Jasmine Peeples has a curiosity that engages in various interests.
When she sets her mind on something, the junior women’s basketball player from Selma is focused on achieving that goal in a speedy manner.
Peeples is not a person who waits for something to happen to her.
Rather, she’s the one to make it happen.
It’s that approach that has caused her to blossom into one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s most formidable players this season for the Lady Hornets.
The center is among the conference leaders in seven categories. The center is among the conference leaders in seven categories. Peeples ranks in the top 10 in the SWAC with 9.1 rebounds (first), 3.3 offensive rebounds (third), 5.8 defensive rebounds (first), 3.5 blocks (first), while shooting at .430 percent from the field goal (eighth) and
.571 percent from the free throw line (eighth). She ranks just outside the top 10 in points with 10.2 (13th).
It’s also that same drive that earned her an earlier than typical graduation with a degree in communications and public relations as she walked to receive her diploma on Friday, Dec. 12 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome during fall commencement exercises.
Peeples set her educational route on the fast track from an early age, taking accelerated courses in high school, reading as much as she could, absorbing knowledge, and eventually taking college credits during her senior year of high school.
“I would read other books in class because I felt the classes were too easy,” Peeples admitted.
In order to challenge herself, she followed in her elder sister’s footsteps by enrolling in early college courses at nearby George Wallace State Community College while still attending Selma High School in Selma.
Taking high school classes mainly in the mornings and college courses later in the day, Peeples proved to be an apt pupil by gaining valuable credit hours. Her ambitious path continued when she enrolled at Alabama State University—all the way to her early graduation.
Her eligibility is still valid for another year and a half, however, so she does plan on returning to the court next season for her senior year at ASU. While she’s here, she’ll pursue her Master’s Degree in Applied Technology.
Basketball wasn’t her first love. Peeples was more of a tennis and softball player at a younger age. But her interests widened and she took to basketball at a rather late stage in her life during the ninth grade.
Her height advantage (now 6-foot-2) aided her in becoming a natural fit and within two years, Peeples was picking up on the nuances of the game playing on the low block.
Armed with much more discipline and schooled as a fundamental player, Peeples joined the starting lineup this season.
“I knew it was going to be up to me to step up my game this year,” Peeples said. “I was going to be the starting center. I was playing behind an older player [and fellow 2014 fall graduate Quintori Alford] last season, so I knew that I had become a more serious player. I decided that I should focus more on defense. I had to work on not fouling as much so I could stay in the game. And, if I got the chance to score, I would score.”
One of the team’s main goals behind the tutelage of coach Freda Freeman-Jackson is to play hard-nosed defense.
Peeples knew she would be afforded more playing time and would be a larger asset to the team if she could be tough in the post, so she worked out more in the weight room.
“I didn’t take weights that seriously until this past summer,” she said. “I wanted to get stronger and get tougher so I could match up against bigger centers and handle them. I started working on my arms and working on my vertical jump by doing the box jumps. I would do sets of 25 or 50. My cardio was pretty good but I wanted it to be better.”
The results have been highly noticeable. Peeples has been the strongest defender of the Hornets’ nest in the paint against opposing teams, squatting away a SWAC league high 3.5 blocks per game. To gain perspective, the second-ranked player in the conference for blocks is Shamiya Brooks of Prairie View A&M, who has just 1.4 blocks per contest.
With adjustments made in her blocking technique and the positioning of her body, Peeples has transformed herself into a rim protector for the Lady Hornets. Watching NBA games, she took note of what bigs like Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks were doing on the court.
“In the past, I would get called for fouls a lot more,” Peeples said. “I’ve tried not to swing down as much and I’ve become more disciplined. I had to stay straight up. Basically, it comes right to me and now I just time it. My timing is way better. It’s a great feeling [to get a block]. They’ll either slow down the next time down or they’ll pass back out.”
Freeman-Jackson and the other coaches on staff have now stressed to Peeples that she needs to be more aggressive in getting her shots. But, the fact that she is beginning to receive more attention from opponents and is drawing more fouls is proof that she is an improved offensive player.
“She’s quick, she can get to the basket, and she can score,” Freeman-Jackson said. “Quintori Alford was more of a physical post. Jasmine is very athletic and more of a finesse post, but you can still accomplish the same things. She has springs in her legs and is so quick off her feet.”
The shot-blocking ability of Peeples is something that she continues to refine and show improvement.
“During the first two games of the season, she got into foul trouble,” Freeman-Jackson said. “But now, she’s made up her mind that she wasn’t going to let that happen. She means a lot to the team. It’s night and day when she’s on the floor, so she concentrating on how to stay on the floor. I think she’s going to be a superb player for us if she gets just a little bit more consistent. I’m so glad that we are still going to have her here and I’m so proud of her for getting a degree and working on another.”
Peeples said she gets a boost of motivation from her mother, who will shoot her text messages of encouragement if she feels like she’s not playing her best.
“She’ll send me a random text message especially if I’m on the road and tell me that, ‘You know you’re good and nobody can play with you,’” Peeples said. “And, our team is really close enough to critique each other. We can also pick each other up.”
Career wise, she hopes to one day open her own sports agency. She likes writing, marketing, public relations, selling and creating designs. Peeples wants to stay involved in sports even after she’s done playing and is looking to combine her loves into one.
Over this past summer, she had an internship with a Montgomery Public Relations firm called 24 Communication Systems, an award-winning agency run by Jennifer Solt and Callie Hincy. The company has worked on everything from brand designing to advertising. The firm also has worked on marketing campaigns for sports.
Since Peeples has family in both the Washington D.C. and Houston areas, she is interested in working in both cities.
“I’d like to be in Sports PR, represent players and make them look good,” she said. “Manage them and help players who are making bad choices and help them keep their head straight.”
As for this season, Peeples said that she is most comfortable in a home game setting at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, mentioning that the stage is one she thrives to be on.
“Playing in the dome is really fun,” Peeples said. “The atmosphere is alive and the fans are diehard. I feel like it’s always a big stage setting because of the way it’s built. It’s everything. From the announcers to the place being big and loud, it has the feel of a tournament or championship atmosphere. I like playing on big stages and against top teams. I never want to feel bad about the game later on, so I just put forth the effort when it’s time.”
