In the world of collegiate athletics, people often lose sight of the fact that the athletes on the court or field are also students with various and extraordinary academic goals.
Their academic achievements are often overshadowing by their athletic events. Charlotte is no different, full of people who both exceed athletic and academic expectations.
Charlotte junior Jabrenta Hubbard exemplifies this as a guard for the women’s basketball team and an honor student majoring in biology.
Hubbard is a prominent member of the Lady 49ers Basketball team. Many people recognize her for her performance on the court; however, Hubbard’s athletic career is just as outstanding as her career on the court.
The 5-foot-6-inch guard hasn’t always gone to UNC Charlotte. She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and transferred here in 2006 from Northern Colorado and is now an academic senior, but athletic junior.
“I transferred to get a better opportunity in my basketball career through exposure,” she says when asked why she transferred. “I love the atmosphere and people here at Charlotte.”
She sat out of the sport in the ’06-’07 season, but returned in the ’07-’08 year.
Her basketball career while in high school and Northern was just as stellar as it is here; while attending Green Valley High School, she was a four year letter-winner and was ranked the 38th best player by NCAAFullCourt.com, and was also a member of the National Honor Society.
During her freshman year at Northern, she earned second team Division I All Independent honors and led her team in scoring 12 times.
She returned to the court for the ’07-’08 season, making strides in her career here at Charlotte by playing in games against VCU, Fordham, Charleston Southern, and Penn State, but was unfortunately disabled with a foot injury for six games. She returned to the court after her injury in a game against Rhode Island.
In addition to being an outstanding athlete, Hubbard is also a major in the field of biology.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” Hubbard says.
It’s hard enough to balance the responsibilities of a student, but to take on the work load of being an athlete in the 49er program as well would seem nearly impossible.
“I make sure to stay on top of things. I make sure the professors know that I play, and I’ll meet and talk with the professors if I can’t make class,”Hubbard said when asked how she coped. “I also study a lot. I plan to graduate this year, but come back and play for the Niners next year and get my master’s, then I hope to attend medical school and become a doctor” she says when asked about her future.
As 49ers basketball opens up the season, many people make speculation about the developing season, and Hubbard is no different.
“I want us to make it to the championship, and I want to be able to play a role in achieving that goal”, she replies when asked about her hopes for the season. “I want to be able to do anything that I can to help my team out, and to continue to improve my performance from last year.”
You can watch Hubbard and the rest of the lady Niners basketball team throughout this season. Charlotte will take on Wake Forest Wednesday at 12 p.m. in Halton Arena before heading to Dallas for the Hoops for the Cure Tournament, where the team will play Fresno State, and Southern Methodist University or Sam Houston State.
“As far as my future with basketball goes, I hope to be able to return and watch the games and help the ladies team out here at Charlotte, or maybe see if I could play overseas,” Hubbard has lived in Germany and Japan as a child.
