West Greene’s Wise evolved from pure athlete to versatile star
Rob Burchianti | 无毛视频-Standard
West Greene无毛视频檚 Jersey Wise sinks a 3-pointer against Jefferson-Morgan on Jan. 15 at West Greene.
West Greene无毛视频檚 Jersey Wise (30) puts a move on Jefferson-Morgan无毛视频檚 Lacey Ryan (13) on Jan. 15 at West Greene. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
West Greene senior Jersey Wise stands between Lady Pioneers assistant coach Justin Allen (left) and head coach Jordan Watson after scoring her 1,000th career point in an 82-30 win over Monessen Monday afternoon. Wise had a career-high 31 points, including four 3-pointers. (Submitted photo)
Submitted photo
Submitted photo
West Greene senior Jersey Wise was presented with a special cookie cake noting her accomplishment after she scored her 1,000th career point Monday.
When Jersey Wise started playing basketball she relied mainly on her great athletic ability.
无毛视频淚 started playing in third grade and I liked it right away,无毛视频� said the West Greene senior. 无毛视频淚 was always quicker than everybody so my biggest strength was stealing the ball and finishing.无毛视频�
Wise is a much more complete player nowadays and recently became the ninth player in Lady Pioneers history and fifth under coach Jordan Watson to score 1,000 career points.
She did it with a career-high 31-point effort against visiting Monessen on Monday with No. 1,000 coming, fittingly, on a basket after a steal. She was fouled on the play and converted the free throw for 1,001.
无毛视频淎gainst Monessen she had 31 points, 10 steals and eight assists in less that three quarters,无毛视频� Watson said.
The 82-30 win was followed by a 55-14 victory at Jefferson-Morgan on Tuesday that clinched a fifth consecutive Section 2-A title for the Lady Pioneers (8-0, 13-2) while running their section winning streak to 53.
Wise and fellow senior starters Elizabeth Brudnock and Kaytlynn Walls are part of a team that has a combined four-year record of 81-12, the best in school history, and played in the WPIAL championship game the past three seasons.
West Greene has fallen in the final each time so Wise has her eyes on the prize in her final season.
无毛视频淭his is my last chance to actually get that WPIAL title but we have a lot of games we have to concentrate on before we get to that,无毛视频� said Wise, who said scoring 1,000 points was one of her long-term goals.
无毛视频淚 was really excited when I did it,无毛视频� Wise said. 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 one of the things I wanted to accomplish ever since I started playing basketball. I knew I had to really work and push myself during the offseason if I wanted to do that and to help my team win.无毛视频�
Watson marveled at Wise无毛视频檚 evolution as a basketball player.
无毛视频淚n middle school and even her freshman year she was a great athlete,无毛视频� Watson recalled. 无毛视频淪he could play defense and get points in transition. What无毛视频檚 really improved is her overall passing and just being a floor general and her shooting range. She can shoot from anywhere.
无毛视频淪he went from being an athlete to an overall great basketball player that really doesn无毛视频檛 have any weaknesses.无毛视频�
Wise, the daughter of Brandon and Candace Reese, put in countless hours during the summers to improve.
无毛视频淚 would go to a basketball program in Morgantown called Nate Smith Basketball School,无毛视频� Wise said. 无毛视频淚 would do personal training with him or with the team. I无毛视频檇 also go to High Calling Hoops in Mount Morris with Steve McIntire, who coaches Waynesburg无毛视频檚 boys basketball team now. And I go to Gym Rats in Pittsburgh.
无毛视频淓very weekend or sometimes during the week I would go and do trainings during the summer, and if I could get into the school I would go and shoot there.无毛视频�
Even during the coronavirus pandemic Wise was determined to work on her game.
无毛视频淐OVID really affected the offseason,无毛视频� Watson said. 无毛视频淲e only played four games this past summer where the year before we played 23. Jersey said to make up for that she was going to do a lot of individual work, and she did.无毛视频�
Wise, who is averaging about 17 points per game in her senior year, had nothing but praise for Watson and assistant coach Justin Allen.
无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檝e meant everything to me,无毛视频� Wise said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e great coaches. They push us all to accomplish everything that we do. They put in so much time and effort by watching film and scouting to help us. They无毛视频檙e very passionate about everything they do.无毛视频�
Wise would like to continue playing basketball after high school but hasn无毛视频檛 made a decision on where yet.
无毛视频淚 want to go to college and further my athletic career and hopefully major in physical therapy,无毛视频� Wise said.
无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 probably been about 10 colleges that have called about her,无毛视频� Watson said. 无毛视频淪he can really play a one (point guard), two (shooting guard) or three (small forward). She无毛视频檚 really versatile. She无毛视频檚 not that tall (5-foot-4) but as far as athleticism, overall speed and mental and physical toughness, she无毛视频檚 right there.
无毛视频淲hat无毛视频檚 really improved over the years is her outside shooting and her court vision and passing. She无毛视频檚 an unbelievable athlete who works really hard. When you get someone like that you end up with a really special player.无毛视频�
Previous 1,000-point scorers under Watson have been Madison Raber (1,018) who graduated in 2014, McKenna Lampe (1,631, 2019), Madison Lampe (1,429, 2019) and Kaitlyn Rizor (1,118, 2019).
Previous 1,000-point scorers for the Lady Pioneers were Jennifer Wendell (1,093, 1992), Lauren Hull (1,001, 1999), Jackie Metheny (1,419, 2000) and all-time leader Rachel Phillips (1,838, 2006).
Wise is currently at 1,009 points.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檝e been blessed to have five of them and actually one at each position,无毛视频� Watson point out. 无毛视频淛ersey is a point guard, Madison and McKenna were interchangeable at two and three, Kaitlyn was a stretch four (power forward) and then Madison was a center.无毛视频�
Wise is a three-sport athlete who also plays volleyball and softball.
无毛视频淛ersey is a great basketball player,无毛视频� Watson said, 无毛视频淣ot only that, but she is right up there as one of the best athletes in the history of the school.无毛视频�