Where do you end up when you’re “too good?

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By Katie Galbato

Jaime Nicole Nared is a current senior attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Majoring in Communication Studies, Nared traveled from Portland, Oregon to attend the
University in 2014. She is number 31 on the court, and she is 6’2”.

When she was just 12 years old, Nared was being featured in The New York Times, Good
Morning America, and CNN. She was banned from participating in a boys’ basketball league
because she was considered “too good,” according to headlines. Nared originally was placed on a
boys team so her skills could flourish. However, after scoring 30 points in one game, some
parents could not handle it. When she was put back on an all-girls team, they won one game 90-
7. The boys reportedly enjoyed playing basketball with Nared because she helped them improve
as well. However, this situation helped Nared grow not only as a basketball player, but as a Lady
Vol.

In just her junior year, Nared had accomplished the most successful and productive season as a
Lady Vol. Not only did she score double in figures on 26 different occasions, but she has
improved her game by shooting 37.8 percent from three (which is the second highest mark of her
team).

During her freshman year, she had played in all 36 games, and started in three. Her points scored
averaged at 5.2 points, and she averaged 3.5 rebounds per game. Her debut began in the game
against Penn State, scoring ten points, five rebounds, four assists, and a block. Against Boise
State in the NCAA First Round, Nared had ten rebounds, six points, and an assist towards the
Lady Vols’ win.

She has been both the Co-SEC Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness SEC Player
of the Week in the 2016-2017 season. In addition to the 2016-2017 season, Nared received the
honor of participating in the Coaches All-SEC Second Team.

Nared is a strong player on the court, and she proves to be successful off the court, too.

Nared has received many honors and awards in her three short years at the University of
Tennessee. She started her academic career strong in the 2014-2015 school year when she
received the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. Her studious habits earned her the SEC
Academic Honor Roll for the following 2015-2016 school year. To be considered for either the
SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and the SEC Academic Honor Roll, one must be a
student-athlete with a grade point average of 3.00 or above, including summer classes. The
student-athlete must also have completed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of non-remedial
academic credit toward a baccalaureate degree.

Nared has recently been on the VOLeaders Academy during the 2016-2017 school year.
VOLeaders Academy is a partnership between the Center for Leadership and Service, the Center
for Sport, Peace, and Society, and the Department of Athletics on the university’s campus. This
partnership is designated to create positive student-athlete leaders by combining sports with
positive social change.

Besides her flourishing basketball career and sharp mind, Nared has thrived in philanthropy.
Recently, Nared attended the 10th annual Hoops for Hope, benefitting the Down Syndrome
Awareness Group of East Tennessee. Hoops for Hope utilizes basketball to teach passion. The
organization’s mission aims to not only seek skill in the sport, but to also help kids discover their
significance in the world. The organization focuses on creating a high energy, positive
environment for children to learn and thrive.

“We love that we can come out and help kids play this game that we love so much, and that they
can enjoy it as much as we do,” said Nared in an interview during the event.

She admits that she loves going to the event because she can see the positivity the children
radiate through the gym.

Nared Provers herself to be a respectful woman off the court via her Twitter profile. The Lady
Vol often composes and retweets short, encouraging messages, including religious quotations.
Her Twitter profile is centered around a confident and respectful environment. Some of the tweet
include the following:

“My whole being is happy – Psalm 16:9”

“God has perfect timing for everything. Learn to wait on Him. This brings Him honor, and it
brings you peace.”

“Be kind. Be thoughtful. Listen. Pause. Think. Consider. Try to understand. We all experience
life differently. Daily goal: be a good person.”

Nared exemplifies what it means to be a Lady Vol by thriving in the sport she loves with the
community she admires. She is coming out strong for her senior year, the 2017-2018 season.
This year brings more confidence, accomplishments, and amusement!

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Katie Galbato is a senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is pursuing a degree in
public relations, with a minor in business administration. She is from the flourish town of
Franklin, Tennessee, where she spent most of her life practicing new sports with her family.