College Commitment: Jasmine Gayles (2019 West Seattle HS)

There are multiple reasons as to why players commit and/or sign late into the spring. One of the biggest questions asked by people in the Washington basketball community throughout the fall and winter was "Where and why hasn't Jasmine Gayles signed yet?" Those talks are finally over as the West Seattle 4-year standout has committed to play at the University of Northern Colorado. Jasmine Gayles has done a lot of winning during the course of her high school career. Two of the biggest things I look at in a player is have they been apart of winning teams and how do they help their team win? In Jasmine's 4 years at West Seattle, the Wildcats went 86-25, never winning less than 20 games. How did she help her team win games? A relentless approach to maximizing her own ability. At 5'7, she battled with players a half foot taller than her for rebounds on a consistent basis. It has always been a regular occurrence for Jasmine to grab double digit rebounds and that is a testament to her competitive nature and jumping ability. She has a good handle and gets after it on the defensive end. As with most successful high school players, the jump to Division 1 is not always an easy transition. Jasmine is preparing for the next level by focusing on her ability to "consistently knock down open shots and break down the defense to create opportunities for my teammates and myself." This has included working on new moves and being more creative off the bounce. On the defensive end, getting quicker and stronger are major points of emphasis, as she will be playing bigger and faster players than she saw on a regular basis in high school. Northern Colorado graduates a talented 4-year point guard in Savannah Smith, who brought averages of nearly 24 points and 4 rebounds, while shooting 93% from the foul line. The UNC staff is looking for Jasmine to make an immediate impact and follow in the footsteps of Smith, who led the team to a 21-11 record and WNIT appearance last season. UNC has even bigger goals on the floor and Jasmine is really excited to be apart of the process. The thing that stood out to her the most about UNC was the coaching staff. "They value who we are off the court just as much as on the court and want to see their players succeeding in life." She wanted to be apart of a family atmosphere and this is the culture that Northern Colorado is building. Prep Girls Hoops got the chance to catch up with Jasmine Gayles and ask her a few questions about the recruitment process. Interview:  1) How was the recruitment process for you? And why? "It was a long process for me but I enjoyed it. I really just wanted to make sure I gave myself the opportunity to have the best college experience possible by finding the right fit for me. I was looking for somewhere that had a balance between school and basketball, that felt like home, where I knew I would have a good relationship with my coaches and teammates, and a place I’d be able to make an immediate impact." 2) How would you describe your game? "I’m a point guard but I play bigger than my size. I take pride in always trying to contribute in all aspects so I can’t be completely taken out of my game if one thing isn’t working. I love to rebound and defend and get my teammates involved." 3) Plans for a major? I’m planning to pursue a career in law. I am very fortunate for the life I live, and I’m not blind to the fact that not everyone is able to live comfortably that way. There are people who have seen parts of the world no one should ever have to see in their lifetime. I want to study law so I can be an advocate for the individuals who can’t advocate for themselves. 4) Any shoutouts or people that were the most supportive in your basketball career? The player and person I have become is because of my family, they are the foundation of who I am. It’s been a long process and throughout it all they showed me nothing but unconditional love. They sacrificed a lot for me to get to this point, the support system I have is unparalleled.