After making it to four straight state championship games during her high school basketball career – winning three – Arkansas freshman Jenna Lawrence is finding the level of play in college more difficult, but very rewarding.
The versatile 6-foot-3 forward brings a solid set of skills to the Razorbacks, with the ability to shoot from the perimeter, handle the ball and rebound on both ends of the court.
She has shined so far in the preseason, leading Arkansas in scoring in one game overseas. The Razorbacks recently returned from a European tour where they went 3-0 against foreign competition.
Lawrence was one rebound shy of collecting a double-double, with 15 points and 9 rebounds in the opening 124-12 victory over the InCroatia All-Stars on Aug. 7, then poured in a game-high 15 points, with 2 assists and a blocked shot, in the final game on Sunday, a 100-61 win over Regina University in Greece.
“I’m excited to be here at Arkansas and just trying do what Coach (Mike) Neighbors and the team needs me to do,” Lawrence said. “I’m from Arkansas, so playing for my home state is awesome.”
The 4-star recruit was ranked the No. 61 high school player in the country last season, and finished her entire prep career with a 101-5 record. She led Farmington to a 27-1 regular season mark last year, averaging 18 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
“My winning streak in high school was pretty high up there, so I’m just trying to bring that winning mentality here,” she added. “And this team is really bonding together. The trip to Europe was really great for all of us getting to bond with each other. I got to know a lot of my teammates better, and really developed some new good friendships.”
Lawrence led Melbourne to back-to-back 2A state titles her freshman and sophomore seasons, before transferring to Farmington before her junior year. The Lady Cardinals lost a heart-breaker to Nashville on a buzzer-beater in the 2022 championship game, before returning to defeat the Lady Scrappers for the title this past March. She was named the state tournament’s Most Valuable Player..
The competition in Europe was not close to what the Razorbacks will face when the SEC slate begins. And although Lawrence is having to adjust to play at a collegiate pace, she is getting all the competition she can handle during Arkansas practices, facing the likes of 6-5 junior Jersey Wolfenbarger.
“Everything is faster, with bigger, stronger girls,” she said. “Obviously, in high school I could overpower girls, but I can’t do that on the college level. Even though the competition over there (in Europe) was not as good, I have been playing against my own teammates all summer. It’s been difficult at times, but it’s helped me a lot prepare for the season and the players I will face when the season starts.
If Lawrence continues to improve and play like she did in the first three preseason games, she will likely be given adequate minutes in the Razorbacks’ rotation as a true freshman when the regular season begins.
“I know it’s going to be tougher at this level, but I am just working hard to prepare myself,” she said. “As long as I keep doing what I need to do, I’ll be ready.”
