DeJesus a Double-Double Producer

One of the best forwards at both scoring and rebounding called The College of Wooster home in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nara DeJesus Skipperneeded just three seasons to score 1,000 points, and had it not been for an unfortunate senior-year injury, would have likely set the career rebounding record and had a shot to challenge for the career scoring record. 

Wooster was one of the programs keeping an eye on DeJesus as a high school prospect and the forward “just knew” Wooster was the right fit when stepping on campus. Everything matched up for DeJesus, who noted she was “fortunate enough Wooster offered me a spot on the basketball team.” 

The steady performer was tabbed the North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year following the 1999-2000 season. DeJesus debuted on the all-conference team as a second-team selection following a year in which she averaged a double-double at 13.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. During her sophomore year, DeJesus posted similar numbers of 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per night. As a junior, she debuted on the D3hoops.com all-region team following marks of 14.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Those averages helped DeJesus to a third All-NCAC award. 

DeJesus surpassed 230 rebounds in all three seasons played, breaking the school record with 289 as a junior. DeJesus’ 217 rebounds as a first-year are the third-most in program history, and at the time, were three shy of breaking the single-season program record. Upon graduation, DeJesus’ 794 rebounds were the third-most in program history, and she was 132 shy of the program record. In the scoring column, DeJesus was the fifth 1,000-point scorer in program history, graduated fourth with 1,062 points, and was 548 points shy of the school record. 

An accurate finisher, DeJesus was the first Fighting Scot to shoot over 50 percent (418-of-821) over a career and her 10.3 per-game lifetime rebounding average still rates second on the program leaderboard. Also active in the passing lanes, DeJesus is one of five in program history to have at least nine steals in a game, and she finished the 2001-2002 season with 72, the fifth-most in program history. 

“Nara was one of our most athletic athletes to play in the program,” shared Lisa Campanell Komara, Wooster’s head coach at the time. “Nara was a quiet, coachable leader who brought her full energy to practice and in competition. She was reliable in scoring and rebounding. No matter where the ball was, Nara had such tremendous rebounding ability that we all knew it would land in her hands. She was unselfish on the court and her teammates loved playing with her.” 

DeJesus graduated from Wooster with a bachelor’s in English. At present, she is a content marketer for CompanyBox. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with husband, Jeff, and children, Ayla, Lincoln, and Calvin.