WHAT HE SAID…
August 16, 2016
Federal judge stays out of laptop fight
August 17, 2016
Last week, Thibodaux native Jewel Triggs didn’t touch a basketball much. Instead, she was laid up in bed after getting her wisdom teeth pulled.
But in the weeks before the routine dental procedure, Triggs was constantly on the grind, looking to build on an already-successful college basketball career.
Triggs is actively preparing for her sophomore season at George Mason University — a year she hopes will be a continuation of a successful freshman campaign that saw the Lady Tigers graduate establish herself as a contributing player for the Lady Patriots.
Triggs said the freshman success was a plus, but she’s hungry for more. She added that the hard work she’s deposited in the offseason will power her as she gets ready to tackle her sophomore season.
“I’m working hard on being more explosive,” Triggs said. “I want to get better at shooting off the dribble. I want to expand my 3-point range more. My goal is to be more of a playmaker on the team and to stay consistent in everything I do and to be a leader on the court.”
For Triggs, basketball success and leadership roles on the floor are somewhat par for the course.
Sports fans in the area have grown accustomed to Triggs being an impact player on the local basketball circuit in recent years — a distinction she’s owned dating back to her freshman year in high school at Vandebilt Catholic.
With the Lady Terriers, Triggs was a key-contributing member for a team that was one of the best in Louisiana.
She later transferred to Thibodaux High School and closed her career with a bang, wowing opponents with the ability to dominate the game on both ends of the floor, while also playing multiple positions.
A 5-foot, 11-inch combo guard, Triggs averaged 18 points, six rebounds and two steals per game as a junior in 2014 — all while leading the Lady Tigers to the Elite Eight in Class 5A.
A year later, Thibodaux didn’t have the same on-court success, but it wasn’t because of Triggs, who remained dominant, averaging 21 points, six rebounds and three steals per game in her senior season — enough to earn a three-star distinction from ESPN.com’s HoopGurls recruiting service.
“She’s a special, special kid,” then-Thibodaux girls’ basketball coach Damon Robinson said during Triggs’ senior season. “She comes in here every day with a good attitude and a willingness to work. She leads by example, never complains and just gets the job done. She’s gifted because she has a great skillset, but also because she’s a really good kid, too.”
Several schools recruited Triggs heavily during her senior season, but she chose George Mason because she said she loved the coaching staff and the university’s commitment to education.
“I love the school and the area,” Triggs said. “Everyone is really nice and I never have to worry about anything. Our coaches take care of us like their own.”
In year one, she showed that she’s more than capable of playing at the college level, too.
As a freshman, Triggs played
all 31 games for the Lady Patriots, serving as one of the team’s top reserves.
Triggs averaged 3.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in the freshman season. But those numbers don’t often reflect the impact Triggs has on a game, because she’s a plus-level defender for George Mason, and she was often used to guard the opponent’s top offensive players.
Triggs said she learned a lot about both life and basketball as a freshman, touting that it was an experience she will always cherish and remember.
She said playing college basketball is something that’s been a life-long goal and dream, and she cherishes the opportunities that have been given to her in the past year.
“This past year has taught me that no challenge is too big if you are passionate about what you’re doing,” Triggs said. “You have to be willing to be disciplined and committed to what your team’s goals are and just trust the process.”
And now, she’s hungry for more.
Triggs said she’s deposited hundreds of hours in the gym during the offseason so that she can be a bigger contributor as a sophomore.
The local standout guard said she wants to broaden her game so that she can make an impact in all facets for the Lady Patriots.
While doing that, Triggs said she also wants to help George Mason turn itself around and reach the NCAA Tournament — a goal that she said all the Lady Patriots share for 2016-17.
“We are looking to win conference and get to postseason play,” Triggs said. “I want to bring my shooting percentage up and every time I step on the court, know that I’m one of the best defenders at all times and prove it to be true.”
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but regardless, Triggs said she knows the eyes of the city of Thibodaux are watching her and are supporting her every move.
The Lady Tigers graduate said she’s moved by the support she’s received throughout her college career and knows that the people have her back — even when she’s far away.
That support, she said, gives her power as she works through her goals and attempts to make George Mason into a power.
“I miss my family and friends and everyone who has supported me,” Triggs said. “I definitely miss the food — that’s for sure. I’m pushing with everyone in the area in mind.”
“She’s a special, special kid. She comes in here every day with a good attitude and a willingness to work. She leads by example, never complains and just gets the job done.”
Damon Robinson, Triggs’ high school coach
Thibodaux native Jewel Triggs is working hard over the summer to get ready for her sophomore season at George Mason. Triggs played every game for the Lady Patriots last season.
Jewel Triggs surveys the floor during a game last season. Triggs said she wants to improve her shooting percentage next season, while also becoming a more consistent player.
