Jasmine Weatherspoon is a singular epitome of Ohio's transformation.
Height has always been an issue for Ohio.
Recently, coach Bob Boldon joked that he recruits the shortest players available.
With a roster dominated by guards and ball handlers, Boldon has gradually morphed players into flexible positions. Junior guard/forward Quiera Lampkins is the best example.
But that hasn’t solved Ohio’s rebounding woes.
Despite its best start to a season in program history, the Bobcats are ranked last in the Mid-American Conference in rebound margin (-3.4) and defensive rebounds (43.4).
Boldon partially has blamed the height issues on having one of the shortest teams in the MAC. That’s wrong.
Actually, Ohio’s average height, more than 5-foot-10 (70.71 inches) according to Post calculations, is the tallest in the MAC East.
Playing the hand he’s dealt
Boldon said he’d love to recruit a 6-foot-3 forward who could on dominate the boards and around the basket, but most of the taller players in the region commit to Big Ten schools instead.
Ohio’s two tallest players are redshirt freshman Kelly Karlis and junior Jasmine Weatherspoon. The media guide lists both at 6-foot-2.
“If we play against a quality post player in our league, you have to give that coach a lot of credit,” Boldon said. “They either found her and outworked other people to get her or they did a heck of a job developing her."
Boldon is trying to do the same with Weatherspoon.
Feeding the ‘Spoon
Weatherspoon had an unnoticeable freshman season. Coming off the bench, her two points and three rebounds in 12.1 minutes a game hardly composed a major role throughout Ohio’s 9-21 season.
Approaching her sophomore season, Boldon referred to her as one of the team’s most improved players. Her sophomore season saw gradual development as Weatherspoon averaged four points and five rebounds across 16.9 minutes.
This season, she has started every game, and her seven rebounds per game lead the team. She also averages six points a game.
“She came as a person who could only score around the rim,” Boldon said. “Now she handles the ball a little bit for us, makes 3-pointers, has expanded her game."
Weatherspoon’s most notable trait is her defensive influence. Nineteen games into the season, she has 41 blocks, which nearly doubles the next closest person, senior forward Lexie Baldwin with 22.
Going along with blocks, her 29 steals are the third most on the team, only trailing Lampkins and senior guard Kiyanna Black. Both are listed as guards.
“(Jasmine has) always been a presence defensively,” Boldon said. “She’s just learning how to do it in the framework of the rest of the defense.”
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Boldon cited her eight blocks, a program record, against Eastern Michigan on Jan. 13 as a glaring example.
“My confidence has come a long way,” Weatherspoon said. “As far as my work ethics, I’ve just been trying to do things that my team needs me to do.”
@charliehatch_
gh181212@ohio.edu
