Nicole Kaczmarski, then and now

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski had her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski, here with her mother Maryann Gutowski, had her jersyey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski with her mother Maryann Gutowski and her Brother Jarrett. Kaczmarski had her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski has her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski reacts tearfully to her retired jersey being unveiled on the wall. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski has her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski has her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Former Sachem basketball star Nicole Kaczmarski has her jersey number (23) retired in a ceremony during a game between Sachem East and Sachem North. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Sachem's Nicole Kaczmarski in her final game of the season against Patchogue Medford. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Sachem's Nicole Kaczmarski had her jersey number retired before a basketball game between Sachem East and Sachem North.

Sachem's Nicole Kaczmarski. (Jan. 7, 2012)

Sachem's 23 Nicole Kaczmarski in her final game of the season against Patchogue Medford .

Sachem's Nicole Kaczmarski was the first girls basketball player to pack gymnasiums all across Long Island. (File photo, 1999)