Jasmine Atkerson is the lone senior for the East Jessamine Jaguars.

She has been playing basketball since she was in sixth grade and never played another sport.

“My dad played basketball, too,” she said. “I know I have loved it ever since I started playing it when I was younger.”

Atkerson said basketball has taught her to treat everyone with respect.

“I’ve learned how to have good sportsmanship,” she said. “You’ve got to have good sportsmanship no matter where you go.”

Atkerson said a former coach who passed away was one of her inspirations to give it all she has in everything she does.

“Coach Bingham inspired me,” she said. “He passed away and he really inspired me to do well in everything I do.”

Balancing academics and athletics hasn’t been easy for Atkerson, but she has pushed through adversity and believes anyone can do it if they put their mind to it.

Former East Jessamine standout Emma Young has been athlete Atkerson looked up.

Atkerson said her most memorable moment came from this year’s game against Burgin and Atkerson posted 29 points.

“It was just a fun game,” she said. “We were all laughing and having a really good time instead of being upset about calls we weren’t getting.”