Oct. 2, 2014
By David Dawson
When the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team visits Estero, Fla., in November to participate in the Gulf Coast Showcase, there is a good chance the Commodores will bump into a very familiar face — either in the hotel, the concourse at Germain Arena or perhaps even courtside during a game.
Jasmine Lister, who completed her outstanding career at Vanderbilt last spring, is serving as a graduate assistant this season at the University of Connecticut. Lister is working under head coach Geno Auriemma, who has led the Huskies to nine national titles, including each of the past two seasons.
Vanderbilt and UConn are two of the eight teams participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase, and they could potentially face each other in the second round of the tournament.
“If that happens, it’s definitely going to be weird to be sitting on the other bench,” said Lister with a laugh during a phone interview this week. “But it will be cool. It will be friendly, of course. I am excited about getting to see everybody.”
Vanderbilt opens the Showcase against Minnesota, and UConn faces Charleston. (Full tournament bracket HERE.)
A few weeks after the tournament in Florida, the Commodores will see another former VU standout.
Tiffany Clarke, who starred at Vanderbilt from 2010-13, is serving as a graduate assistant at Georgia under head coach Andy Landers. The Commodores visit Georgia on Jan. 18.
Clark ranks 16th on Vanderbilt’s all-time scoring list (1,415). She led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots as a senior, and was named First Team All-SEC by both the AP and the SEC coaches.
Clark, who has played professional basketball overseas since leaving Nashville, visited the Vanderbilt campus this summer to work as an instructor during one of the camps hosted by the WBB program. (For an interview with Clarke from that week, click HERE).
In addition to Clarke and Lister, the Vanderbilt WBB program has representatives all over the map at various of levels of basketball, serving in coaching roles and administrative positions.
Lister, who has been at UConn since the beginning of August, graduated from Vanderbilt last spring after a record-breaking career for the Commodores. She is the program’s all-time leader in minutes played (4,626) and also ranks third on the program’s list for assists (591) and 10th in scoring (1,618). Lister was in the starting lineup for every game of her career (129 games).
She said her role as graduate assistant could be the first step toward a possible coaching career, but said she is keeping her options open.
“We’ll see where things are after my two years in the grad program,” said Lister. “I haven’t ruled out playing basketball professionally, but I know I want to get into coaching at some point.”
Lister was invited to training camp with the Seattle Storm last April. She made the first two cuts but was not on the opening-day roster. She then considered playing overseas before being presented with the opportunity at UConn.
“When I found out that I had a chance to do this, I talked to my agent and my parents,” said Lister, “and we all agreed that this would be a great step for me.”
Lister said she has enjoyed seeing the game from a new perspective. “I am learning a lot,” she said. “I have enjoyed observing the coaching styles and picking up on the characteristics of the players and things like that.”
Lister said she has felt right at home at UConn: “There are some subtle differences from Vanderbilt, but overall it is very similar in terms of the commitment level,” she said.
Although her current role is likely to open some doors for her in coaching, she is not focused on that just yet.
“I am just staying in the moment,” said Lister, “and seeing how it all plays out.”
LISTER AT VANDERBILT:
– Shattered the school record for minutes played (4,626).
– Made 129 consecutive starts — every game of her career.
– Ranks third on the school’s all-time lists for assists (591).
– Ranks 10th on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,618).
– Led the team in assists this season (144).
– Was named espnW’s national player of the week and SEC Player of the Week in mid-January.
– Named WBCA All-American Honorable Mention.
– Named to postseason All-SEC Second Team by conference’s coaches.
– Named WBCA Region 3 All-American nominee.
– Preseason All-SEC selection by the media and coaches.
– Named Player of the Week by espnW, SEC and USBWA for week of Jan. 6-12.
– Became program’s all-time leader in minutes played during the game against Missouri on Jan. 30.
CLARKE AT VANDERBILT:
– Ranks No. 16 on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,415).
– Led team in scoring, blocked shots and rebounding as a senior
– Third in SEC in scoring, rebounding and FG% as a senior
– WBCA Honorable Mention All-America and WBCA All-Region after senior season
– All-SEC First Team (Coaches & AP) after senior season
– SEC Academic Honor Roll
– All-SEC Second Team (Coaches) as a junior
– All-SEC Honorable Mention (AP) as a junior
– Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Coaches) as a junior
– SEC Academic Honor Roll as a junior
– 2010-11 SEC All-Tournament Team
– 2009-10 SEC All-Freshman Team