Last Updated on March 28, 2016 by cassnetwork
A Logansport woman who is no stranger to the NCAA Basketball Tournament is the recipient of a local honor.
Jasmine Penny, who starred at Logansport High School and was named the school’s first African-American Indiana All-Star, has been named the Bicentennial Citizen of the Week by Mayor Dave Kitchell.
“In Jasmine, there is an unselfish story of someone who put her teams and long-term progress ahead of her career,” Kitchell said. “Former LHS Coach Jerry Hoover credited her with turning around the Logansport girls program.”
In the four seasons before Penny took the floor of the Lady Berries, they won only 18 games. Her teams won 71 games at LHS, including a 21-2 record her senior season.
After she left, the team compiled a 69-9 record.
She continued her career at DePaul University in Chicago where she became the first Logansport basketball player to compete in Division I in the Chicago area since Jean Smith, a member of the 1934 state championship Berries, played for Northwestern.
At DePaul, she was a unanimous first-team All-Big East selection and the team’s leading scorer her senior year. She also ranked 12th nationally in field goal percentage.
“We’re fortunate to have people like Jasmine on the sidelines at the Cass County Family Y today because she’s committed to the next generation of Berries, and hopefully leaders like her who exhibit the true virtues of team play and continuous improvement,” Kitchell said.
Jasmine will receive an Indiana state flag and a certificate from the city.
The award is presented weekly during Indiana’s Bicentennial year to honor local residents who have received state, national or international acclaim for their contributions.
SOURCE: News release from Logansport Mayor Dave Kitchell