STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Former District III standout Jill Jekot has never had to wait so long for a basketball season.
"I skipped my senior year of high school to come up here early, which not a lot of people do," claimed the Cumberland Valley grad.
"I think Jill was able to get a lot of clarity from our expectations, not only from myself but from our leaders," said Penn State Women's Basketball Head Coach Carolyn Kieger. "I think that's going to pay dividends. The other thing is that she got to sit there and watch every Big Ten game and that's so valuable to see the physicality, to see the pace, and to see what these teams look like up close and personal."
"In our meetings, I'll be like, 'Oh, yeah, I'm just a freshman,'" said Jekot of her talks with Coach Kieger. "She says, 'Don't put that limiting factor on you. You're not a freshman, you're a returner for this team,' and so, having that title, to me, I know that I have a responsibility to be a leader for the other freshmen."
While Jekot was able to get plenty of scout team reps and travel with the Lady Lions last season, she watched and learned. It's something that wasn't completely new to her since Jill's older sister played for Penn State.
"Kelly was here not too long ago and I remember sitting in the stands, watching her play, and just watching how amazing it was and seeing how every year she was here, they got better," recalled Jekot. "I try to model everything I do after Kelly. She's my biggest role model."
When bringing up families with long hoops histories in District III, the Jekots are certainly one, and the Bairs are another. Sean Bair is returning to the Lady Lions staff as an assistant coach. He served as the team's video coordinator from 2020 to 2021.
"It's really cool coming back and knowing what Coach Kieger wants and what she values. I try really, really hard to be the best I can for our players every day. That hasn't changed. But, I do feel like I've learned a lot since that first day and I can just do it at a higher level now," said Bair.
The Bair family has played in and coached in plenty of big games, but this season a Bair will get to coach in basketball meccas like Allen Fieldhouse and Pauley Pavilion.
"They were thrilled, not just for me, but for our whole family," Bair said. "It's the chance to come to games, see me more often, and be around my kids. They would always be excited for me making this jump and having this opportunity, but for it to be here at Penn State is special for our family."
And both know that a strong District III bond is great, not only for south central Pennsylvania but also for the Lady Lions.
"I knew I always wanted to play for the state of Pennsylvania," said Jekot. "I really believe that the people make the place. I love Coach Bair. That was probably the first thing he said to me was, 'Alright, District III, we gotta represent out here,'" recalled Jekot.
"Kelly [Jekot] was here last time I was here, and I've known the Jakot family for a while. Our families know each other well," added Bair. "I know I take a lot of pride in representing the university being from the area. I know Jill feels the same way, so we're both excited to be here."