Sharnecce Currie-Jelks + Jakai Newton: The Comeback Kids
Remember back in the 2022-2023 season when Sharnecce Currie-Jelks put up a whopping 15.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG and 1.0 BPG on 53.9% shooting from the field in 28 games as a true freshman at UT-Martin? What about when Jakai Newton came to Bloomington as a consensus 4-star prospect a year ago?
We have gone into prior detail of Newton's potential to breakout this season following a setback (injury), so today we are giving SCJ her well-deserved flowers for her perseverance as she returns to basketball action following the birth of her first child. Things of that nature go way beyond the basketball court and bestow far more significance in terms of priorities. We are extremely excited for her as she embraces arguably the greatest gift life has to offer: parenthood.
Given the major personal matters she was involved in, it goes without saying that Currie-Jelks did not have a true chance to showcase her skillset during her sophomore campaign as a Hoosier. Nonetheless, the elite level of performance which she produced in her most recent season on the floor as a Skyhawk should have Indiana fans eager for her return to action. The 2022-2023 OVC Freshman of the Year brings an endless source of energy and fearless grit to this rotation.
Firmly entrenched within a sneaky crowded frontcourt rotation, SCJ (like her fellow frontcourt mates) has a lot of work to do to win floor time in the season ahead. Karoline Striplin should hypothetically slot into the starting center spot to begin the season, but how does Teri Moren go about allocating the rest of the frontcourt minutes off the pine?
Lilly Meister should see a steady dosage of minutes, at least early on. Plus, the buzz behind incoming freshman Faith Wiseman indicate at least a little bit of floor time. Not to mention her fellow 6'3" incoming freshman big Sydney Fenn, who similarly brings a lot to the table on both ends of the floor.
It will take a collective village to reciprocate the type of output that this team lost in the form of Mackenzie Holmes. All of the aforementioned names will serve integral roles, and will surely make an impact doing the little things around the teams returning core. SCJ could feasibly be the one from the bench bunch to break out and establish a larger role. Shoot.. it would not be maniacal to forecast her forcing her way into the starting unit by the end of the season?
We have seen the type of dominance that Sharnecce Currie-Jelks can exude playing the game that she loves at this level. Imagine how much more motivation SCJ will have now playing on the court while her child witnesses her excellence from off the court.
GOOSEBUMPS.
Keep going, Sharnecce!