Jantzen Michael Commits To Play For Greenville College

Jantzen Michael (seated center) has committed to playing at Greenville College next season. Looking on are her parents, Jeff and Michelle Michael. Back row, left to right, EHS Head Coach Jeff Schafer and summer travel team Coach Barry Wolfe.

 
Jantzen Michael, a senior at Effingham High School, recently picked up five awards at the girls basketball banquet. Michael won the Most Valuable Player and Miss Basketball awards along with leading the team in assists with 91, steals with 76, three-point field goals with 58 and was the team captain.

Now Michael will be taking those talents on to the next level after committing to play basketball for Greenville College.
 
"Jantzen will have no problems fitting in at Greenville right away," said EHS Coach Jeff Schafer. "She is very physically strong and is a very tough, hard-nosed kid who isn't afraid to go inside and be physical."

Along with the awards for the Hearts, Michael also was a Fourth Team IBCA All-State selection, All Apollo Conference her junior and senior years and made every all tournament team this year at Newton, Charleston and Effingham

"She led us to a third straight Charleston Holiday Tournament championship, scoring the game-winning basket," said Schafer. "She averaged 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and 2.5 steals."

"We have known about Jantzen for the last two years," said Greenville College Coach Roy Mulholland. "Lauren Stephensen, a teammate of Jantzen's last year, plays for us. We have had Jantzen on our radar for several years.

"She did come to campus for a visit and checked out both the college and our team. We enjoyed getting to know her better off the court and believe she is a great fit for our team and college."

"Depending on whether she plays point or two guard, she will have things to continue to work on such as releasing her shot faster," said Coach Schafer. "She will have to continue to work on her conditioning, but she should fit in great for Coach Mulholland. She is a leader, who leads by example. She will settle into whatever role her new coach has for her.

"She became such an unselfish player for my team the past four years. I would say she kind of went through a transformation and became a complete player, who could score, rebound, and defend.

"All she ultimately cared about was for our team to be the best that they could. That mojo definitely rubs off on the people that you play with and it becomes infectious, to where there is one goal instead of a bunch of personal agendas. If you are involved in a battle, you want Jantzen on your side."

"We are excited that Jatnzen will be attending Greenville next year and believe she will be a great fit for both our institution and the women's basketball program," said Coach Mulholland. "Jantzen is an outstanding student, a young lady with character and integrity, who will bring with her a whole host of on and off the court intangibles that will fit nicely with the things we are trying to accomplish in our program.

"We are excited to establish a connection with the Michael family for the next four years. The families of our players are an important part of our program and we look forward to including Jantzen and her family as part of the Greenville College basketball family."
 
"Jantzen is getting to attend a school that matches her faith, and she gets to play basketball while continuing her education, what more can a kid ask for," said Coach Schafer.  
 
"She has helped our program win 89 games in the past four years. Besides her desire to succeed, what I appreciate the most about Jantzen is that she always trusted her coaches. When your leader has that kind of faith in what you are trying to accomplish, it makes those goals that much easier to reach. Now her faith has led her to Greenville and I am excited to see her flourish there."

Here's a conversation our Greg Sapp had with Jantzen Michael following the signing ceremony Tuesday...