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University of Maryland Athletics

2024-25 Men's Basketball Roster

0 Ja'Kobi Gillespie

  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 186
  • Class Junior
  • Position G
  • Major Sociology
  • Hometown Greeneville, Tenn.
  • High School Greeneville HS
  • Prev School Belmont
  • Instagram k0b1g
  • Twitter k0b1g
  • Opendorse jakobi-gillespie

Biography



 

Tagged Content: ja-kobi-gillespie
 

As a Junior (2024-25):
  • All-B1G Ten Third Team
  • NABC All-District First Team
  • Played and started in all 36 games.
  • Second on the team averaging 14.7 points per game while averaging 31.5 minutes a game.
  • Led the team with 174 assist during the season, while ranking fifth in the Big Ten with 4.8 assists per game.
  • Fourth in program history with 87 three-pointers made in a single season.
  • Shot 45.3% from the field, including shooting 40.7% from the three-point line.
  • Led team during the season in free throw percentage (86.2%)
  • Put up 17 points and two steals in the Sweet Sixteen against (#1) Florida (3/27).
  • Scored 11 points along with seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds in a win over Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA tournament (3/23).
  • Contributed 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Grand Canyon (3/21).
  • Finished with 10 points, nine assists, two rebounds, and one steal in the semifinal of the Big Ten Tournament against #22 Michigan (3/15).
  • In the quarterfinal game of the Big Ten Tournament against #24 Illinois he posted a near double double with 12 points, nine assists, two rebounds, and two steals (3/14).
  • Marked his 25th game scoring in the double digits in a win over Northwestern, in which he contributed 17 points, four steals, four rebounds, and two assists (3/8). 
  • Added eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal in a big win on the road over #17 Michigan (3/5).
  • Recorded his tenth 15+ points & 5+ assists game of the season, ultimately contributing 19 points, seven assists, two steals, and two rebounds in a win on the road over Penn State (3/1).
  • Posted 15 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in a close game against #8 Michigan St. (2/26).
  • Marked his 15th game scoring 15+ points in a big win over USC. He recorded 5 3s, ultimately contributing 20 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals (2/20).
  • Shot 11-14 including 4 from beyond the arc, finishing with 26 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals in a win at home over Iowa (2/16).
  • Ended with 15 points, seven assists, and three rebounds in a game against Nebraska on the road (2/13).
  • Contributed 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a win at home over Rutgers (2/9).
  • Put up six points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal against Ohio State (2/6).
  • Finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in a big win at home over #17 Wisconsin (1/29). 
  • Posted 18 points along with nine assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block in a game against Indiana (1/26).
  • In 36 minutes of game time he contributed 15 points, eight assists, three steals, three rebounds, and one block in a road win over #17 Illinois (1/23).
  • Reached the 1000 career points milestone (1/19).
  • Racked up 22 points, five assists, and four steals in a win over Nebraska (1/19).
  • Played 40 of 45 minutes of game time, contributing 14 points, four assists, three steals, and two rebounds in an away game against Northwestern (1/16).
  • Contributed 15 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and one steal in 35 minutes of playing time against Minnesota (1/13).
  • Shot 9-9 from the FG range putting up a season-high 27 points and four steals along with four assists, two rebounds, and one block in a big win over #22 UCLA (1/10).
  • Added 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a game against #9 Oregon (1/5).
  • Finished with nine points, nine assists, two rebounds, and two steals in a win over UMES (12/28).
  • Played an extremely productive game with a double-double of 17 points and 11 assists, alongside five rebounds and three steals against Syracuse (12/21).
  • Put up 11 points, six assists, two rebounds, and two steals in a big win over St. Francis PA (12/17).
  • Alongside a steal and four assists, he contributed 18 points in a close loss against #8 Purdue (12/8).
  • Scored a crucial 23 points in a big win against Ohio State, going 7-11 from the FG range, along with four assists, and a steal (12/4).
  • Contributed 12 points, making it his sixth game in a row scoring double digits. He also added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals during a win against Villanova (11/24).
  • Racked up 10 points, two steals, three rebounds, and six assists in a win against Canisius (11/19).
  • Tied for the team-leading scorer with 24 points, knocking down four threes against #15 Marquette, alongside four rebounds and a pair of steals (11/15).
  • Finished with 12 points while contributing five rebounds and three steals against Florida A&M (11/11).
  • Scored 13 points while contributing one steal against Mount St. Mary’s (11/8).
  • Made his Maryland debut against Manhattan where he dropped 16 points and a team high five assists (11/4).

As a Sophomore at Belmont (2023-24):
  • MVC All-Conference Second Team
  • MVC All-Defensive Team
  • MVC Most-Improved Team. 
  • Averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 25 games (24 starts)
  • Overall at Belmont, played in 57 games (32 starts) averaging 12.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game
  • Shot 51.1 percent from the floor including 34.8 percent from beyond the arc through two seasons
  • In 2023-24 he saw his productivity jump from 9.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.1 rebounds to 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds
  • As a sophomore, he posted 22 double-figure scoring games which included a career-high 26 points against Southern Illinois (2/14)
  • Had seven games with 20-plus points
  • Shot 56.1 percent from the floor and 38.7 from beyond the arc (41 three pointers made)
  • Had 106 assists in both his freshman and sophomore seasons
  • He also ranked among the MVC's leaders in seven statistical categories including first in steals, fifth in scoring, and sixth in assists per game. He was one of just two players in the country to average over 17 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game

As a Freshman at Belmont (2022-23): 
  • Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team
  • Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team
  • Made 32 game appearances with eight starts
  • Started first six games of college career at point guard, scoring double figures in each game
  • 16 double figure scoring games
  • Averaged 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game
  • Among MVC leaders in five statistical categories: third in MVC in steals per game (1.53), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.83), fifth in steals (49)
  • Career-high 24 points on 9-11 FG, four assists at Northern Iowa (2/26)
  • 13 points, career-high six steals, game-clinching free throws vs. George Mason (11/19)
  • 18 points, six assists at Evansville (1/25/23)
  • Eight games with 5+ assists and 11 games with 2+ steals
  • Averaged 18.0 points, 4.7 assists per game over his final three games.

Before College: 
  • Letterwinner at Greeneville High School for head coach Brad Woolsey 
  • 2022 Tennessee 3A Mr. Basketball - first player from northeast Tennessee named Tennessee Mr. Basketball in 37-year history of award
  • Two-time 5StarPreps.com Tennessee Player of the Year and two-time Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State 
  • Tri-Cities.com, WJHL-TV Boys' Basketball Player of the Year
  • 2,129 career points
  • Averaged 27.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game in leading to Greeneville to Tennessee 3A state championship - averaged 26.3 points per game in state tournament en route to Tournament Most Valuable Player honors
  • Shot 64 percent from 2-point distance and 40 percent from 3-point distance as a senior
  • Invited to play in TACA East/West All-Star Game
  • Averaged 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game as a junior
  • Led Greeneville to Tennessee 2A state championship as sophomore
  • Led Greeneville to 88-18 record over sophomore, junior and senior seasons
  • Made SportsCenter Top 10 Plays for dunk vs. Knoxville Halls

Personal: 
  • Heralded high school football player as wide receiver and return specialist; had scholarship offers from SEC and ACC programs
  • Former teammates of BJ Edwards (Tennessee), Quante Berry (Providence), and Brandon Huntly-Hatfield (Louisville)
  • Lists Chris Paul among favorite athletes.
 
UMTerps.com sat down with Ja'Kobi Gillespie to get to know him on and off the court
 

Question: How was the transfer process for you and how has it been so far? 

Ja'Kobi Gillespie: It's hard for anybody coming into a new school, but I've been focused on trying to connect with my teammates because I'm a junior. So I know I have to be a leader on this team. For me, that means being myself and working hard.  So far, we've had some really good workouts and you can see the chemistry building.

Q: Who has influenced you to stay with the game of basketball?

JG: I would say Kobe Bryant. I grew up watching him and my parents were Lakers fans so I watched him a lot. 
 

Q: Are you not a Lakers fan? 

JG: No, I'm a Kobe Bryant fan. I usually follow a player more than a team. Then it was Kobe Bryant and now I like to watch Chris Paul. 

 


 

Q: How has your experience been with the new team and coaches so far? 

JG: It's been good, I feel like we had a great first week. We were getting to know each other and pushing each other hard. I feel like it's been a good start to the summer. 


Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals? 

JG:  Have to take a shower probably two or three hours before. I have to lock-in before too. 
 

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? 

JG: Hard work beats talent. That was our slogan at Greeneville and it has really stayed with me. 
 

Q: If your sport had a mascot based on you, what would it be? 

JG: A bulldog.
 

Q: If you could dunk on any person who would it be?

JG: Definitely Lebron James. 
 

Q: If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you play? 

JG: I played football in high school so probably that.


 



 

Q: What is your guilty pleasure food you avoid during season? 

JG: Probably chicken wings or fried fish, but I don't avoid it. 
 

Q: Do you have any nicknames?

JG: At Belmont they used to call me Cheat Code. 
 

Q: Living in Tennessee, have you had any BBQ around here that compares to the BBQ down south? 

JG: I love barbecue. The closest would probably be Mission BBQ, but other than that not yet.


 

Ja'Kobi Gill

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

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Career Statistics

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