Before Sylvia Fowles could speak on Saturday, she first had to fight back some tears and shake off some nervous jitters.

Only then could the LSU women's basketball great relay her Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech — a six-minute message of gratitude directed toward all the people who helped her shine on the high school, college, professional and international stages of basketball.

"I'm standing here tonight," Fowles said, "because of the life-changing people God has placed along my life."

On Saturday, Fowles became the eighth LSU player or coach enshrined into the Naismith Hall of Fame. She was chosen on the first ballot, selected as part of a class that included other greats such as Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.

LSU reached th

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