JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you need a reason to smile, keep reading, we’re getting ready to give you one.
A local college basketball star is headed to the big leagues — and making history while she does it.
Jazz Bond is the first player in the history of the University of North Florida to be drafted by the WNBA.
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Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole introduces us to the star forward and how she first became interested in the game.
UNF career leader in blocks, Atlantic Sun Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District; These are just a few of the accolades you’ll find on a long list under Jazz Bond’s name on the women’s basketball roster.
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When it comes to greatness on the hardwood, it runs in the Bond family.
While you and I were learning our ABCs and 123s at the age of 4, Bond was picking up her first basketball and ready to get to work.
Courtney Cole: “You are making school history! How does that feel?”
Jazz Bond: “It feels amazing … of course, like, this is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
It’s an opportunity Bond said she’s been preparing for almost all of her life.
“My dad, he previously played basketball as well, so, of course right when I was born, he was like, ‘Alright, let’s put a ball in her hands!’”
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Bond’s sister plays basketball as well, and she’s even had the opportunity go up against her on the court.
“It was always fun playing against her, whether it was a win or a loss. And, of course for my family, it’s a great experience as well. Having two girls on a Division I basketball team, you don’t really come across that as much,” Bond explained with a smile on her face.
Bond, hailing from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was drafted by the WNBA’s Dallas Wings on Monday night.
However, she grew up watching someone a bit closer to home.
“Growing up, I washed Candace Parker a lot. Of course, she played at the University of Tennessee, I’m from Tennessee. So I was like, I want to be just like Candace Parker! Then getting older, figuring out my game, I started to watch a lot of DeWanna Bonner. We had the same body type, we play the same way, so I was trying to build my game like hers,” Bond explained.
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Bond was with her Assistant Coach, Coach Clark, when she found out the big news.
Courtney Cole: “You seem very quiet and reserved, but I know you broke out of that when you found that out! Walk me through the moment.”
Jazz Bond: “So of course, you know, watching the draft, seeing what was going to happen … and at the time the names started going across the bottom of the screen, and then right when I saw — I didn’t even see my name, I saw my face and I immediately just jumped up and started screaming. Like my body just had chills … It was an amazing moment!”
While she is a dedicated player on the court, she’s pursuing a masters degree in public health and believes her leadership off the court has also contributed to her success.
Jazz Bond: “Success doesn’t just come from going to basketball practice and playing ... games. It comes from going in the gym when no one’s watching, whether it’s early mornings or late nights, and just giving their all no matter what.”
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The skilled, ambitious and humble player also told Cole she believes her work as a mentor with Camp Ospreys and The Big Brothers/Big Sisters program also helped her to grow off of the court, in ways that helped her on the court.
Bond told Cole she leaves for Dallas on Thursday. Her entire Ospreys community is proud of her and we are, too.
Go make us proud, Jazz!
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