The RoundHouse | 10/30/2024 9:57:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop

Wichita State guard Jasmine Peaks is considering a hands-on career in real estate. She enjoys renovating, painting, taking down drywall and everything else that goes into flipping houses.
 
"I like doing the painting and the landscaping," she said. "I like seeing the before and after – it's very much 'Oh my gosh, I really did that.'"
 
That do-it-yourself spirit is what women's basketball coach Terry Nooner wants to see from Peaks, a junior transfer from Indian River (Fla.) State College. He is counting on her to score and set up teammates after she averaged 14.4 points last season at Indian River.

"Basketball has given me a lot of life skills," Peaks said. "Paying attention to details. Hard work. Time management."
 
The Shockers play NCAA Division II Northeastern (Okla.) State in an exhibition game at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 30) at Koch Arena.
 
Nooner is blunt with his expectations for Peaks. She helps the Shockers when the ball is in her hands, and she drives into the lane to score or break down the defense. He cringes when he sees her pass to the wing and cut away from the ball.
 
"When she's aggressive, she could be an all-conference caliber point guard," Nooner said. "She's a heck of a passer. We're trying to get her to be more aggressive and not think as much.
 
Peaks, from Palm Bay, Fla., hears that advice from coaches regularly.
 
"I was being very passive at times," she said. "When I'm being aggressive, I open the lane up, open opportunities for my teammates and myself."
 
In high school, Peaks played with junior Jayla Murray at Tampa Bay Tech. That connection helped Peaks connect with Shocker coaches. She talked with Murray about the program. Once she talked with Nooner and assistant coach Antwain Scales, Wichita State's atmosphere sold her.
 
"They're very genuine and welcoming to me and my family," Peaks said. "They recruited me and my family, and that was a nice touch."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.