Jasmine Hines is one of the most powerful girls in high school basketball and she has combined her physical strength with surprising athletic ability to become Michigan's all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
The 6-foot-3 senior's eighth point during a 71-34 rout for
Central Lake (Mich.) over Inland Lakes (Indian River, Mich.) broke the state record of 2,732 points, which was held by Stephanie Hass of Harbor Light Christian (Harbor Springs, Mich.).
Jasmine Hines of Central Lake High.
Photo by Jim Schoensee
One week earlier she had eclipsed the state record for rebounds, 1,533, which was held by Liz Shimek of Maple City Glen Lake.
"Of course, it feels great," Hines said of her impressive records. "It's such a relief to have it over and done with. Everybody was always talking about it. It definitely was overwhelming at times."
Hines can bench press 200 pounds and squat 300 pounds. She also can run a quarter-mile in one minute, six seconds. She is the defending state champion in the shot put and led the volleyball team in kills – several times knocking an opponent to the floor with the force of her hits.
Central Lake athletic director Quinn Barry, who also coaches the girls JV basketball team, described just how strong Hines is when he recalled a day that they both were working out in the gym. One would lay flat on the floor, catch a 14-pound medicine ball and throw it back to the person standing up.
"She hit the ceiling tile (9 ½ feet) and I could barely throw it to her hands," he said, more amazed than embarrassed. "Her physical strength is phenomenal. For our size school (140 students in grades 9-12) she is a one-time-in-life player. She's truly one of the elite players in the country."
Central Lake coach Al Becker pointed out how her strength translates on the basketball court.
"She can grab a rebound and throw it all the way down the floor where a girl doesn't have to dribble (to get a layup)," he described. "Nobody is better driving to the basket. Nobody is going to step in her way. She only averages two fouls a game. She's very light on her feet and very disciplined."
Having played four sports at one time or another, Hines says, "I guess I'm really athletic in whatever sports I play. I catch on quickly. I'm competitive in everything I do."
Her legend was launched when she scored a prolific 72 points in a game as a 5-foot-5 fifth grader. That's the same year Becker made her his varsity manager.
"She was probably one of the better ones I've ever had," he noted. "I could give her stats (to keep) and she would be right on the money."
Becker took Hines - who was 5-11 by then - to a varsity team camp in Gaylord, Mich., when she was an eighth grader – one year before she would be eligible for the high school.
"She was the talk of the team camp," he recalled. "I finally had to pull her out because my kids were starting to depend on her."
Hines calls the camp experience a big turning point in her career because even though she was impressive she realized how much work was ahead to meet tougher competition. She said she spent that summer in the gym and her work ethic obviously has paid off.
She poured in 31 points during her varsity debut as a freshman and has been a dominant player for four years. Entering this week the Trojans have an 18-0 record and are the No. 1-ranked Class D team in the state.
Hines, who is averaging 28.8 points and 15.6 rebounds, says her immediate goal is to help her team win the state title. If she does, then she also is going to beat the state career scoring and rebounding records held by boys.
She is co-valedictorian in her class with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has signed with Michigan State University where she plans to major in sports medicine.
Despite her fame, she is quite humble. Barry says, "I think the limelight bugs her sometimes. She just wants to be one of the kids."
When Hines graduates, she will leave a tremendous legacy at Central Lake and even the surrounding area. Barry paints the picture when he relates, "Kids from opposing teams in our league - after games - take pictures of her and get her autograph. We've gotten a lot of mileage out of that, not just with our girls but also with our boys."
* National Player of the Year candidate
Elizabeth Williams (6-3) had 37 points, a career-high 32 rebounds and 12 blocks as once-beaten Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.) rolled past Salem (Va.), 65-38.
*
Kristina Higgins, a 6-4 junior, has committed to Baylor University, according to the El Paso Times. She is averaging 18 points and 10.3 rebounds for Chapin (El Paso, Texas).
* The University of Tennessee has received a commitment from 6-1 junior
Jasmine Jones of Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), according to the Huntsville Times.
* Kaylah Keys scored 40 points – including her team's final 12 - as
Harding Academy (Memphis, Tenn.) defeated University (Jackson, Tenn.), 55-49, in overtime.
*
Pope John Paul II (Hendersonville, Tenn.) nipped Father Ryan (Nashville, Tenn.), 69-64, in double overtime behind
Sarah Galvin's school-record 46 points.
*
Laquanda Younger scored 40 points as Warwick (Newport News, Va.) defeated Hampton (Va.), 66-60.
* Brilliant Mt. Carmel (Ill.) freshman guard
Tyra Buss completed her season with 1,029 points – one of the top five totals in state history.
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