Make sure to pack French/English dictionary. Check.

Put toothbrush in the suitcase. Check.

End that pesky search for the right college. Check.

St. Charles North senior-to-be Kelsey Smith insists that choosing a school to continue her basketball career wasn’t on her to-do list before departing for Europe. It just worked out that way.

The 6-foot-4 center decided last weekend that Michigan State was the right school for her as a result of a conversation with her father, former North Stars boys basketball coach Mark Smith.

“I definitely wanted to make (a decision) by June or July,” Smith said. “I came home from practice the other day with my dad, and we were talking. He said, ‘You’ll know when you’re ready.’ And I said, ‘I think I am.’ I’d done all I could (to look into the schools), but it wasn’t like I had to do that before I could go.”

She chose Michigan State University over Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin. She also visited Ohio State University, the University of Illinois, the University of Notre Dame, DePaul University and the University of Iowa.

“My top three were really even,” Smith said. “Any of the three would be a great choice. I did a lot of research, then I decided to go with my gut.”

Smith was in Europe to play for a national club team called Blue Star Select. The all-area player of the year scored 11 points in a pool-play game against Croatia. The U.S. lost all four of its games in the tournament in Reze, France against national teams from Poland, Croatia, Lithuania and France.

“This is an opportunity 99.9 percent of girls don’t get,” St. Charles North coach Katie Sauber said, “to go (overseas) and see a whole different level of competition.”

The trip was organized by Mike Flynn, who runs girls basketball camps and showcase events throughout the United States. Smith attended one of Flynn’s camps a few years ago and was invited to join the national team. She said there was no scheduling conflict with her Amateur Athletic Union team, the Illinois Hustle.

“I’m really excited,” she said before the trip. “Obviously, I don’t know anything about the teams. They have this tournament every few years. Every country’s national team is going to be there. It’s should be pretty good.”

Michigan State posted a 23-14 record and reached the WNIT tournament championship game last year in its first season under former Eastern Michigan coach Suzy Merchant.

“I’m definitely happy with my choice,” Smith said. “I wanted to go to a program where they expected to win a national championship and go to a Final Four. I would love to be in that type of program. I think I’m going to push them and they’re going to push me.”

 
Michigan State has had a good track record of developing post players and power forwards, especially under previous coach Joanne McCallie. The Spartans’ starting center, 6-9 junior Allyssa DeHaan, was an all-Big Ten pick last year. Forward Liz Shimek, a 2006 graduate, was an all-American.

“They’ve always been a team that played inside-out,” Smith said. “That really sparked my interest.”

Sauber said the program sounded like a good fit for Smith. Both the North Stars standout and her coach pointed out that the opportunity to practice against DeHaan would be valuable.

“Kelsey isn’t becoming a (NCAA) Division I player for nothing,” Sauber said. “Her determination and work ethic have gotten her to where she’s at. Playing against DeHaan will make her better. Hopefully, she can also be a role model for Kelse. Those Michigan State coaches are phenomenal. They’ll be able to help her a lot.”

The coach agreed that Smith couldn’t have gone wrong in choosing any of her final three schools. She also expects that committing early will facilitate Smith having an outstanding senior season.

“This is nice,” Sauber said. “Kelse is going into her senior year with a lot of weight off her shoulders.”