Wichita State’s Jamillah Bonner prepared for larger role in senior season

Wichita State guard Jamillah Bonner scored in double figures in her first four games and led the Shockers in rebounds in two of them last season.

Those opponents included Oklahoma, Saint Joseph’s and Kansas State. That schedule presented quite a step up from the Jayhawk Conference. Bonner looked at home.

The adjustment from junior college, while not easy, didn’t keep Bonner from starting every game and earning All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. The Shockers, two-time defending MVC champions, begin official practices on Thursday morning. Bonner’s role is expected to grow and her production increase in her senior season, even after a standout junior season after transferring from Butler Community College.

“It starts with her motor,” WSU coach Jody Adams said. “When you have a high-motor player, it shows in less mistakes. That high motor, and her willingness to try and to gamble, was there. That’s an internal drive you just don’t teach.”

Bonner (5-foot-8) averaged 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds last season as a junior. She took on tough defensive assignments, fitting in with WSU’s pressure defense, and brought a voice and intensity to practices and games. This season, Adams wants to refine some of her skills to get more consistent production. On Wednesday, Adams and Bonner met in Adams’ office to discuss short-term and long-term goals and roles for the season.

“She has all the tools,” Adams said. “What I look to see this year from here is consistent scoring, consistent rebounding, consistent taking care of the ball.”

Bonner, twice an All-City League pick at Southeast, learned that her athletic ability couldn’t carry her at WSU as it did in junior college.

“I had to actually slow myself down so I could learn more, instead of just going fast all the time,” she said. “I had to be detailed and patient, things like waiting on screens.”

Bonner shot 39 percent from the field and 24.8 percent (31 of 125) from behind the three-point arc. She committed 61 turnovers and handed out 60 assists. Improving those areas are where she can find consistency, exchanging a few 4-for-12 shooting nights for 7 for 11. In MVC games, her numbers showed slight improvement with her shooting percentage rising to 42 percent and assists outpacing turnovers by six. Adams expects improvement to come with a year of experience in WSU’s system.

“Ballhandling is going to be a huge key,” Adams said. “Jamillah can shoot the three. It’s being a consistent scorer and finding those great shots for her to knock down.”

Shot selection may hold the key to improving those shooting percentages.

“Last year, I felt like I settled for a lot of three-pointers,” she said. “Instead of catching and shooting all the time, I need to get my defender off-balance and take it in. Smart shots instead of rushed shots.”

The Shockers, 26-7 last season, played in their second consecutive NCAA Tournament. Expectations are again high for a team that returns four starters, including All-MVC guard Alex Harden. Coaches tested them with a series of early morning conditioning drills designed to prepare the Shockers for a non-conference schedule that includes Kansas State, Tennessee, Creighton and Ohio State.

“Everything we did over the summer, including boot camp, made us stronger physically and mentally,” Bonner said. “We all went through hell together in the summer. We made it.”

This story was originally published October 8, 2014 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s Jamillah Bonner prepared for larger role in senior season."