Photo credit: Breeze file photo
Jazmon Gwathmey, a 2016 JMU graduate, was one of the best players to come through JMU’s women’s basketball program and recently helped the Puerto Rican Women’s National team qualify for its first Olympic games.
“It still hasn’t really hit me that I’m going to the Olympics,” Gwathmey said. “My dream was just to play [in the] WNBA. That was the biggest stage I wanted to put myself on.”
Puerto Rico lost two of its three qualifying games, beating only Brazil. However, the team was guaranteed a spot in the Olympics when Brazil lost to Australia. Gwathmey scored 51 points during the three qualifying games, 30 of which were scored against Australia on Feb. 8.
Gwathmey’s 30 points against Australia — a game her team ultimately lost, 100-74 — were more than twice as many points scored by her teammates and almost half of the team’s total points for the game. FIBA named her the top performer for Puerto Rico during the game.
JMU head coach Sean O’Regan, who was the associate head coach when Gwathmey was on the team, said he's extremely proud of Gwathmey’s success. He said Gwathmey was always willing to work hard and had the drive and openness to get better.
“There's no better, more deserving player to have this happen,” O’Regan said. “It’s just a really cool thing for her to be a big part of [Puerto Rico qualifying for the first time.]”
Gwathmey was one of the top-ranked players on the Puerto Rican national team in terms of her performance during qualifiers. She ranked No. 1 in points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game. The International Basketball Association also rated Gwathmey as the top performer in efficiency per game at +26.
“I think [this Olympics experience] is gonna do wonders for her,” Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks, who coached Gwathmey at JMU, said.
Brooks said he knew Gwathmey had a bright future ahead of her and would go far in her career. After Precious Hall tore her ACL and was unable to play during their senior season, Brooks said Gwathmey stepped up to fill Hall’s shoes and lead the team.
“That year, I don’t think I’ve seen a more dominant year than [Gwathmey] had her senior year,” Brooks said.
Brooks said he frequently worked with Gwathmey one-on-one during her freshman year to help her hone in on her skills and become the most talented player on the team.
From her 2012-13 season as a redshirt freshman, Gwathmey proved Brooks right. She led the team in blocked shots, was named CAA Rookie of the Week and made the CAA team.
Gwathmey continued to dominate in the conference during her time at JMU. She was named the CAA Championship Most Outstanding Player her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She also ranks high in the JMU history books, sitting at No. 2 in career blocks, No. 8 in career points, No. 14 in career rebounds and No. 12 in career 3-pointers, among many other career statistics she accumulated.
“She always wanted to continue to strive to get better and better and better,” Brooks said. “She taught me what the epitome of a student-athlete is.”
Gwathmey said she learned more about basketball playing under Brooks. She credits him with teaching her patience and said she appreciates the attention he gave her that went above and beyond what was required. The availability and hands-on coaching that Brooks provided, she said, isn’t as common in professional basketball.
“I wish I was still playing for him,” Gwathmey said. “I wish he was traveling with me, and I could just take him with me and take him to every team I play with.”
Brooks and Gwathmey both expressed similar beliefs that she has yet to reach her full potential.
“I’m at 70% of my potential, I have a lot more room to grow.”
Gwathmey will show off her skills on a global stage when she and the Puerto Rican National Team travel to Tokyo for the Summer 2020 Olympics.
Story originally published by The Breeze.
Comments