ANDERSON — Although bystanders would attribute Anderson Indians’ basketball standout Jasmine McGhee’s success to her outstanding personal ability, she would be the last to do so.
With a “team first” mentality, McGhee puts her teammates before herself all while helping push her team to victory.
In the Indians’ recent cross-town rivalry Wednesday night against Highland, they pulled out a 60-51 victory with McGhee scoring 16 points in the second half to spark the intensity.
“Jasmine came out and played with heart, passion, and determination,” said Coach Randy Harrison. “She really used all of her athletic ability to put herself into positions to score the points, to get the key rebounds, and to make the key defensive plays in order to help our team win.”
McGhee, who says she had a slow start, wanted to make her mark as a senior in the important game.
“The first couple quarters I didn’t really feel well, but then I came out and thought to myself that it was my last year and I had to leave my mark,” said McGhee.
Although Harrison is a new coach to McGhee, she has taken quickly to him and has been focused on working hard to win.
“I think I am able to be successful because I listen to my coaches,” said McGhee. “I have had a lot of coaching over the years, not just coaching from the staff, but from my dad and other people who have corrected me and helped me out a little bit.”
McGhee’s natural skills along with her ability to be coached has led her to be one of the leading scorers for Anderson. Although she has been successful and is a very versatile player, she is determined to improve her game even more. Harrison and McGhee are focused on her left hand dribbling ability and going to the basket stronger.
“One of the things we are getting her to do a little better is going to the hoop. She loves the jumper and can knock down a good number of three-pointers. But we have been working on her taking the ball to a basket a little more,” said Harrison.
“Another thing I am forcing her to work on is being stronger with her left-hand dribbling. Once she gets that, she will be unstoppable because of all her other athletic ability,” the coach said.
McGhee is motivated by the love of the game and looks at each game as a challenge, but still has long-term goals. “I want to go to college to play basketball and I want to coach basketball some day,” said McGhee. “I would say I want to go pro, but that is everybody’s dream.”
As a senior, McGhee has picked up the leadership role for her team and has become more vocal in order to get her fellow players motivated for games.
“We’ve been looking for someone to do that and she has been able to lead by example and as well as vocally,” said Harrison. “She’s playing through pain and just keeps the girls motivated and focused. I really admire her for doing that and stepping out of her comfort zone and becoming more of a leader. She is a great kid.”
While McGhee might have the future in the back of her mind, she is playing in the moment. For now, McGhee is practicing and determined to take her team to state and Harrison is enjoying having an all-star player on his team.
“She is a very good student-athlete,” said Harrison. “If every student-athlete with her ability worked like she did and was the same type of student citizen that she is, then Anderson High School athletics, from tennis to boys football, would be recommended throughout the state if not the Midwest, as one of the most quality high schools for athletics.
He said, “She is a great kid who will work hard in the classroom, who cares about her grades, and wants to succeed not only in basketball and in the classroom but in life.”
Sports
Athlete of The Week: AHS' Jasmine McGhee
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