“For him to even know who I am, that was mind-blowing,” said Striplin, who was today announced as the Alabama Sports Writers Association Miss Basketball.
Striplin is the 34th Miss Basketball, first selected in 1988, and first from Geneva County. Striplin earned the award, presented by Alfa Insurance, with an impressive list of accomplishments her final season with the Bulldogs.
Striplin recorded a double-double in all 25 games this season with 10 triple-doubles and a quadruple-double. She was among the state leaders in points with 670 (26.8 per game), 420 rebounds (16.8 per game), 154 blocks (6.2 per game), 140 assists (5.6 per game) and 105 steals (4.2 per game).
The 6-foot-3 senior set an AHSAA single-season record, making 44 straight free throws and also had streaks of 22 and 28 straight, converting 87-of-177 total (87 percent).
The Tennessee signee was named Class 2A Player of the Year, was a member of the girls Super All-State team and a four-time selection to the ASWA All-State team.
Striplin is a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee along with Bryant Jordan Scholar Athlete and MVP of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. She was also a McDonald’s All America team nominee.
Striplin was blessed with strong genetics as dad Jim Bob played football at Auburn — he’s the Geneva County football coach — while mom Karie played softball for the Tigers. Both coached their only child throughout her career.
“It wasn’t tough coaching her,” said Karie, the Geneva County girls basketball coach while Jim Bob is an assistant. “She was always receptive of everything put on her. I was always tougher on her than any other kid and the rest of the team fed off that.
“She has always been a leader and she was like my second coach on the floor. She’s vocal, she’s happy and not moody. Those are the things that are appealing about Karoline, the intangibles I see when I look at her.”
When Striplin was 3 years old, doctors told her parents she would be at least 6-foot tall, maybe 6-1, by the time she was 16. Striplin grew to 6 feet as a 12-year-old.
Her first sport was T-ball at a young age, but her parents also enrolled Striplin in dance classes that included ballet, jazz and musical theater about age 7. Jim Bob and Karie wanted to give the younger Striplin all the tools necessary to succeed, particularly working on stability and balance for the tall youngster.
The gregarious Striplin laughs easily remembering the classes, especially a stage production of “Footloose.”
“I might have had like one singing part,” Striplin said. “But it was fun.”
The growing Striplin played various sports, including softball, volleyball, track and field, and basketball.
It was apparent early that Striplin’s future was in basketball.
Her first recreation league basketball came in Enterprise while Jim Bob was the New Brockton football coach. Striplin was asked to play for the boys team and was selected to the all-star team that won its district.
“I knew I liked basketball better than anything else,” Striplin said. “Just playing rec ball a lot and on so many great teams with so many great friendships. In high school we won the state championship when I was in the eighth grade and succeeding like that really lit a spark under me. I realized basketball was something I could excel in and pursue on the next level.”
The 2017 Class 2A state championship was the first and only for the Bulldogs, who were led in the title game by tournament MVP Striplin as eighth grader, coming off the bench. She scored 11 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked seven shots in the title game.
Striplin continued to progress on the court.
Karie said players grow mentally from freshman to sophomore seasons with maturity and skills coming together as a junior. Striplin took that farther as a senior.
“I think this year Karoline did a lot of thinking on the court,” Karie said. “Her thought process had been in the moment in the past, but this year it was very instinctive in knowing what to do. She was three steps ahead of the player in front of her. She really progressed as a player.”
Striplin ended her career with 2,914 points and 2,043 rebounds, only the third player to record 2,000-plus points and rebounds in a career, according to the AHSAA record book.
The relationship with Hodges has continued as the former Indiana State coach attended a game and stays in touch.
Hodges’ Larry Bird compliment spurred Striplin to check out the Indiana State and Boston Celtics star and she became a fan. The family even visited Bird’s hometown of French Lick, Ind.
Striplin watched lots of old Celtics videos during the COVID-19 shutdown last spring. Bird was the focus, particularly his dazzling array of passes.
“I worked really hard on my passing this year,” Striplin said. “I don’t know if my teammates were ready for it, but I wanted to come out and do some Larry Bird type passing. There were definitely a couple of times this year when I made a few of those fancy passes. That was really cool to get to do that.”
The college offers were numerous, 28 in total, including SEC schools Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt along with Oregon, UCLA and more.
There’s a certain symmetry to her college choice of Tennessee. The Vols are coached by Kellie Harper while husband Jon serves as an assistant, much like Karie and Jim Bob coaching Karoline.
“When you’re a young girl growing up watching basketball, Tennessee and UConn are the names you think of and that stuck out for me,” Striplin said. “Coach Kellie Harper played for Pat Summit so that’s a great opportunity for me to get to play for her. When I walked on campus, it felt like home, everybody so welcoming.
“Coach Kellie and coach Jon Harper are husband and wife and I think that will be cool transitioning to that.”
