By Johan Abdu
Chanel Jemmott will go down in Brooklyn College’s history as the highest-scoring Bulldog for the women’s basketball team.
She broke the college’s record after dropping 28 points in a 69-52 win over John Jay College in early February. Since 2017, she has scored 1,491 points for Brooklyn College and won her third CUNYAC title this season. Jemmott could have done things differently leading up to her last game with the Bulldogs as a graduate student, but if you ask her, her path in CUNY basketball is what makes her.
“If I could do it over, I’d probably tell myself to chill out a little more about it, but I mean that’s what makes me ‘me,’” said Jemmott. “It’s still very fresh, obviously, I haven’t had much time to really process all that’s gone on.”
The 2021-22 season came to an end in early March with a 76-58 loss to regional tournament host Smith College in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. CUNYAC MVP Jemmott and the Bulldogs had little to be disappointed with as their second-round NCAA exit was their best-ever finish in the tournament and the CUNYAC title to boot. Winning the NCAA first round against Emmanuel College was one of the best moments of the season for Jemmott.
“To us, it probably felt like winning a championship…that’s how much it meant to us,” said Jemmott. “Seeing hard work paying off like that and the amount of joy on everyone’s faces definitely made it a top five moment.”
For Jemmott, who was born and raised in Flatbush, basketball has always been around her, whether it’s physically or mentally, through family or friends. Basketball is never far from her reach.
“The story around my family is that I had a basketball in my hand at the age of three. I visited Georgia a lot as a kid, and my Uncle Noel was a basketball coach for most of my childhood,” said Jemmott.
Her love for the game came naturally, and so did her work ethic. As the Bulldogs’ all-time scoring record grew within reach, it only fueled Jemmott’s love for the sport.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself to accomplish that. I didn’t know what game it would happen, but I’m glad it happened earlier in the season,” Jemmott said.
The women’s basketball team reached three titles in the last four seasons and their highest NCAA finish with the guidance of Coach Alex Lang.
Jemmott didn’t just juggle her responsibility as a star forward. She continued studying as a Business Administration/Marketing major and also became a softball team member. With the teammates and friends she’s made along the way, the path for Jemmott is clear following a tough year of college ball.
“I knew I was going to pursue a professional basketball career after college, and so coming back to Brooklyn just made sense to prepare myself for what’s to come,” said Jemmott. “I’m so proud of this group of girls and grateful more than anything to spend my last season with them. I will say I feel very at ease right now. There isn’t much sadness or regret at all.”