TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Two months ago, FAMU DRS grad Jazmine Jones was taken 12th overall in the WNBA Draft and, in 10 days, she'll head to New York to begin her professional basketball journey with the Liberty. Until then, she's training where it all began, in Tallahassee.
"I love Tallahassee," said Jones.
Jones has been a role model long before she became a professional basketball player. And now, the same kids looking up to her are the ones helping her prepare for her next chapter.
"Just get better going against boys too," said Jones. "It's just making me tougher and making me better every single day. It's just a blessing that I have these connections to be able to do these certain things. Not many people have access to a gym and can put up shots everyday like I can."
"A lot of them get the chance to see what she does, watch her work ethic, see how she carries herself and see her demeanor, her professionalism," said Dimitric Salters, the head basketball coach at Munroe Day School. "That's really good for us."
Good for everyone, and for Jones, there's no where else she'd rather be.
"This is exactly what I want, it's what I've been dreaming of since I was a little kid," Jones said. "Just to see everything come to fruition and knowing that hard work really pays off. The sky is literally the limit. No matter what, don't give up and just keep reaching your goals."
That's a message she wants to make sure she's passing along.
"Being around kids who I know have the aspirations and dreams of making it to the next level," said Jones. "Now being a professional athlete, it's just like, I have eyes on me everywhere I go, so I have to continue being that positive role model."
All eyes on her right where it all began, in Tallahassee.
Jones said she's working out twice a day until she leaves on June 20 to join her teammates.
Jones is one of six rookies on the Liberty, a group that includes number one overall pick Sabrina Ionescu.
Jones said she's either played with or against the other five rookies, so they're all familiar with each other, but she's ready to meet them face to face and get to work.
"All six of the rookies, we all come on the twentieth, so just to get in the gym with each other and feed off each others energy on the court," said Jones, "just making connections and just learning more about each other off the court, too, as well. That's what I think is very important to me as well is building relationships off the court. Once you do that, the other on the court stuff will come easy."
Jones said the Liberty's management has been very supportive. It is also the only WNBA team to keep all rookies that made the final roster.
