(Battle Creek, IA) Jessie Pauley emerged on the Iowa Girls Basketball scene last season where as a freshman she averaged 14.2 points per game and grabbed nearly 8 rebounds a game. She hit on 50% of her field goal attempts and helped guide her team to an 18-4 record. This past winter Pauley led the newly consolidated OA-BCIG Falcons to the state tournament and the semifinals before eventually falling to Manson-Northwest Webster 40-31. For her efforts Pauley was named 1st Team All-State and led the Falcons with an average of 18.1 points per game and 8.3 rebounds a game. Entering her junior year, Pauley is poised to be one of the most highly decorated female basketball players Siouxland has ever seen.

Having completed two years of High School Basketball, at what point did you realize how good you were going to be? I really don’t think about that stuff. I remember going into my first game as a freshman and Coach Wilson didn’t tell me that I was going to start, but as he called out the starters for the game he called my number first and I was just shocked. At that point I just was happy to be playing and I wanted to help the team the best way I could and that is still my approach. I just want to be the best player I can be and be the best teammate I can be also.

What is your strong suit? What do you do best on the court? I would say I’m most affective on the wing. I am pretty confident shooting the three and I like to drive and create my shot that way as well with the ability to pull up for a jump shot.

What part of your game needs the most work at this point in your career? Definitely my ball handling. I need to learn more patience with the ball in my hands and how to handle pressure defense. In the past I have been a little panicky and I want to get better handling the ball.

What are your goals for the next two years of high school? I want to be able to walk off the floor knowing that I left everything I had on the floor and gave 100% with no regrets. It has always been my dream to play Division I basketball and growing up I always wanted to play for the University of Tennessee but now that I’m a little older I think that might be a little too far away for me. I would like to play in front of my family once in a while. I really want to get back to Des Moines and the state tournament. Getting that close and then watching somebody else play for the State Championship wasn’t any fun so I really want to get back to State and play in the Championship Game.

Have you enjoyed the recruiting process so far or is it getting annoying already? Well since I’m only a sophomore the coaches can’t contact me directly yet with phone calls or text messages. I have filled out a million questionnaires so the schools all have my information. It’s definitely worth it if I can get my education paid for. I’m sure it will pick up next year when schools are able to call and text me. I hope to have a college choice made by the end of next year or the beginning of my senior year. We’ll see how it goes!

(Following Pauley’s freshman year she began to receive information from the likes of Iowa State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Drake. Due to her versatility and athletic ability she will be one of the most heavily recruited players in Siouxland in the coming year.)