without receiving help, a luxury Merchant calls a gift for any head coach.
“There are a lot of quality post players in this league you have to double, but you don’t have to with Allyssa because she alone can cause people problems with her length and her presence,” Merchant said. “Defensively, I think she’s underappreciated a lot. I don’t think they realize the presence of a 6-9 player coming through the lane whether you’re a guard or a post player.
“She has had a number of blocked shots, but what about the ones she has altered and the minds she has gotten into? That’s a statistic that isn’t kept, but helps us every game.”
Fifth-year senior forward Aisha Jefferson has played her entire MSU career with DeHaan and knows first-hand the importance of her presence in the paint.
“When our first line (of defense) breaks down, we always know we have a second option that’s pretty reliable,” Jefferson said. “I’ve learned over the season how to take more chances defensively because I trust Allyssa to be there.
“We mention the block record to her all the time because it’s something that lifts us and something we’re proud of her and proud to say we have a NCAA record holder in blocks on our team.”
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