Michigan State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Senior Stories: Aisha Jefferson
2/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 20, 2010
As the 2010 women's basketball senior day approaches, MSUSpartans.com will feature each of the team's four graduating seniors in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 28 Breslin Center finale. Next is senior forward Aisha Jefferson.
By Hannah Case, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Aisha Jefferson was not given many opportunities to succeed. The redshirt senior and three-time captain was raised in a less than ideal neighborhood and didn't have many positive role models to look up to. But the aspect of her life that has helped her overcome obstacles and opened the doors to previously unthinkable experiences is basketball.
"When I was 8 years old, I wouldn't have thought I would end up where I am now. Basketball has been the constant thing in my life. It has kept me on the right path and out of trouble," says Jefferson.
When Jefferson first attended Michigan State University in 2005 she knew right away that this was where she needed to be. However, she did not anticipate that she would soon face hardships on the court as well. During her freshman season, Jefferson suffered a dislocated shoulder, which she describes as her most painful - "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy" - and hardest to recover from.
Throughout her college basketball career, Jefferson has been forced to handle numerous other injuries. The list includes a torn ligament in her right knee as a sophomore, which she played on the rest of the year, a torn ACL in her right knee that ended her junior season and led to her medical redshirt status, and a torn ligament in her left knee last season, which she endured through all year.
Each injury has been extremely disappointing to Jefferson, but she always manages to bounce back. She reminds herself that "it gets greater later," a saying her mother told her, and uses her fellow Spartans as motivation to heal.
"I always want to be out on the court with my teammates. It isn't fun being on the sidelines, so I just want to be out there working hard with them. They are the main reason why I came back," Jefferson said.
As for preventing future ailments, Jefferson is trying multiple methods. Her main strategy for staying healthy is "praying and ice", but is also doing more cardio and limiting her playing time.
Jefferson's minutes per game this season may be lower, but her production while on the court has not changed. Despite playing five fewer minutes per game this season than her career average, Jefferson's per minute production is on par with her numbers entering this season. She combats her time restrictions by watching film and making sure she is pushing harder than anyone else on the floor.
Not only does she look to her teammates for support, but Jefferson is also admired for her positive attitude and encouragement of others. Known as the emotional leader on the team, a trait described as coming naturally and part just of her personality, Jefferson simply wants to enjoy her time on the court.
"My teammates call me crazy because I'm so outgoing and goofy. I think that you should always have fun with what you are doing."
As her senior season starts to wind down, Jefferson admits that she wants people to remember that she embodied the values of the Michigan State women's basketball program.
"I want to be remembered as a true Spartan. Everyday that I have put on my jersey, I have tried to have the mentality of a true Spartan. I want to out-work everybody and I'm so unselfish that it gets me in trouble sometimes. I just want to be a perfect Spartan."
