A question many Maryland women’s basketball fans are probably asking themselves is who is Jakia Brown-Turner?
Jakia Brown-Turner is a three-time ACC Champion, a McDonald’s All-American, and the all-time leading scorer for the Bishop McNamara’s girls’ high school basketball program.
Brown-Turner played her first four collegiate years for the North Carolina State Wolfpack from 2019-2023. She announced via Instagram on April 6 that she decided to return home to Maryland for her extra year of eligibility.
An Oxon Hill native, Brown-Turner player for Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. She led her team in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game as a senior, and led the Mustangs to a 31-4 season and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament finals in 2019.
McNamara finished the season at No. 16 on USA TODAY’s Super 25 national rankings. Brown–Turner played not only for one of the best high school teams in the country but for one of the best girls’ AAU programs, Team Takeover.
Brown-Turner was ranked as the No. 15 prospect in the 2019 class by ESPN and was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year.
When it came time for college, Brown-Turner decided to play for Wes Moore at NC State. She made an impact as a freshman from the very beginning, playing in all 32 games and starting 31 of them — the most by any freshman during the Moore era. She became a key scorer for the Wolfpack, reaching the 1,000-point mark her senior year in her 95th career game.
“Jakia is a big-time scoring threat,” Wes Moore’s take on Brown-Turner on her Wolfpack roster page.“She can really stroke the three, is explosive and has the size to take people off the bounce to get to the rim and finish against contact.”
Brown-Turner ranks 11th for NC State in career three-pointers made and 14th in career three-point percentage. She was a part of the Wolfpack’s three ACC Titles and runs to the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen.
The 6-foot wing has a great deal of experience, winning at both the high school and college level. Maryland coach Brenda Frese was very happy to announce the addition of the All-ACC honoree on the team’s media day on Oct. 19.
“All she does is win,” Frese said. “So we were thrilled to be able to bring [Jakia back home].”
Brown-Turner was named the No. 18 transfer by ESPNW in early October.
“Jakia is going to have a massive role for us … she can do a little bit of everything,” Frese said.
Brown-Turner is a lengthy player that will be a huge help for the Terps on the defensive end as Frese and her staff are excited to see what this year’s team can disrupt with their size. Along with being able to score, Frese mentioned her ability to go after rebounds.
“I love [that] she goes to the glass hard,” Frese said.
Frese even made a nod, smirking to herself, that a difference between Brown-Turner and former Terp Diamond Miller — who hold comparable parts of their games — is that Brown-Turner is more aggressive on the offensive glass and can make plays from there.
Freese was thrilled to add Brown-Turner’s experience to the roster. Maryland has four graduate student-athletes leading this year’s team: Faith Masonius, Brinae Alexander, Lavender Briggs and Brown-Turner. Frese believes the quartet’s leadership will be a key component of the team’s success.
Brown-Turner was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List for the nation’s top small forward in October. She has the skill, experience and competitiveness to be a huge contributor for the Terps on both ends of the court this season, and is a great addition to a team that Frese and her staff feel carry a lot of depth.
- Tara Heiss’ legacy on Maryland women’s basketball continues to live on in alumni game and beyond - January 19, 2024
- A lifelong friendship carried through the game of basketball - November 6, 2023
- Who is Jakia Brown-Turner? - November 5, 2023
