Getting to Know Jillian Dunston
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2015
Sophomore Jillian Dunston has had a strong start to her sophomore season, starting two of Michigan's four games to date. She recorded the first double-double of her career in her first-ever start against Xavier (Nov. 19), going for 10 points and 14 rebounds. Dunston currently leads U-M in rebounds per game (8.0) while averaging 8.0 points in 21.0 minutes per contest. She appeared in all but one game last season, playing limited minutes off the bench behind Nicole Elmblad. Dunston talks about how she worked on her shot in the offseason, growing up with two older sisters and the same argument her family has at every Thanksgiving dinner.
Q. When did you start playing basketball?
A. I have two older sisters and the oldest started at the age of four. My dad put us all in both soccer and basketball at the same age. I played soccer until my junior year of high school, when I committed to Michigan. I had broken my ankle playing soccer in 8th grade, and I didn't want to risk anything.
Q. What was it like growing up with two older sisters?
A. It is kind of awesome. I would never tell them that, but it is a lot of fun. I hate being alone and growing up, they were always there. In terms of sports, it was cool because my dad coached my oldest sister. I would go to those practices and learn things.
Q. Your family is very supportive of you and the team, making it to a lot of games. What is that like for you?
A. I think it is really cool. I don't get homesick, but when they come, I realize that I miss them. When it is time for them to leave, I don't really want them to. I am really lucky that they come to a lot of things.
Q. When did you know Michigan was the place for you?
A. I had taken a bunch of visits. I had listed out before I took any of them, what I was looking for in a school. Michigan had everything. When I came here on a visit, I knew that this was where I wanted to go. I just didn't tell my dad! I waited it out but there was something I felt here what I hadn't felt anywhere else. I wanted to be here as soon as I came.
Q. What is the biggest difference between your freshman and sophomore year?
A. Confidence and comfort, I would say. I think the game is hard to adjust to freshman year, even if you play in every single game. It is still hard. The pace is hard. I felt like I was rushing every aspect of my game, my shot, my layups that I would brick all the time (laughs). It is a lot easier to have a year under your belt.
Q. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory of all time?
A. It is a recurring thing. We have this glass bowl full of 'oranges' on the table at home, where all the kids sit for dinner. My sisters and I, every year, would have a debate about whether they were tangerines or clementines. Every year! My mom never knows the answer and everyone thinks they are right. It happens every single year.
Q. What do you like to do away from basketball?
A. I have become a big manicure and pedicure person now. I am kind of obsessed with that. I have just discovered shellac and it is amazing. I am pretty into that right now.
Q. What is the No. 1 thing you worked on during the offseason?
A. My shot. I really worked on the form of it. It used to be like a catapult over my head and now it is in front of my face. My shot was really flat last year, partially because I think it was coming from over my head. I have been working on keeping more arc on it as well.
Q. Have you decided on a major or have any career plans in mind?
A. I am in the process of applying to sport management. I don't really know what I want to do yet, but as I have told people, I just want to be on TV! However I can get there, I am going to try!
Q. What do you want to bring to this team as the season progresses?
A. I want to bring a lot of rebounding and contribute in any way that I can in terms of scoring. Last year, I didn't really do that much because my shot wasn't there. I feel like I need to be able to do those things for the team. I also want to make more hustle plays. With Byrd (Cyesha Goree), Shannon (Smith) and Nicole (Elmblad) gone, we lost a lot of that. You have to show the freshmen how it is done so they know what we are all about.
Q. What is the best part of being on this team?
A. My teammates and the people I am around all the time. They are the best people I have ever met in my life.
Q. What is your pregame ritual?
A. (thinks for a long time) I don't really have one. I put my headphones on and just then go to work.
Q. What is your favorite place on campus?
A. In terms of beauty, I would have say the Diag. On a pretty fall day, I could just sit there forever.
Q. But not on a winter day?
A. (laughs) No way on a winter day!
Q. What do you think your Michigan experience will look like when you think about it 30-40 years from now?
A. Probably the best times of my life. I am having so much fun. Yeah, it's college and you are supposed to be getting ready for the real world, which I am. But at the same time, this is the time that you can still be the teenager that you are while learning tons of new things.
• Previous Entry: Kelsey Mitchell
