Jaylyn Agnew (#5 | 5-11 | F | Fr.)
While everyone was fixated on when and if the men’s team was going to get longer and more athletic players in the fold, Jim Flanery and the Creighton women’s coaching staff grabbed one of their own in Jaylyn Agnew. Rated the 100th-best incoming freshmen for the 2015 recruiting class by ESPN, Agnew was a do-it-all athlete at Andover High School. She is one of three people ever to win four high jump titles in the state of Kansas. She also finished her volleyball career as Andover’s all-time leader in kills and solo blocks. Oh and by the way, she’s a pretty good basketball player, too.
At 5-foot-11, she has the height to make plays down low with her rebounding and ability to block and alter shots. She also has the speed and athleticism, which will also develop more over time, to make a difference on the perimeter. She hasn’t yet shown off much in the passing or play-making department on offense, but she is a capable three-point shooter and has shown the ability to come off screens and get to the rim and draw fouls. It will be up to the coaching staff to find ways to put her in position to be successful as she isn’t just a spot-up shooter, but she also isn’t ready to be a lock down defender on opening night, so she’ll need to hone her athletic talents into a role the coaches can trust. Their is a lot of potential here for her to not only develop into a menace on the defensive end, but also a top two or three option on the offensive end.
Andover High School
- ranked #100 by ESPN among 2015 incoming freshmen
- averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game as a senior
- averaged 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game as a junior
- averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 2.3 steals per game as a sophomore
- averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game as a freshman
- won four Class 5A titles in the High Jump
- tied for the fifth-best high jump in Kansas history with a 5-foot, 10-inch mark in 2012 and again in 2013
- at one point during her high school career her high jump mark was good for third-best in the entire country
- set Andover High School’s volleyball career record for kills and solo blocks
Head Coach Jim Flanery on Agnew:
“Jaylyn is wiry strong. She was a really good high school track athlete. She can jump and defensively she has a lot of upside because of her length, and the fact that she can get off the floor. She shoots it well, but she’s played a little bit more inside, so she’s going to have to develop as a ball handler and passer, but I don’t doubt that she will, because she’s a learner; I think she wants to be good; she’ll be good down the road, if not sooner.”
5-on-5 with Jaylyn Agnew
Q: What were the factors in why you decided to come here and play at Creighton?
A: “It wasn’t that far away from home — so if I needed to come back, or if my parents wanted to come to some games — that was nice. The people here were very nice, I just loved it. A lot of the other schools their conferences weren’t as big as the Big East, and so that was a major factor. And the coaches and the team were all very nice on my visits.”
Q: What has been the most challenging part of the transition from high school to college?
A: “I think the pace. No matter if it’s during a game, or just retaining information, everything is very quick and fast. I think the pace of it all and physicality.”
Q: The team was picked fourth in the Big East preseason poll. What were your thoughts on that, and what are your expectations for this group this season?
A: “I think we could have been a little higher. My expectations are to definitely work on our defense, be more defensive-minded, and allow fewer points. Then win the Big East and get to the NCAA Tournament.”
Q: When you first saw the schedule, which game or road trip did you circle as one you were most looking forward to?
A: “Probably the KU game just because I’m from Kansas. I know we had the buzzer-beater last year against them, so it’ll be a good game again, but it will be close to home — my brother is in Lawrence right now, so he can come and see me.”
Q: When your time at Creighton is over, what will you have hoped to accomplish in your career as a Bluejay?
A: “Just to be a good teammate and make the people around me better, and get to the NCAA Tournament.”
