Triggs earns All-American honor

Most prep basketball fans already knew that Thibodaux High School standout guard Jewel Triggs was one of the best players in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

A reputable hoops entity thinks that she’s even better than that. They think that she’s one of the top three seniors in Louisiana and one of the Top 330 players in the entire United States.

Triggs was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game this week – the prestigious prep basketball game that annually honors a who’s who of the most elite high school seniors around the country.

Triggs joins Salmen senior Kalani Brown and Scotlandville Magnet standout Celica Sterling as the lone nominees from Louisiana – three of 331 girls chosen around the country.

Triggs said it’s an honor and a blessing to be chosen, touting that it’s a sign that the hard work she’s put in throughout her career has been worth it.

“It’s a really big accomplishment for me,” Triggs said. “I’m really honored to be in this position. I can see now why my coaches and parents told me to work hard and that if I did, it would all pay off. As a young kid playing basketball, I never really thought about things like this, but I always took the sport very seriously and I think that’s what was able to get me here today.”

For Triggs, the honor validates her distinction as one of the most versatile players in Louisiana.

Offensively, Triggs has solidified herself as a tough guard – a player capable of scoring in many different ways throughout the game.

Standing 5-feet, 11-inches, Triggs has a rare skillset that allows her to hit outside shots, penetrate the lane and finish while there. Once in the paint, she has the ability to rebound at a high level, and she’s also a gifted passer who can kick the ball to the perimeter if the defense collapses at the right angle.

On the defensive end of the floor, Triggs can guard all five positions – an asset that made her valuable to several colleges who fought for her signature – a list including offers from Nicholls, Seton Hall, UL-Monroe, Alabama, New Mexico and Arkansas Little-Rock, among others.

Triggs also generated letters and interest from SEC schools and major conference universities.

But in the end, it was George Mason that won her services for the future because of the home-like atmosphere she said she experienced while visiting the program and getting to know the program’s coaches. Triggs will enroll with the team in the upcoming fall season.

Lady Tigers coach Damon Robinson said the reason Triggs is successful is because she’s one of the hardest-working players he’s seen in his career as coach.

“She puts in the time, man – that’s why we’re so happy for her,” Robinson said earlier this season. “Jewel is one of our leaders. She’s well liked, and she’s someone that we can count on to come in here and work every day. She’s a versatile player who can do a lot of the things on the basketball floor to help a team win.”

So with the honor officially on her resume, Triggs said her goal now is to finish the 2014-15 season with a bang so that she can put herself in the best possible position to help her team win – and in turn, better her odds to be selected for the McDonald’s All-American Game – a contest that honors the best 20-30 prep players in America.

The Lady Tigers currently sit at 12-6 on the season with a 5-1 mark in district play. In their latest game, they soundly defeated Terrebonne on the road. That win got amends for the team’s 37-30 loss against district powerhouse Destrehan last Tuesday night.

It was the only time so far in district that the Lady Wildcats have been challenged. They defeated H.L. Bourgeois by 57, Terrebonne by 68 and East St. John by 41 in their other three district wins.

Triggs and the Lady Tigers reached the Second Round of the Class 5A State Playoffs, but they feel like they can attain more in her last go-round.

She said that she wants to make sure that the Lady Tigers win their final game of her high school career.

“This year, we want to go even deeper – that’s our goal,” Triggs said in the preseason. “We think we have everything that it takes to be one of the last teams standing.

“My goals going forward are to win district, win some playoff games and make it to the state championship.”