Two women walk onto a basketball court. One old and the other young.
The older woman grabs a basketball and begins dribbling around the court.
The girl, just 3 years old, observes her. The woman tosses the child the basketball and smiles as she watches the girl mimic her.
This is how freshman women̢۪s basketball player Jaleesa Ross began to learn how to play basketball.
“I’ve loved basketball ever since I was little,â€Â Ross said. “My grandma taught me how to dribble when I was 3 and I’ve been playing since.â€Â
She reached the high point of her career after scoring a career-high 24 points against the Utah State Aggies in January.
She has also been Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Week twice and leads the conference in three-point field goals made.
Since the Bulldogs were named WAC champions, Ross has been named WAC newcomer of the year.
She has enjoyed her time at Fresno State and has a 3.0 GPA. Now her goal is to keep improving, learning and pushing herself throughout her time at Fresno State.
Ross said basketball pervades all aspects of her life.
She doesn̢۪t know why basketball appeals to her; she just knows that she enjoys it.
“Basketball is my life. My personal and family life is all basketball,â€Â she said.
She grew up in Pinole, Calif., and went to Pinole Valley High School, where she played basketball all four years and eventually became team captain in her junior and senior years.
After graduation, the Fresno State women̢۪s basketball coaches began recruiting her.
When she saw what Fresno State was like, she decided to stay. Ross is one of just a few members of her family that have made it to college.
“The coaches did a really good job recruiting me,â€Â she said. “I loved the team and I loved the coaches. It’s like having a family away from home.â€Â
Women̢۪s basketball coach Adrian Wiggins, who came to Fresno State in 2005, has been pleased with Ross̢۪ progress so far.
“She’s very committed and intelligent. She’s also an excellent listener,â€Â he said. “She retains information well. We have a great relationship. She is a fun person to coach.â€Â
Ross said the coaches have helped her become a better defensive player, as well as boost her confidence.
Fellow guard Emma Andrews is also happy playing with Ross.
Andrews came to Fresno State from Australia last August and it has been difficult for her to get used to life in America.
She said Ross has helped with the adjustment.
“She’s very uplifting and is a great communicator,â€Â Andrews said. “She’s my teammate and my friend. She shows me how America works and tells me all about pop culture.â€Â
Andrews thinks highly of Ross and enjoys playing with her.
Like Ross, she has not declared a major.
“[Ross is] a very talented player. She’s very quick and has a really good point range,â€Â Andrews said. “She’s nice on and off the court and is a good team player.â€Â
Andrews said she is astounded by how disciplined and enthusiastic Ross is.
“She’s always energetic and ready to go. She has an incredible work ethic and always strives to do better,â€Â she said. “She practices all the time.â€Â
Ross isn̢۪t serious all of the time, however. She likes to rap, listen to music and play soccer, as well as extreme sports.
She often listens to music before game time to pump her up and get her focused.
Overall, she likes to have fun and take it easy.
“I’m a bit goofy on and off the court,â€Â she said. “I’m kind of like a little kid in a way.â€Â
Managing her education and basketball has been one of her biggest struggles, as well as not having enough time in the day to achieve her goals.
There are also a few things that she needs to improve on, according to Wiggins.
Most importantly, honing her skills and becoming more experienced, he said.
“She needs to continue getting healthy and strong, as well as improve in creating her own shot off the dribble,â€Â Wiggins said.
Although she has not yet declared a major, she imagines herself being a coach in the future.
“I think she would be a good coach,â€Â Wiggins said. “I will help her prepare for that.â€Â