Jennifer
Wilson spent four record-setting years roaming the parquet floor at
Moore Gym while setting nearly every known Trojan record. When she
finally hung up her sneakers, Wilson left the school as its first and
only four-time All-American, with a school- record 2,109 points.
Julie Van Beek had a courtside seat for every game of Wilson's career. She recruited, signed, and coached her at Trevecca.
Van
Beek commented that she knew early in her freshman season that Wilson
was going to be a special player, "In the pre-conference of her
freshman season she would score a point for about every minute she
played. After Christmas she averaged almost 20 points a game. Her
confidence grew and she helped lead us to the National Tournament and
put Trevecca on the map."
"Jennifer came into our program at
the right time. Holly Carter, Mindy Williams, Ashley Boykin, and Sara
Menees were already there and she came in with Jamie Mills and Molly
Schoenberg."
Van Beek stated that Wilson was talented and had a
mind for the game as well, "Not only could she score, but she had the
ability to make the other players on the court better. She was very
smart and one of the most competitive players I've ever coached."
"She
recognized that when she screened she would often take two defenders
with her and would open up a shot for another shooter. She was a great
passer to the post, especially Lindsey Fly. Jennifer had a beautiful
shot and made a living off the baseline pull-up jumper."
"As good as Jennifer was, she was very humble and one of the most appreciative young ladies that I ever coached."
According
to Van Beek she also had the flare for the dramatic, "Jennifer knew how
to rise to the occasion. She had some of her best scoring nights
against Lipscomb and Union and hit game winners in numerous games, most
notably against No. 1 Southern Nazarene and Freed-Hardeman in the
TranSouth Semifinals."
The former Warren County standout burst
onto the scene in her freshman season, leading the Trojans to their
first-ever appearance at the NAIA Championships, first win at the NAIA
Championships, and first 20-win season. In that first season, despite
starting just 19 of 32 games, she averaged 15.8 points and 3.9 rebounds
and shot 49.6% from the field, 45% from three-point range, and 79% from
the foul line.
As a result of her play and the team's success,
Wilson was named the TranSouth Newcomer of the Year, selected to the
TranSouth First Team, and made the TranSouth All-Freshman Team. She was
named the NAIA Region XI Player of the Week. Another first for Wilson
and the young program came when Wilson was selected as the NAIA Player
of the Week during the season and later made the NAIA All-American
Second Team.
In each of her four seasons Trevecca advanced to
the NAIA National Championships, compiling a 90-40 overall record, an
average record of 22.5 and 10. Making this record even more impressive
is the fact that Trevecca had restarted the women's program only three
years prior, winning only 32 games during that time.
In all,
Wilson held 18 Trevecca women's basketball records when she ended her
career. She still holds seven game, season, and career records.
Career records-points (2109), field goals made (777), field goals attempted (1726)
Season records-points per game (18.26) and attempted field goals (469
Single-game records-points (35) and 3-point percentage (4-4 - 100%)
Wilson
was a second-team All-American in 2000 and 2001 and was a first-team
All-American in 2002 and 2003. Wilson was a two-time (2002, 2003) NAIA
Scholar-Athlete.
Other TranSouth awards included being named
to the conference first team four times, being selected as the
conference player of the week three times, and being named
scholar-athlete on two occasions.
Following her playing career,
Wilson spent five years on the Trevecca women's basketball coaching
staff, first as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach.
She teaches at Mount Juliet High School and coaches the volleyball team.
She
will be inducted with her father, Frank Wilson, former men's basketball
coach and athletic director at Trevecca. Wilson resides in Hermitage,
Tenn.