| Hardin-Simmons guard Jacqueline Berry was named the 2024-25 National Rookie of the Year. Photo by Scott Burkhalter |
Five hours from Hardin-Simmons' campus in Abilene, Texas -- right along the Texas-Oklahoma border -- sits the little town of Texhoma, Oklahoma. What was once called No Man's Land is now a 600-person desert town that sends its kids to school in Texas for grades K-4 and Oklahoma for grades 5-12.
"In a small town, everybody does everything," recalls Jacqueline Berry who played three sports in high school. Basketball was her favorite, and she caught the eye of HSU head coach Kendra Whiteside while playing on the AAU circuit. Once the season started, Berry caught everyone's eye as she scored double figures in her first seven games, including a double-double against crosstown rival McMurry.
Berry finished as the conference's leading scorer, made first team all defense, and set the school record for points in a freshman season. She also took home Rookie of the Year honors in her conference, region and the country.
We spoke with Berry in late April as she prepared for the end of her other athletic season and academic finals. She talks about how she found her way to D3, how she plays the game, and how she'll improve this offseason.
Topics:
0:55 Berry's other athletic season
2:50 Where's Texhoma?
4:30 Finding her way to Hardin-Simmons
6:35 Instant success in D3?
9:35 Adjusting to college basketball
11:15 Playing in the ASC
12:30 Learning defense from Dad
14:00 Traveling the country
16:00 Evaluating her first season
17:50 Playing through ASC's transition
21:10 Favorite memory from first season
23:35 Focus for offseason