University of Georgia Athletics
Know Your Lady Bulldogs: Jaleesa Rhoden
May 09, 2011 | Women's Basketball
May 9, 2011
Rhoden Earns Double Degrees From UGA
Five years ago, Jaleesa Rhoden inked scholarship papers with the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, eager to fulfill her promise as the premier basketball prospect from Canada.
While her basketball intentions haven't gone as planned, last winter Rhoden gladly seized the opportunity to pursue a hoop dream she never expected to have.
In her first three seasons on the court, Rhoden showed glimpses of the skill set that caught Andy Landers' eye during the recruiting process. Each time she seemed poised to make a major step forward, an injury seemed to get in the way.
After averaging 19.8 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2008-09, Rhoden saw that playing time dip to just 9.3 mpg last winter as she struggled with a nagging hamstring.
That was perhaps the final straw that forced Rhoden to realize her days on the hardwood would not materialize as she hoped. The difficult decision to "retire" from competitive basketball was made during the off-season by the mature-beyond-her-years native of London, Ontario.
"It was really, really, really hard," Rhoden said. "I thought so much about it...how my body would be able to handle playing this game and the pounding it takes playing Division I basketball, not only the games, but every day in practice. I thought about not being out there with my teammates, since this was going to be my senior season. I know having another body would help them. And then I visited with my family to make sure this was the right decision for my health and my future. I just knew it would be best to take this year off and get better. Then, I can do things in the future like I would like to be able to do them."
So Rhoden prepared for her senior year to feature a role in street clothes at the end of the Lady Bulldogs' bench. Those plans changed in late October when a chance to work as the color analyst for radio broadcasts was presented.
"I really didn't have any words," Rhoden said. "I thought to myself 'Wow. Are you sure?'
"I definitely think everything happens for a reason," Rhoden continued. "As much as I hate to say my injuries are a blessing, I guess they are. So in a strange way, I'm grateful for the injuries. In life, I think you have to make the most of the opportunities you have. These injuries happened for a reason. If they had not happened, I wouldn't have met a lot of great people and have the chances to do some other things like radio. I'm grateful that our administration has the confidence in me to put me in this position without any experience, and I'm extremely dedicated to make the most of this chance."
As Rhoden prepared for her first-ever broadcast with the Lady Bulldogs' exhibition game against Lander last November, she compared the butterflies of announcing to those of returning to the court after rehabbing from an injury. Her insightful response bodes well for her potential to provide valuable information in her new role.
"I think I was more nervous about radio because I didn't know what I was doing," Rhoden joked. "It is talking about basketball and I know the game so I don't think I could mess that up. But to actually have to formulate words and give details and provide insight about a game I've been playing my whole life was challenging. I think it was harder than coming back from my injuries because that was getting back out there and doing something I'd done by repetition over and over for so many years. I didn't have that type of experience with broadcasting."
After the season, she was thankful for the opportunity.
"I enjoyed the radio broadcasts," Rhoden said. "It was a great opportunity for me and I'm extremely thankful that Coach Landers thought of me. I wasn't a journalism major and I didn't study that subject so it was very challenging. I've been playing basketball all my life, though, so that put me at ease. Talking about basketball felt natural. (Play-by-play announcer) Jeff (Dantzler) really challenged me and he helped me get ready for all the games."
Though her on-court experiences have not panned out like she'd hoped, Rhoden has made the most of virtually everything else associated with her career as a student-athlete at Georgia. This Friday, Rhoden will receive not one but two degrees from the University of Georgia, in Management and Consumer Economics.
"It's definitely a great feeling to graduate," Rhoden said. "To get two degrees and to do so at a prestigious school like the University of Georgia is something I'm very proud of."
Double-degrees forced Rhoden to decide which school she would march with at Sanford Stadium. Since she actually completed her business degree last spring, Rhoden's class load for the past year has been exclusively in Consumer Economics.
"I've been out of Terry for a year now," Rhoden said. "I know some people who are graduating from Terry but I have so many friends in Family and Consumer Sciences."
