PREP Q&A WITH DOMINICAN’S JAZMINE YOUNG
WHITEFISH BAY – Jazmine Young has the hot hand. She usually does.
The senior guard had led Dominican to a 9-1 record entering play Tuesday and the No. 3 ranking in both the Associated Press writers and wissports.net coaches state polls for Division 3.
She averages 19.2 points, 5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game. That scoring average is a shade lower than last year’s (20.3), but she has been much more efficient so far this season. Her shooting has improved from 41.6% as a junior to 51.8% as a senior.
The numbers probably put a smile on the face of her family, especially older brothers Najael and Lydell and her father, Dale, who each played a key role in her development as a player.
Najael, a 2012 West Allis Central graduate who helped the Bulldogs win a conference title his senior year, is playing in the G-League for the Santa Cruz Warriors. Lydell trains athletes near his home in Minnesota. Dale was a longtime coach in the area at Urban Day School and with various club programs in Milwaukee.
They helped produce one of the few Division I recruits in the area for the Class of 2018. Young signed to play for Milwaukee Washington graduate Jessica Kern at Tennessee State.
Young spent a couple minutes talking to the Journal Sentinel’s Mark Stewart about her brothers and her plans for the new year and college.
Q. Explain the impact your brothers have had on your development as a player.
A. They had a huge impact on my basketball life. Ever since I was younger, I’ve trained with them, worked out with them. I even worked out with my dad. He used to be a coach, so I was always in the gym. Them growing up and being able to teach me was something special.
Q. What is the best advice your brothers have given to you?
A. The main advice is to be humble. Stay humble and on my team be the best leader I can be to help the younger kids ... to be a good influence.
Q. What are you interested in studying in college?
A. I want to be an athletic trainer. I mainly wanted to stay on the athletic side of things. I didn’t want to go to be a doctor. I wanted to stay in the athletic field.
Q. What can people expect when your team plays?
A. They can expect energy. We have a lot kids on our team who are just ready to hustle, ready to play, have high energy. They’re going to see a team that (gets) up and down. We don’t take no breaks. We’re up and down, (play) defense and have great chemistry.
Q. What is your New Year’s resolution?
A. My main focus is just to become a better person. That is all I want to do and strive to be. I just want to be a good influence on everyone and just be a good person.