Anderson Volleyball has their first commit in the class of 2024: Jazmine Gaston. She is a six-rotation outside hitter, who excels in the front row with her powerful swing and solid block yet also shines in the back row with her reliable passing and scrappy mindset. Her versatility makes her a valuable player and attracts the attention of scouts because it is such a rare skill. Gaston also gives one hundred percent to every play, whether that be laying out on the floor for a pancake, running at an all-out sprint, or anything in between. She made varsity volleyball as a freshman and has earned many awards, including 5A District MVP and All-District honorable mention as a sophomore and 6A First Team All-District for her junior season. Additionally, she was named to the 2022 AVCA Phenom watch list, an incredible honor. All of these factors combined to land her a D1 commitment at the University of Louisiana as a junior.
Since fourth grade, Jazmine has been working towards this goal. In addition to being a starter on varsity, she plays club volleyball year-round for Texas Fury to improve her skills and knowledge of the game. Gaston has also been going to Coach Mo’s for years to build strength and stamina which enhance her overall performance while keeping her safe and healthy. The time, effort, and dedication she has put in has paid off, and there are still many years of progress ahead of her.
Gaston could have waited for other offers, but instead, she decided to announce her commitment to Louisiana for multiple reasons. During her visit, she got a good feeling from the school and realized that “it felt like home” when she was walking on campus. She also “connected well with the coaches,” something that is very important for college athletes. Jaz explained how relieved she is to be committed because “recruiting was stressful.” She’s very “excited to find [her] new home” at the University of Louisiana.
This D1 commitment would not have been possible without Gaston’s many supporters. She named her family, her coaches at Texas Fury, and her elementary school coach Coach Newkirk for being such incredible mentors. Anderson’s head volleyball coach, Coach Byers, has also been important for Jaz. When Byers got a text about the commitment, “all [she] could do was smile” with pride for one of her players. “I knew she was happy with her decision,” she said. “These moments are what makes coaching at Anderson High School so special.”
Despite being verbally committed, Gaston will finish out high school in the traditional four years, graduating in 2024. She is “really excited to be in a new environment and play the sport [she] love[s]” at the University of Louisiana in the fall of 2025.
